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Do filters soften an image ? (1 Viewer)

nikovich

Well-known member
Hi guys, Just a quick question ..

I just bought a Hoya UV filter for my Canon, but was wondering if anyones noticed a difference in the quality of images with a filter on ?

Cheers

Nick
 
Hi guys, Just a quick question ..

I just bought a Hoya UV filter for my Canon, but was wondering if anyones noticed a difference in the quality of images with a filter on ?

Cheers

Nick

Any extra glass in the light path is going to have some effect on the final image. With my old 70-300 DO I used to see a marked loss of contrast in some images taken with a UV filter. The problem was slightly better with a more expensive filter.

In the end I decided that UV filters were not essential and now I'd only consider using one to protect the lens in extremely harsh conditions.
 
The effect of filters has come up a few times - there are two opposing view points, both of which will be argued strongly.

Personally when I tested a filter on my 100-400 IS (a good quality Hoya filter) I found that there was a noticable decrease in imaqe quality and sharpness. Needless to say I decided not to use the filter on this lens. I then tested the same filter on my 28-70, on this lens I could see no difference between images taken with and without a filter, so I left the filter on the lens.

I do know others have had the same experience as me, so perhaps filters have a more noticable effect on IQ when using longer focal lengths.
 
Again I am with Pete on this.I put a Hoya Pro D on my 400mm lens and it effected IQ but the same filter on a 17-40 and I cannot see any difference.
 
They can indeed have an observable effect.

The very best quality filters will probably be fine (people on here have said as much) but if you're only thinking of using one for lens protection purposes you'll likely be fine just relying on the lens hood.
 
Thankyou guys . I use the Hoya HMC super on my 100-400 Canon lens and am now seriously considering just using it to screw onto the lens in nasty conditions ...

Nick
 
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