Hi All,I'm after a bit of advice for a UV filter . I'm looking to buy a filter for my canon 550d with 18-55 mm lens .They sell UV filters which they state are for film . Are these excusively for film or should I buy the pro digital filter which is advertised for DigitalThanks in advance

Westham fanwrote:Hi All,I'm after a bit of advice for a UV filter . I'm looking to buy a filter for my canon 550d with 18-55 mm lens .They sell UV filters which they state are for film . Are these excusively for film or should I buy the pro digital filter which is advertised for DigitalThanks in advanceHoya have a good name but at least get something multi-coated - HMC or Super HMC, Kenko filters come out of the same factory. I've been happy with the Pro1D filters but dont personally use a UV filter. This might be worth reading http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/tutorials/digital_filters.html -- http://www.flickr.com/photos/mark-cooper/

Westham fanwrote:Hi All,I'm after a bit of advice for a UV filter . I'm looking to buy a filter for my canon 550d with 18-55 mm lens .They sell UV filters which they state are for film . Are these excusively for film or should I buy the pro digital filter which is advertised for DigitalThere is little need to filter UV rays with digital. There is a glass low-pass filter covering the camera's sensor that blocks UV and IR.There is also little need to use a clear 'protective' filter, especially on an inexpensive lens like the 18-55. The front element and its coatings are not so fragile, and a good multicoated filter is going to cost too much in relation to the lens's value to be economical.

If you are mainly looking for a glass protector for your lens, the Marumi line of filters have a DHG Super series that have gotten very good reviews. I bought a 58mm DHG Super filter for about $20 off E-Bay. Going to do some tests with it both ON and OFF to see if there is any degradation. As others have said - there is little value to a UV filter for digital.Steve W.

To clarify from the above:As stated above, a UV filter doesn't do anything optically for a digital camera as digital cameras include an internal UV filter.Therefore, a UV filter is only capable of protecting your lens. Atbest, it willnot impedethe performance of your optics, but it can.The protection is only worth having if you're in an area with blowing sand or salt spray.The Marumi DHG & DHG Super deliver excellent value for money in Circular Polarizers (http://www.lenstip.com/115.4-article-Polarizing_filters_test_Results_and_summary.html) - however the Marumi MC UV filter didn't fare as well in the UV test.The head-to-head comparison of different UV filters may be found here:http://www.lenstip.com/113.4-article-UV_filters_test_Description_of_the_results_and_summary.html... where the Hoya HMC UV-0 still delivers unbeaten performance at minimum price for UV filters.

The above referenced review of UV filters does not appear to include the Marumi DHG or Super DHG filters. - the CPL review does. Actually the Marumi filter that I am referring to is called a "lens protect" filter and not a UV filter. I would think that if the Marumi Super DHG/DHG CPLs got such good ratings that the Lens Protect versions would be just as good. Also the prices in that review seem way out of line for what Marumi filters can be bought for. As I said I paid $20 for a 58mm Super DHG Lens Protect filter.Steve W.

I would generally trust a Marumi DHG "Lens Protect" filter to be quite good, then. (I haven't been filter shopping in a while, other than for a 720nm IR filter, which I decided to go cheap on as it is definitely a toy for me at this stage.)Honestly, with the clear (UV) filters, as long as its multicoated and you can't see reflections in the back surface, you're probably going to be just fine.

I use UV filters on my lenses but agree that it might not be worth while on a kit lens. It really gets down to a personal choice and how you handle your gear. --I took a course in art last winter. I learnt the difference between a fine oil painting, and a mechanical thing, like a photograph. The photograph shows only the reality. The painting shows not only the reality, but the dream behind it.

i agree with what some others have already said.. that a UV filter is probably not necessary for the 18-55 lense.. I would give the one exception that is if you will be shooting in windy/sandy/dusty environment or in the kitchen where extra effort will be needed to clean the oil splatters off.. otherwise, just save the money for the next lense! ^^