Everything yous've always needed to know virtually using aUV lens filter from all-time use cases to hidden benefits.

An ultra violet (UV) lens filter is a must-have for many photographers, and information technology tends to exist the offset type of filter that newcomers to photography buy. But when should yous utilize a UV filter to reap its many benefits?

Why should photographers use UV filters?

Whether ametuer or professional, most photographers apply a UV filter to protect their camera equipment, especially if they have an expensive lens. UV lens filters prevent dust and dirt from coming into contact with the lens substantially acting as a protective comprehend that shields your lens at all times.

A UV lens filter acts as a protective filter that weatherproofs camera lenses by shielding the front element of your lens from dust and other nasties. Then, if yous shoot outdoors, this filter will prove invaluable.

The filter tin block sand, grit or other particles in the air from getting near your lens. If rain or water droplets get on your lens filter, it's easier to wipe these off your filter than your lens and you lot run less risk of dust scratches. This is peculiarly so if your lens filter has a multi-resistant blanket.

A UV lens filter also offers protection in windy conditions. It acts as a buffer, keeping wind-borne substances such as sea spray, grit or sand from going virtually your lens. Certainly, if you need to take photos in any kind of weather condition, y'all'll find a UV lens filter indispensable.

A lens filter with UV properties can also protect your camera from any accidental bumps or, and can often be the deviation betwixt having to supercede a smashed lens for thousands of dollars and a smashed filter for under $100.. This is particularly relevant if yous're out and about with your camera, climbing upwardly mountains, scrambling over rocks or shooting by the body of water.

Lens protected from sand by a UV filter.

Exercise UV filters reduce image quality?

Some people believe that using lens filters negatively affects image quality, but it really depends on the quality of the lens filter. So long as the optical glass on your UV filter is equally good as or better than that of your lens, it won't noticeably touch image quality. A premium quality UV filter won't affect image quality, exposure settings, colouration or dissimilarity, and will help clarity and sharpness while protecting your lens. For this reason, you can keep a UV filter on your lens permanently .

You may see a reduction in paradigm quality if you decide to stack multiple lens filters onto your lens, because light is passing through extra layers of glass. If you're shooting in challenging conditions however, and need the combined effects of ii filters, the benefits of the filters may outweigh the loss of epitome quality. We've written upward a guide to stacking lens filters to help you with this.

Are UV filters necessary for digital cameras?

If you use an quondam-school film camera, a UV lens filter will cake out UV low-cal from the film, especially useful when using moving-picture show stock that might be particularly sensitive to UV light.

Mod digital cameras (typically post 2007) have an inbuilt sensor that automatically keeps UV light at bay. Yet, fifty-fifty photographers using modernistic cameras note that a UV filter can withal reduce haze and sharpen an image. Information technology can likewise help to heave dissimilarity on clouded days or shooting when shadows are nowadays. Just most importantly, a UV filter will protect your lens, making them invaluable even for utilise on digital equipment.

If yous'd prefer lens protection with the added benefits of polarisation, perhaps a CPL could be more beneficial for your photography. Accept a look at our UV filter vs CPL filter comparison guide to find out more well-nigh the best employ cases for these two filters.

Are UV filters expensive?

UV filters can price anywhere between $20 and $100, a small price to pay to protect a lens in the hundreds or thousands of dollars.

Urth'south UV filters range from $22 for our standard range up to $89 for our professional Plus+ range. The difference in these 2 ranges and price points lies in the quality of the glass used and the layers of nano-coating. For example, our more expensive UV Filter Plus+ uses world-leading German language SCHOTT glass and 30 layers of nano-coating to produce an extremely high quality paradigm.

When you're deciding how much coin to spend on a UV filter, we recommend matching the quality of the lens filter to the quality of your lens. We've written an ultimate buyer'due south guide to UV filters that can shed even more light on the more than practical, financial considerations to take into business relationship when shopping for a UV protection lens filter.

An Urth UV Filter.

When should you non use a UV filter?

Some photographers argue that adding a UV lens filter can increase the prevalence of reflections, ghosting and lens flares in your images. Notwithstanding, this is very unlikely to happen if you use a good quality lens filter from a reputable supplier.

Should I get a UV filter for my lens?

If you want to reap the most benefits from using a UV lens filter, choose one that is of a high quality and preferably comes with a protective multi-resistant blanket, peculiarly if y'all use your photographic camera outdoors a lot. You tin can find different grades of UV lens filter protection, ranging from those that block out minimal UV radiation to those that absorb the bulk of UV light. Our ultimate heir-apparent's guide to UV filters should be really helpful if you're looking for more information on the available options!

Did you know Urth makes lens filters that reforest the earth? Five trees are planted in deforested areas for every filter purchased. Shop our range of lens filters here .