So, you've invested in a fantastic camera, and the world of accessories beckons. Or perhaps a helpful salesperson has already started listing all the "essential" add-ons. Sorting through the must-haves and the nice-to-haves can be tricky. Today, let's tackle one accessory that, in my opinion, often falls squarely into the "skip it" category for most digital photographers: the UV filter.
The very name suggests its purpose: to block ultraviolet (UV) light from reaching your camera's sensor. UV light is high-energy and invisible to the human eye. Back in the days of film photography, however, film was highly sensitive to UV light. Especially closer to the equator, where UV radiation is stronger and harsher, unfiltered UV light could result in photos with a bluish, hazy cast. Hence, for film shooters, particularly in those regions, a UV filter was a legitimate necessity.
But the landscape of photography has changed dramatically. Digital cameras have largely replaced their film predecessors, and their sensors respond to light in a fundamentally different way. In fact, digital camera sensors are most sensitive to light at the opposite end of the spectrum: infrared (IR) light. So much so that manufacturers actually build an infrared-blocking filter into digital cameras to ensure they capture light within the visible spectrum, the range our eyes perceive. Put simply, digital cameras inherently filter out infrared light to see what we see. They don't even perceive ultraviolet light, rendering a separate UV filter entirely redundant.
Now, you might hear the argument that even if a UV filter doesn't block unwanted light on a digital camera, it still serves as a crucial protective layer for your precious lens, shielding it from direct sunlight, scratches, and accidental bumps. While the sentiment of protecting your lens is sound, I argue that there's a far more effective and often free alternative: the lens hood. A lens hood works by physically blocking stray light from hitting the front element of your lens, which is the primary cause of unwanted lens flares in your images. It also acts as a robust physical barrier against scratches and minor impacts. While a UV filter might offer some minimal physical protection, a lens hood often comes included with your lens at no extra cost. Furthermore, a scratched lens hood is a minor inconvenience, whereas a damaged filter directly attached to your lens can become unusable and, in a worst-case scenario, even damage the lens itself – a lesson I learned the hard way back in my film days.
The bottom line? For digital photographers, a UV filter is generally an unnecessary accessory that doesn't perform its intended function and can potentially cause more harm than good. Opt for a lens hood instead – it's often free and provides superior protection against flares and physical damage.
Read it here: https://www.c1macademy.com/uv-filters-yes-or-no.html
