Filters Degrade Images

[Marcus]

Have been using hoya UV filters and recently found that it is the source to my Image Quality problem.

Conclusion! Choose the correct filters (Expensive)!

Bad image 1 100% crop With Hoya UV filters


Good image 1 100% crop No USM


Bad image 2 100% crop With Hoya UV filters


Good image 2 100% crop No USM


Check your filters!
Thankyou for viewing.

[lowlights]

Congrats... at least you found the problem...

[Marcus]

Ya! finally! haha

[Canew]

Huh! HOYA degrades the image? HOYA is quite popular leh.

[snipper]

good but your kingfisher shots are shot at different condition so cannot be counted. the bad one is against the light while the good one is not.

Hoya or whatever the brand will degrade the image quality. light passing through any material will have some impact on the overall image quality. some causes chromatic distortion (different colour of the light spectrum refracts at different angle thus causing the distortion).

Best result is not to use any filter. I had since thrown away all my hoya UV filters, esp the one on my macro lens (1st to throw) Those cheapo filters are cheap becos it is really "cheap".

[cantaresg]

So you are only using a lens hood to protect your lenses now? I always have worries over possible damages on the lenses. So where is the compromise?

[28degree]

i'm using 50mm f1.8 for my macro shots...i did buy the filter for that..but know when i taking photos with it....i would remove it..and i do not have any hood to protect it...if drop..think the close up filters will genna first? hahhaa

but then again..that lens is quite cheap..so if anything did happen...also wont be so heart-pain...but always i'm careful of my equipments.....i'm sure many of us do also....

[Marcus]

snipper said:

good but your kingfisher shots are shot at different condition so cannot be counted. the bad one is against the light while the good one is not.

Hoya or whatever the brand will degrade the image quality. light passing through any material will have some impact on the overall image quality. some causes chromatic distortion (different colour of the light spectrum refracts at different angle thus causing the distortion).

Best result is not to use any filter. I had since thrown away all my hoya UV filters, esp the one on my macro lens (1st to throw) Those cheapo filters are cheap becos it is really "cheap".

Agree!

[Marcus]

cantaresg said:

So you are only using a lens hood to protect your lenses now? I always have worries over possible damages on the lenses. So where is the compromise?

The images taken with my Hoya filter really cmi!
For me....
Shooting with care. ;D

[Marcus]

28degree said:

i'm using 50mm f1.8 for my macro shots...i did buy the filter for that..but know when i taking photos with it....i would remove it..and i do not have any hood to protect it...if drop..think the close up filters will genna first? hahhaa

but then again..that lens is quite cheap..so if anything did happen...also wont be so heart-pain...but always i'm careful of my equipments.....i'm sure many of us do also....

Me too. ;D

[bigu2fan]

I tested the Hoya UV and B+W one, and there was a visible difference in image quality. After that I changed over to B+W, although I heard that Hoya has a higher/better range compared to the one I bought. Of cos without filter the best, but my heart will ache if I scratch the lens

[snipper]

28degree said:

i'm using 50mm f1.8 for my macro shots...i did buy the filter for that..but know when i taking photos with it....i would remove it..and i do not have any hood to protect it...if drop..think the close up filters will genna first? hahhaa

but then again..that lens is quite cheap..so if anything did happen...also wont be so heart-pain...but always i'm careful of my equipments.....i'm sure many of us do also....

A good filter like B&W cost ard $100. Is yr lens front element cost that much to replace? how much protection will the filter give you? if you drop yr lens, the filter and the lens will be gone too. Some cheap lens like the 50mm f1.8 is too cheap to protect with a $100 filter. I dont even have hood for it.

For those big guns, i cant even find the filter for that size.

Bottom line is, exercise care of your equipments. put them properly in yr bag when not in use while out shooting. Put yr lens cap on, when not in use. a little dust on it will not affect photo quality so dont keep cleaning yr lens unless the dust is quite a lot or got water droplets.

I still have B&W filters on some of my lens but i will not buy anymore. Just not worth the $$$.

[evershine]

hmm.. eye opening to me...didn't know filter can have so much difference !
What i did is, sometimes i remove the filter when i take photos. sometimes i have it on. treat it like lens cap of cos its more troublesome. now i know there's really a difference, i would remove it most of the time.

[straysheep]

If Hoya filters do degrade the image quality (which i belive in), then why are there still so many pple buying cheap filters??

I've been putting only a lens hood on my lens, will tat help a bit to protect the front element of the lens??

[USM]

straysheep said:

If Hoya filters do degrade the image quality (which i belive in), then why are there still so many pple buying cheap filters??

I've been putting only a lens hood on my lens, will tat help a bit to protect the front element of the lens??

It is always cost vs performance.

The lens hood can only protect your lens in certain manner. If there is a object directly hitting your front element, then your lens hood may not be able to save it. The design of the front element plays a part too. Protruding or inward.