i hav read around in the forums as well as did some googleing but up till now haven't quite found my answer..

I hav a 600d and kitlens 18-55mm...
I use it for travels mostly and am contemplating to get a filter.

Would it be worth it if a pay a few hundred bucks for a good filter to protect the kitlens?

What's holding me back is frm what I read that filters will somehow degrade the photos (depending on variables I guess). And I do not want that to happen....
Given this and the price I would hav to pay for a good filter , would it be financially prudent ? Considering it's just a kit lens.... Lol

If you can afford to change your lenses often, then naked is the way to go. If you're like me, buy and keep and use, then the clear glass is cheaper than a new lens.

Choice is yours.

For casual photographers, you don't have to spend too much on good quality filter. As some expensive filter can cost the same as your kit lens. If you want to go for the budget filter that doesn't degrade your IQ that much, you can go for Hoya HMC UV filter. Been using that for quite sometimes and I'm satisfied with it.

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Cheap filters are not worth using.
Hoya HMC is the bare minimum of what I'll use.
I will only use filter on lens worth at least 10X more than the filter itself.

No need filter. Just use a lens hood settle, all my lens are like tat.

Hi, I have asked this question before. I have got a response where people hates having the uv filter as it would reduce the IQ of high quality lens.

However, some people would believe that some high quality filter does not reduce IQ. Those cost a lot!

But if it were me, I would go WITHOUT a filter as if I am serious about photography, I will upgrade my lens and would worry about that later. Because by the time I save enough money to get a nice lens, I would be able to know if I know how I handle my equipment.

you will find 2 school of thoughts and each will argue until the cows come home..

i just put it there to save me the pain of cleaning the front element from dirt at the end of each outing esp by the sea. Some lens will be easy to clean and some difficult.. I just stick a glass there to do the dirty job.. Quality.. just dig into my pocket and see how I feel.. There are difference but heck.. I do not have deep pockets and get what ever loose change I have for the day.. I just want to get mileage out of it..

I buy my hardware not for show and tell. it is to be use and it will get rough treatment sometimes so what ever protection available is better than nothing. Honestly... with filters, I only have to worry about the rear element now.. esp my Zeiss Biogon 28 and Sonnar 50 which elements stick out unprotected like goldfish eyes even when it is fully retracted.

I have cheepo and Zeiss filters on my Zeiss lenses.. need I comment more? I will prefer to spend my energy taking photo than ponder over this issue..

If you want to pick the gray solution.. get one and use it as a lens cap.. remove it if you feel like it.. I know a friend of mine with heaps of Leica lens choose that path... and use old used cotton underwear to clean all his Leica lens!!!

Go and have fun taking photo!!!

This post has been edited by ChinWY: Oct 11 2014, 11:17 PM

If you want to use filters, get the better ones.
And beware of fake branded filters.

1. ask yourself - how great is your photo that a slight degradation of your photo is going to have an impact?

2. cheap filters, refer to post 1.

3. you need not spend a lot on filter, better spend RM 100 - 150 on filter to protect your lens front element than to regret later.

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This post has been edited by ChinWY: Oct 11 2014, 11:07 PM

aiyah some people simply talk. truth is that with a good filter, you can't even tell the difference between the pictures.

a good filter is worth spending on as it protects your lens.



there are things beyond your handling, all it takes is someone to accidentally knock your camera and so happens the lens moves towards an object, you're in for a scratch.

your lens immediately losses value and it may affect the image depending on the damage, you'll have to buy a replacement by then.

now is that worth going "no filter" for? think about it. a good filter is just a few hundred RM>

I don't know whether you are a professional photographer but I now advise you as a recognized professional photography - get yourself a filter.

If I can win awards and accolades with filter on my lens, than I think it speaks enough that filter is not an issue when it comes to good photos.

Here, go to this link http://www.mpaawards.co.uk/overseas-awards-2014/ and click on Industrial & Commercial.

See the RED photo of a computer casing?

That's taken with a Canon EOS 60D (not full frame) - EF-S 15-85 lens (not prime lens, not L lens) and i has a B+W filter on it (so much for filter degrades photo).

Hahaha, I did say that bro. It's true that a good filter you can't tell a difference. But it does come in a price.

Actually lousy filter also not so bad la. It's not like the 18-55 lens is stellar in IQ to begin with.

I wouldn't worry about getting good filters until I actually have decent photos.

Your kitlens is probably worth only a few hundred bucks if bought off the second hand market. If you're planning to buy a few hundred bucks worth of filter to cover a few hundred bucks worth of kit lens, then I suggest that you keep the few hundred bucks to buy a second hand kitlens should the unlikely event that your kitlens got wrecked because you didn't put a filter happens.

Rule of thumb is that your filter should be cheaper than the lens it is meant to protect because it makes sense to sacrifice a cheaper filter than to risk a pricey lens.

However if the lens is not really a stellar performer and not that expensive, then the question becomes is it worth it to get a filter in the first place.

For me I'd go without a filter for the kitlens because that's what I did.

18-55 lens the filter size very small, a cheap one usually works fine. At least maintain keep the scratch, dust and water away from front element.

very helpful later on when you want to sell off, just in case *touch wood* bad stuff happen.

It's kinda ironic isn't it when it comes to kit lenses? People most often want to get rid of it as soon as possible. So if nobody wants it then why worry about the resell value?

Haha. Just my thoughts on the subject.

For me I wouldn't worry about a filter. You most probably need a kit lens if you want to sell the body along with it. Else the market for a kit lens is not that great. Doubt it would fetch much of a price even so why worry?

same dilema here.. never bother abt kitlens but then recently bought a macro lens which is $$$.. is HOYA UV good ?

Erh I thought that there are some circumstances where the filter actually makes a reflection, like a glare?

Will have to agree on this

depends on the quality of the filter. some people look for certain filter just to get flare.