Do I need a UV filter for my camera?

A UV filter is an ultraviolet filter. Its main purpose is to protect optical lenses from damage, dust and dirt (all this quickly destroys the lens). Also such optical elements detain ultraviolet radiation when shooting distant objects. After all, the digital matrix and photographic film, in contrast to the human eye, are more sensitive to this type of radiation. UV-filter is very useful for shooting in mountainous terrain, it helps to avoid the blue raid on the photos.

The entire region of the ultraviolet spectrum can be divided into 3 ranges: long-range - 280 nm and shorter (UV-C); The average is 320-280 nm (UV-B); And the nearest one is 400-320 nm (UV-A). The sensitivity of digital technology is lower than film sensitivity, so it takes the near range, and the film is able to fix the entire region of the ultraviolet range (but the human eye can not see in one of these ranges). However, the possibilities of film cameras limit the possibility of optical lenses. The UV filter cuts this radiation at 320 nm (middle and long range).

When choosing such a product, it is necessary to repel the diameter of the lens. That is, to find out which filter is suitable for your camera, you need to know the diameter of the thread of the lens (it is indicated on the lid on the inside). The price of the product depends on its size. So a UV-filter with a diameter of 52 mm costs 10-15 dollars, and 77 mm - 30-40 dollars.

It is accepted to divide filters of category UV into four groups:

• Neutral - neutral colorless;
• SkyLight - pink, designed to give warm colors to photos;
• Directly UV - ultraviolet;
• Haze - against the haze.

Despite the external differences, the purpose of this group is one - to protect the lens from external influences, ultraviolet and haze. The most popular are the UV-filter and Skylight.

Very often sellers present Skylight as the best and, accordingly, expensive, but the effect of warm tones on the photo is intended only for film cameras, on the figure it is reduced to zero by the presence of a white balance .

When choosing such a product, do not forget that the main function is to protect the optical lens of the lens from mechanical influences, and ultraviolet protection and the like is secondary. Many amateur photographers doubt the ability to filter ultraviolet radiation, because in the photo this is practically not reflected (according to the manufacturers, the filter protects the digital matrix). In the opinion of such photographers, photographic optics companies simply cash in on amateur photographers. Therefore, it is often recommended, when choosing this or that UV filter, to base on the properties of mechanical protection. Although protective lenses are considered the cheapest, however, do not forget that any lens is, first of all, an obstacle to the passage of light, so it is better to buy such a product from a reliable manufacturer, made of high-quality materials with strong light transmission.

To use UV filters or not, the amateur itself should decide, but it is necessary to take measures to protect the lens, because the price of a good optical system can be even higher than the cost of the camera itself.