Just curious - I'm interested in opinions about whether you prefer to use protective filters (such as a UV) or not? Personally, I use one when I can verbalize a reason to do so (I'm shooting waterfalls and want to keep splashes off my lens - take it off right before I shoot - or I'm shooting in windy, sandy conditions and don't want blowing sand on my lens). As far as keeping one on all the time to "protect" the lens - well, that's what a lens cap is for. There's something about putting a $20 piece of glass on the front of my $3,000 lens that doesn't sit right with me. As far as "it doesn't degrade the image" goes - stack about three on there and then tell me it doesn't. Just FYI - I am old school (i.e. - I still use that antiquated medium once called "film") - haven't gone pure digital yet and my arguments may be completely inapplicable (is that a word?) in the digital realm. (Not trying to tick anyone off - just thought it would make an interesting debate)

I know people who swear by them. I for one have never used one and probably never will. I feel as you do that that is what lens caps are for.

All valid reasons on both sides. In the mountains, distant landscapes, and even scenes lit by indirect blue sky, I'll use a Skylight (1B). It cuts through the haze, and I really sort of like the slight warming effect. Also feel less guilty about cleaning it off with spit and a hankie than I would if actually touching the lens ;-) For cases where there is not one of these needs I'll try to remember to take it off. It is important to use a lens hood to prevent as much flare as possible.

I love it! That's what I call a response - coherent with reason (the entire fact that there is a "filteration reason" to use a UV had completely slipped my mind - I guess because it's become such a "clear protective filter" that I rarely think of it as a "filter to filter out UV". I have used skylights, because of their very slight "pink' coloration, to warm up shots at times (under a green, leafy canope(sp) when a warming filter would be a little too much).
Yes, in your situation when at one minute you could be shooting a "grip-and-grin" and the next shooting a Klan rally, your best bet IS to keep some sort of protection on the front of your lens - too much time taken to place and remove a lens cap all the time.
I have a bad habbit of lumping all photographers into doing the type of photography I do - nature/wildlife with a lot of macro stuff - most of the time I have the luxury of time to compose, focus, and wait for the moment. Your last line is excellent and merrits repeating - "The bottom line is that understanding your situation using the proper tools for what you need is really what's important" - excellent!

Misha:

You beat me with your responce - my last responce was directed towards Alpha - but you make several good points. LENS HOODS!!! To me, they provide more protection to the lens than any filter - kinda like a bumper against trees, walls, etc. (The one thing almost as bad as a scratched lens is a dinged rim that won't allow you to screw a filter on!)

BTW - Verify this if possible - I have heard (read in Petersons YEARS ago) that an old dollar bill is the closest thing you can get to lens tissue....?

very interesting- listening intently, taking notes

It has all been said, one UV filter 20, one new lens 320, what more can you say and if like me you keep loosing your lens caps... :O)

One lens cap: $5 - one UV: $20...

Wow, that's a nice price for an UV! Well, anyway, it's much more trouble to have a damaged lens repaired than to buy another UV filter. Although at 72mm everything does get a bit more expensive :( I do like neutral/grey density filters a lot, but I don't often find a use for them. Don't do much landscapes. But for results I think using your lens hoods is much better than any UV filter. :)

Now if they could just make a filter that protects a lens from damage from dropping.....

PS when using stuff like Nikon's 2.8 ED serie lenses, it's a reason more to use a $20 piece of glass. I often take my camera along at busy places, so it wouldn't be the first time that someone's bag, watch, hand or whatever bumps into my lens. It's either an UV or a very large gun ;)

Yeah! But you can't take pictures through a lens cap Marc :O)

Lens hoods are wonderful inventions. ['Chelle, there is a lot of great information in these posts. Any idea how to capture it?]