14 min

Are camera UV filters worth it? Pros and cons explained

Updated 20th Aug 2025

Short answer: For most modern shooting, skip a UV filter. Use one only as a sacrificial layer in sand/sea-spray or dirty environments; remove it for night/bright point lights to avoid flare. A lens hood protects without extra glass.

UV Filters — Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Lens protection: Acts as a sacrificial layer against dust, dirt, scratches and knocks in challenging environments [3].
  • Possible haze reduction: In some conditions can reduce haze/minimise blue cast and slightly enhance saturation [3].
  • Safeguards expensive glass: Adds a first line of defence for high-value lenses [3].

Cons

  • Often unnecessary on digital: Modern sensors already block UV; routine use is widely debated [3].
  • Image risks: Added glass can induce flare/ghosting and, at wide angles, vignetting; can limit optically superior lenses [1].
  • Selective use only: Best reserved for harsh environments; remove for night/bright point lights to avoid flare [3].

Bottom line: For most modern shooting, skip a UV filter. Use one as sacrificial protection in sand/sea-spray or rough travel; remove it where flare is likely. A lens hood protects without extra glass [3].

Discover the truth about Ultra Violet filters for camera lenses.

Investigating the Necessity of UV Filters for Camera Lenses

Learn whether they are a necessary accessory or just a marketing gimmick.

The debate on whether Ultraviolet filters provide critical lens protection or are simply a marketing tactic has persisted for quite some time. Among photography experts, there's a split in opinion, with varying advice on how these filters affect image quality. Scientific evidence is scant on the efficacy of Ultraviolet filters in blocking ultraviolet light and reducing blue casts in photographs. So, what is a Ultraviolet filters? It's a lens attachment that not only offers lens protection from dust and scratches but also aims to improve image quality by filtering out ultraviolet light.

So, what is a Ultraviolet filter, and what is its purpose?

It is an ‘Ultra Violet’ filter that screws onto the end of your lens.  Its intended purpose is based on two main arguments:
1.   It protects the end of the lens from scratches and dust.
2.   It blocks out ultraviolet light and removes a blue cast on images.

UV Filters

UV Filters

UV Filters for Cameras: The Ultimate Guide to UV Protection Lens Filter and Image Quality

Are Ultraviolet filters necessary accessories or mere marketing gimmicks for your camera lens? This question has sparked a debate among photographers for years. To shed some light on the topic, we will explore the purpose and benefits of a UV filter for cameras. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced photographer, understanding the use of a UV filter can help you make an informed decision about whether to use them on your lenses.

Personally, I'm sceptical about the necessity of UV filters and their value as a purchase. Retailers often push these lens filters onto customers investing in a new lens, using a sales approach that suggests they need this camera accessory for uv protection. This sales approach is similar to that used when buying an electronic device and being coaxed into additional spending on warranties or insurance. Let's explore the main arguments for and against using a camera UV filter on your lens.

What Do UV Filters Do and How Do They Work?

UV filters, or ultraviolet filters, are lens attachments primarily designed to block incoming ultraviolet light rays (UV Light) from reaching the camera sensor. In the film era, these filters were essential for reducing the effects of ultraviolet haze and radiation on the captured images. However, with the advancement of digital cameras, the role of a camera UV filter has evolved, adapting to the new technology.

While modern digital sensors are less sensitive to ultraviolet light, UV filters still offer valuable benefits. They act as a protective layer for your camera lens, shielding it from dust, dirt, scratches, and other potential damage. Additionally, a UV filter can improve image quality by reducing haze and minimizing the blue color cast caused by ultraviolet light in certain conditions.

Lens Protection: The Primary Function of Ultraviolet Filters

One of the main reasons photographers choose to use UV filters is for lens protection. By attaching a UV camera filter to the front of your lens, you create a barrier that guards against dust, dirt, and other contaminants. This is particularly useful when shooting in outdoor environments where the lens is exposed to various elements, providing an essential safeguard with lens filters.

Ultraviolet filters are especially beneficial when photographing in challenging conditions such as windy or dusty environments. They help prevent debris from reaching the camera lens surface, ensuring that your images remain clear and free from unwanted artefacts. Moreover, UV filters provide an extra layer of lens protection against accidental drops or impacts, minimising the risk of lens damage.

Debunking Image Quality Concerns

There is a common misconception that Ultraviolet filters can degrade image quality. However, this is not necessarily the case. The key to maintaining optimal image quality while using any filter lies in choosing one of the best filters from a reputable manufacturer, which can make all the difference.

Top-notch filters are designed to have minimal impact on image quality. They are crafted with optical glass elements and feature multi-layer coatings that reduce optical aberrations. These professional quality filters preserve clarity, sharpness, and colour accuracy, ensuring that your images retain their true quality.

It is worth noting that stacking multiple lens filters, such as a UV filter, on a camera lens can potentially lead to some loss of image quality. The additional layers of glass may introduce slight vignetting or flare. However, these effects can be minimised by using high-quality filters and paying attention to filter compatibility.

UV Filters in the Digital Era: Do They Still Serve a Purpose?

With the advancement of digital cameras, the necessity of UV filters, which protect against ultraviolet light, has been questioned. Built-in sensors in modern digital cameras are equipped to eliminate UV light, reducing the need for a the filter. However, experienced photographers argue that an Ultraviolet filter can still offer advantages in terms of image enhancement and camera lens protection.

While digital sensors may filter out most ultraviolet light, there are still situations where a UV can improve the camera lens image quality. For example, when shooting in overcast conditions or areas with low light, a UV filter can help to reduce haze and enhance colour saturation. Additionally, UV filters act as a safeguard for your lenses, offering protection from potential damage.

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Choosing the Right Filter for Your Camera

When it comes to selecting a UV filter, it is essential to consider the filter quality and its camera lens filter compatibility with your camera and lenses. Here are some factors to keep in mind:

  1. Optical Quality: Opt for Ultraviolet filters with excellent optical quality to ensure minimal impact on image quality. Look for filters made of optical glass with multi-layer coatings to reduce reflections and maintain clarity.

  2. Size and Fit: Choose an Ultraviolet filter that matches the thread size of your lens. Check the lens specifications or refer to the lens manual to determine the correct filter size.

  3. Brand Reputation: Stick to reputable brands known for their quality filters. Research customer reviews and expert opinions to make an informed decision.

  4. Price vs. Quality: While cost is a consideration, investing in a high-quality Ultraviolet filter is crucial for optimal image quality and lens protection. Cheaper filters may compromise image clarity and introduce artefacts.

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When to Use Ultraviolet filters

Now that we have explored the benefits and considerations of Ultraviolet filters, let's discuss the appropriate use of them:

  1. Outdoor Photography: If you frequently shoot in outdoor environments, especially in challenging conditions like sandy or dusty areas, an Ultraviolet filter can provide invaluable lens protection.

  2. Landscape Photography: When capturing landscapes, a the filter can help minimise the effects of atmospheric haze, resulting in clearer and more vibrant images.

  3. Lens Protection: If you own expensive lenses, using a the filter is an effective way to safeguard your investment. It acts as a first line of defense against accidental drops, scratches, and dirt.

  4. Travel Photography: A filter can be beneficial for protecting your lenses from the elements and ensuring that your images remain pristine.

Proper Maintenance and Cleaning of Filters

To maintain the effectiveness of your UV filter and ensure optimal image quality, it is essential to clean and care for it properly. Here are some tips for filter maintenance:

  1. Regular Cleaning: Clean your filter regularly using a microfiber cloth or a lens cleaning solution. Remove any dust, fingerprints, or smudges to maintain optimal clarity.

  2. Handling with Care: Handle your filter with care to avoid scratching the surface. Store it in a protective case when not in use.

  3. Avoid Excessive Force: When attaching or removing the filter from your lens, apply gentle pressure. Avoid using excessive force, as this can cause damage to both the filter and the lens.

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Arguments Against A Ultraviolet filter

  • UV Glass Quality - lower quality than your lens glass

Drawing from my own observations, I've discerned that the use of a UV filter can sometimes lead to a slight decrease in camera lens image clarity, a trend more noticeable with low-grade filters. Yet, when I choose premium UV filters like those from B+W or Tiffen, the effect on image sharpness is barely perceptible. This makes the decision to employ a UV lens filter one of weighing lens protection benefits against a barely-there loss in image clarity.

  • Images of Flares and Ghosts

Lens flare, which is often intensified by the use of budget lens filters, results from light scattering that causes bright light to spread across the filter's glass surfaces. This phenomenon contributes to a rise in ghosting and flare under certain lighting conditions and is typically more pronounced with subpar filters.

UV Filters

  • Diminished illumination

    While definitive evidence is lacking to conclusively support or debunk the notion, a top-notch UV filter is unlikely to have a substantial impact on the light quality that reaches a camera's sensor. Nonetheless, it's important to recognize that lenses are designed to deliver their best performance without any filters, though accessories like polarizers and density filters can be indispensable for creating specific photographic effects and managing exposures.

  • Diminished resolution

    The influence of a UV filter on resolution is particularly critical when using telephoto lenses, as it is directly linked to the filter's optical quality. Inexpensive UV filters might degrade resolution due to their inferior optical properties. For the sharpest results, it's essential to maintain a clean UV filter since any dirt or smudges will be more visible on the filter than on the lens element.

  • Vignetting when using wider focal lengths

    When stacking multiple circular filters, such as a UV filter, polarizer, ND filter, or GND filter onto a lens, one might notice vignetting, which manifests as darkened corners within the image frame. This effect of vignetting is more pronounced when these filters are combined and used at wider focal lengths, which can include capturing the filter edges in photos taken at a 10-24mm focal range.


So take a look at what do camera filters do post to get a better understanding on which filters to use.

The Verdict: UV Filters - A Valuable Camera Accessory

In conclusion, UV camera filters for cameras are versatile accessories that offer both camera lens protection and image quality enhancement. While the necessity of UV lens filters in the digital era may be a subject of debate, their benefits, such as protecting lenses from damage and reducing atmospheric haze, make them a valuable addition to any photographer's toolkit if you are happy to accept the potential downsides of using them.

Mentoring & Assignments (optional)

When selecting the best UV filter, it's crucial to consider both optical quality and camera compatibility to ensure it matches your camera lens and lenses. Opting for a superior UV filter from a well-known brand guarantees minimal interference with image quality while enhancing lens protection. As with all photographic filters you choose it pays in the long run to pick the premium quality filters. Look at camera filters online like Lee Filters or Kase Filters to match professional quality results from your lenses. Remember that you may need lens adapter kits to fit your lens mount for your telephoto lens and wide-angle lens with different filter sizes. When attaching a polarizing filter, ND filter on top of the uv light filter you may experience vignetting at the wider angle focal lengths.

Ultimately, the choice to employ a UV filter hinges on your particular shooting conditions and personal preferences. Assess the environments where you typically shoot, the value of your camera lens, and the caliber of image quality you aim to achieve. With diligent UV filter care and maintenance, it can serve as a dependable ally throughout your photographic endeavours, safeguarding your equipment and contributing to improved creative output.

So, whether you're just starting out or you're a seasoned pro in the field of photography, don't underestimate the impact of UV filters on your camera lens. Delve into their advantages, try out various lens filters, and see how they can amplify your photographic journey and enhance your creative output.

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Final Thoughts

The ongoing photographers’ debate regarding the impact of UV filters on image quality continues to be a hot topic. From my perspective, achieving the highest image quality is paramount, and I am not willing to accept even slight compromises. As a result, I choose to occasionally risk a lens error rather than compromise the quality of numerous photographs. Hence, I avoid using UV filters and generally recommend others to consider the same approach.

Over more than twenty years, I have experienced just one camera accident resulting in lens damage - it's important to note that a scratch on a lens element doesn't always mean it must be replaced. Have a look at this link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/erictastad/sets/72157616647751423/.

If, like me, you can't bear the thought of a lens scratch, you might find the replacement cost or repairing lens expenses to be less daunting than expected. Typically, the cost to repair or replace a lens scratch is about 10-15% of the lens's original price.

To determine if your lens, or one you're considering buying, has any lens scratches or other lens issues, you can perform the flashlight test as explained at this link: http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/flashlight-test.htm.

UV Filters — Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a UV filter on a modern digital camera?

Usually no. Modern sensors already block UV. Keep a UV filter only for harsh environments; otherwise rely on a lens hood.

When should I avoid a UV filter?

Night scenes, long exposures, or frames with bright point lights. Extra glass can add flare/ghosting and lower contrast.

When can a UV filter be useful?

Blowing sand, sea-spray or dirty/muddy conditions where a sacrificial layer protects the front element.

Will a UV filter improve image quality?

Any improvement is scene-dependent and usually minor compared with film-era benefits. Poor filters can degrade image quality.

What’s the safer default: hood or UV filter?

Use the lens hood by default for protection and contrast. Add a UV filter selectively when the environment is genuinely risky.

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Alan Ranger

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Written By Alan Ranger

Alan is a professional photographer and tutor with over fifteen years of experience delivering photography education and commercial photography services across the UK.

  • Alan Ranger's exceptional professional credentials, accredited by the BIPP (British Institute of Professional Photography), have earned him the esteemed status of an approved photography training provider for renowned brands like Jaguar Land Rover. Moreover, he has had the privilege to deliver more than 30 enlightening lectures on photography education at the prestigious Xposure International Photography Festival in the UAE.

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