Review of commonly used UV filters

[eawtan]

Hi,

With the constant asking of questions like
-"Which UV filter is best? "
-"Will a UV filter degrade my image?"
And a personal desire to see the degree various UV filters will degrade my image, I have done a small experiment.
I hope this is the right place for me to publish my findings.

Filters that were tested (I only own these, tested on 1 sample of each) :
- No Filter (as reference)
- Hoya HMC UV(N) Japan
- B+W 010 1x MC, Multi Resistant
- Hoya UV Philipines
- Nikon L37C


Procedure :
Camera was tripod mounted, 1/60 f8 on a 80-200 AFS @ 200mm, flash on manual, Auto WB. Sharpening off.

Target image :

Centre area was magified 300% and cropped, the cropped image was doubled dpi no sharpening, no correction was done .
Results :

Original 100% cropped can be viewed at:
No Filter : http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/1196/dscf4891nofi8ai.jpg
Hoya HMC : http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/7824/dscf4892hmc0ar.jpg
B+W : http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/1771/dscf4893mrc8mw.jpg
Hoya UV : http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/446/dscf4894uv5vs.jpg
Nikon L37C : http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/6311/dscf4895l37c4ad.jpg

I leave the conclusion open for discussion ...

 

[espn]

Need a NC to test?

 

[eawtan]

Need a NC to test?

If it's FOC, I'll surely take it....

 

[espn]

If it's FOC, I'll surely take it....

Can loan you one... but I'll bet the results are the same as no-filter used.

 

[eawtan]

Can loan you one... but I'll bet the results are the same as no-filter used.

I would say the results should be closer to Nikon L37C ...

 

[espn]

I would say the results should be closer to Nikon L37C ...

I still have my box of my router, lemme see ... :think:

 

[wiz23]

From your test, seems like the L37c is the best! :thumbsup:

No surprises here

 

[espn]

From your test, seems like the L37c is the best! :thumbsup:

No surprises here

Pretty close with B+W also, see carefully.

 

[Hobbesyeo]

I think the B+W MRC is second? Right? :think:

 

[espn]

I think the B+W MRC is second? Right? :think:

Colour redition the L37C's better than the B+W, but no filter is best, I think NC77 would achieve the same as no filter

 

[wiz23]

Pretty close with B+W also, see carefully.

Ok, Boss! ... U're right, it's pretty close :think:

PRO tio si PRO! :thumbsup:

 

[wiz23]

Colour redition the L37C's better than the B+W, but no filter is best, I think NC77 would achieve the same as no filter

Wah, so I very heng bought 3 NC77 from UT lor ... Thanks, Uncle! ;p

 

[waileong]

Not the best day for testing today, the torture test is shooting into the light, to check for flare resistance and loss of contrast, it's what separates the men from the boys.

 

[eawtan]

Not the best day for testing today, the torture test is shooting into the light, to check for flare resistance and loss of contrast, it's what separates the men from the boys.

Totally agree, hope to be able to conduct a part#2 .....

 

[wiz23]

Totally agree, hope to be able to conduct a part#2 .....

Thanks in advance, man!

 

[smallaperture]

With so much pouring rain, and not wanting to risk getting the hair wet or the precious gear wet, so got time to carry out these tests.

Good to know that there is some difference and we are able to see the difference, if at all. But I wonder if it makes a significant difference in the photo if we print to say 4R, 8R or a little bigger.