[remus]

Just a quick question
I have followed your advice so far and went to Bluewater yesterday to have a closer look at a real 400D & D80. Now before I go back tomorrow, I seem to remember from years ago when I purchased my Pentax that it is best to get a filter to protect the front of the lens. Was it a UV filter ? and is this still the case with lenses now days.

kevin.

[stepheno]

A UV filter will do fine - just check the lens filter diameter. Also if you use filters you get what you pay for - the cheaper the nastier and the more expensive the better, for a good compromise get Hoya.

[Soupdragon]

Now this is a contentious issue.
I avoid filters like the plague.
My heart goes out to the hapless Nikon engineers who spend many years devoloping optics that will bring light to focus on your sensor only to be thwarted by another source of interference.

96000000 miles to get to your front element and you scatter it in the last two milimeters.

That said, it is prudent to protect your front element so, my only advice is, GET A GOOD ONE!

[Steve]

Soupy has raised both the pros and the cons in his above reply.

For ultimate quality don't add any filters but make sure that you are happy and can afford to replace/repair the lens should the glass become damaged at all.

A UV or Skylight filter is recommended as a cheaper solution to replacing the lens in the event of damage. The filter takes the damage and thus its cheaper to replace that rather than the lens. The trade of is loss of quality. The amount depends on how good the filter is and that, like everything is related directly (in most cases) to cost as well All filters will reduce the quality but by how much and what is acceptable will depend on the filter itself and the photographers demand on his/her equipment.

So there is no straight forward answer and no right or wrongs

[Dutchie]

I have the Hoya 67mm Super HMC Pro 1 UV (O) Filter for my D80. I leave it on at all times. I can't see much difference in quality of photo's, but then again I haven't been able to study it that much. My husband bought it from onestop-digital It does the job just fine for me.

[remus]

Thanks Dutchie
That is the one I have been looking at, will order it today.

kevin

[Dutchie]

I had bought the filter at first from jessops for £43.99 And then i'd seen it for a lot cheaper by onestop. Thought it was well worth the exchange

[remus]

Yes thats where I went to purchase the D80 at the end of last week. Nice camera.
Does the D80 lens cap still fit with the filter on?
One of the reviews i was looking at said that you have to use a hoya push on cap.

kevin

[Soupdragon]

I don't know about the lens cap with a filter but, when I have the Nikon hood fitted, it's a Devils own job trying to get the cap back on with my stubby fingers.

[Dutchie]

Yes it fits perfect. i have no problem with it whatsoever