UV lens filters — What they are and when to use them.

SmugMug
SmugMug
Published in
4 min readAug 2, 2022

--

Hazy days got your photography feeling foggy? UV lens filters are an easy and helpful tool for a range of situations. Learn all about them here.

Photo by Hosein Ashrafosadat

Have you ever taken a photo of a beautiful outdoor scene but every shot came out too hazy, no matter what angle you chose? Then you may have needed one extra tool: a UV (ultraviolet) lens filter. Here’s a helpful introduction to the wonderful world of UV filters.

What is a UV lens filter?

A UV lens filter is a filter that attaches to the front of your camera lens and reduces the amount of ultraviolet light that passes through the lens. By attaching a UV lens filter, you eliminate haze caused by certain weather conditions like moisture in the air, atmospheric haze, and airborne pollutants, so your photographs come out crystal clear.

Photo by Ibuki Tsubo

UV filters come in a range of strengths, and depending on the conditions you’re shooting in, you’ll want to choose accordingly. For instance, if you’re shooting near water, or at a high elevation with snow, there’ll be a stronger concentration of ambient UV light. For conditions like these, a stronger filter such as a UV-Haze 2C or UV-Haze 2E will be best.

Even when conditions are mild and there’s not a high concentration of ambient UV light, UV lens filters will keep your photos clear and can help protect your camera lens against dust, water, scratches, and fingerprints.

Photo by Yann Allegre

UV lens filter FAQs

Here are some of the most common questions about UV lens filters.

1. What does a UV lens filter do?

A UV lens filter helps improve clarity when shooting in conditions with atmospheric haze. It’ll also help protect your lens against fingerprints, scratches, moisture, and dust.

Photo by Kal Visuals

2. Should you use a UV filter on your lens?

Yes, a UV filter has very few downsides and offers added clarity and protection to your lens.

3. What’s the best filter for lens protection?

The best UV filter lens is one that will match the conditions where you take photos most often and will also protect your lens from the elements. We also suggest taking the value of your lens into account: UV filter glass tends to be more fragile than the glass in your lens, especially in cheaper options, so if you have an expensive, high-quality camera lens, you should pair it with a high-quality filter.

Photo by Ricardo Esquivel

4. How do you put a UV filter on a lens?

To put a UV lens filter on, you’ll want to match the threads with your lens and carefully screw the filter onto the camera lens. You don’t want to over tighten or go too loose — just a snug fit so it stays in place and does its job will do.

Pro tip: When shopping for a filter, make sure you know the size of your lens so you can buy the correct size.

5. What’s the difference between a UV and a polarizing filter?

The difference between a UV and a polarizing filter is that a UV filter reduces the amount of UV light that enters the camera lens and reduces the haze that can be caused by some atmospheric conditions. A polarizing filter, also known as a CPL filter, absorbs UV light, as well as other light that may cause glare off of reflective surfaces, like a body of water.

Photo by Chris Lynch

If you take photographs in the mountains, forests, by the beach, or anywhere where you’ll encounter hazy conditions, a UV lens filter is a valuable addition to your photography tools. And by having your UV lens filter attached before you begin, you’ll have a bit more protection from the elements, too.

Tell us what you think! Do you use a UV lens filter or something else? How important is the UV lens filter for your photography? Leave a comment below or share it on our Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

--

--