Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/02/24
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I decided to find out what the REAL effects of a UV filter are on image degradation. I arranged for an afternoon of test time at a high end optical testing facility in Cambridge MA. I am bringing my Hasselblad 110/2 and Leica 75/1.4 with their respective Hasselblad and Heliopan UV filters, and will obviously test them with and without the UV filters. They suggested as tests, both MTF and resolution. Center and out to the edges. I also want to test focus shift. If anyone has experience with doing such testing and has some CONSTRUCTIVE input on the testing procedure, I welcome it. Those who think this is silly, well, given that this only costs $175/hour, and one filter is near $100, I think that if I find out filters are useless, it'll easily recoup my money by selling all my image degrading UV filters. If I find out filters do not degrade the image such that it is perceptible, well, then I won't waste my time debating this subject, as I will have facts to back up my conclusions, and that will be well worth the effort and expense. I will publish the raw test results, no matter what they are. I fully expect this to be quite controversial, and I also fully expect to find there is 'some' degradation. It is the significance of the degradation that will have to be 'analyzed' in order to draw any 'reasonable' conclusion to whether a UV filter does actually degrade the resultant image.