This is where I got mine. You can pick from $20 to about $80. As usual you get what you pay for. Depends on use. It is always better when taking star images to remove any UV filters. The real advantage of the multicoated UV filters is to stop flare from bright sources. The optical quality is also better. Whats the use of an exquisitly crafted lens better than 1/4 wave and add on a filter that is many waves from flat and or parallel.
Mike,
I second Berts comments. I dislike them, but given a fair percentage of the DSLR use is from an aircraft, the chances of smacking the front element are right up there.
Also at night, while I would like to not use them, the chances of dew come into play, even with a dew heater. I would rather clean the dew off the filter, than the front element.
Get a decent quality one though, and this normally relates to how much you pay.
I have found filters a real pain and found the coating's are easily damaged with cleaning. I used a filter in front of cooled CCD and found that after a couple of incidents where condensation mist formed the coatings became damaged.
For comparision when I first got my 100mm Canon lens I managed to dew up the front element a number of times (before I got smarter with avoiding condensation) and each time I cleaned the lens afterwards to remove the residue. But the coatings are still perfect.
Terry what about terrestrial shots? I'm under the impression that UV filters help cut down glare for long-distance shots, for example of a mountain range etc.
Yes for long distance shots I think a UV filter is a good idea. Most of my shots tend to be close range (or very far!) and I never use a filter.
Having said that there is a chance I might have a 52mm filter around. If I find one I'll send it down (free of charge of course!) as I no longer have a need for that size.
Green case - Very cheap and nasty Phillipines manufactured
Purple case - Cheap Japanese manufactured
Grey case HMC - multicoated Japanese
Black case Super-HMC - mulitcoated Japanese
Black Case Pro1D - Even more expensive
The hoyas are hard to clean. If you want the best the B+W mulitcoatedes are the best but very much $'s.
I couldn't find a decent one in my collection (well I found one on an old 135 f3.5 Pentax lens thats about 30 years old....but I don't think you would want that!)