Skylight / UV Filter lens protection

Hello
I've just fitted a Jessops Skylight 1A filter mainly for lens protection.
It has quite a pronounced tint to it, and thus cuts the light down by a third to half a stop.
Worse still though, is that it noticably dims the viewfinder image which as we know, is one of the best things about Pentax SLR's.
Can anyone reccommend a Skylight / UV filter that has none or virtually no tint?
Or are there clear glass filters around just for lens protection?
Thanks

This has been covered extensively on other threads... will dig out the thread when I can.

I've been using Hoya Pro 1 slim UV0 filters. No discernable difference to the image at all. But they're not cheap...

...and can actually harm the lens. I've dropped two lenses with these filters on and they just splinter into a million pieces. The shattered glass actually causes more harm - actually counter productive.

If you have genuine Pentax lenses, then the coating is actually very hard and durable. So, as you may read here, many just go without a "protection" filter for their expensive lenses As I am now doing.

Matt

A while back I paid a small fortune for actual Prentax UV(0) and Ghostless filters. They did not seem to detract from the image or brightness, but as George often says, they must. A filter is a piece of glass with two surfaces. No matter how well made and coated, there must be loss.

I was living with this until I read Matt's account of shatter damage. Now that's a double jeopardy I don't need.

I religiously use only lens caps now. Oh, and metal lens hoods!

However, I tend to like polarisers when I'm 90 degrees to the sun and using 50mm or longer lenses. I accept the considerable light loss for the desired effect.

So for me, my kit just got a lot lighter and simpler.

(I'm thinking of making a stained-glass lamp out of all my unused Hoyas, Tiffens, Kenkos etc.)

Cheers

...most recently on this one - https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2702&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 - which started out as a 2x convertor question, but just past halfway down suddenly veers into UV filters for protection.

Dan

Thanks everyone for the replies.
It looks now that my decision is filter on or off.
More headaches!

Hi,

The only company that I know that used to make clear glass protection filters was Contax. They made Contax 'P' filters in mainly 55mm thread, but also very rare ones in 49mm. They can be found occasionally on the used market.

The majority of amateurs tend to use filters to protect their lenses, the vast majority of professionals do not...also many amateurs do not use lens hoods, whilst almost all pro's do. You should ask yourself why this is...

cheers Steve.

Many lenses are now provided with dedicated hoods, so there is no excuse for not using them!

Previously I always bought the dedicated hood, which could add £30 or more to the cost of every lens.

So, life has improved!