Skylight or UV?

Newbie question! I've just taken delivery of a rather nice 16-45 Pentax lens. Should I buy a Skylight or a UV filter as a 'stay on' for routine photography and protection of the lens. If so, any suggestions for the best one to buy?

Cheers

Dave

Hi Dave,
Lots of controversy on this one.
I use a UV on mine, just to stop myself from scratching the front element when cleaning my dandruff away
Image quality can suffer with filters, but my eyes cannot see the difference anyway.
A filter will protect you from light cleaning scratches, and you probably wont be able to spot the deteriation in IQ.
So get the UV one.
Of course some others here may differ

Davex.

No disagreement from me, except that I'll make sure that I buy multi-coated (pro) filters in future.

I have stopped using my uncoated UV and skylight filters, as they cause ghosting (especially from bright light sources).

I use a hood for protection now!

If it has to be one or the other then make it a UV because they are more neutral in colour. You can always add a warm-up effect with digital processing when you like.

But you won't need extra protection for the lens if you're careful, and you'll have two fewer surfaces to keep clean without a filter.

Skylight warms up the colours slightly I believe.
UV filter is becoming less needed, coatings and the glass before the sensor filter UV.

And please don't start a topic about filters for protection
There are many points of view on that one.
They harm the image quality since you add a piece of glass that's why lens makers are trying there best to get as few lens elements in a lens.
With most lenses you don't notice a difference but lens flare, ghosting, etc. will be more likely and some lenses just hate them.
Filters do have some protection value against some elements but if it's worth is something you need to decide.

Buy a quality filter - and Hoya make a "Protector" which does not have the UV or Skylight filtering. Hoya Pro digital are thin and unobtrusive and remember Hoya = Pentax

I went through the same process as you and the best advice I was given is "do not use a Skylight".

I have both UV and protector on different lenses and when photographing a landscape in bright sun will (if needed) swap to the UV.

Hoya filters are made by . . . Tokina.

I used to get Pro UV, now I get the Hoya "Protector". I believe that most sensors have a UV filter anyway.

And Tokina is part from Hoya

Or get B+W they are part from schneider, we can go on for ageses like this.

Ony bought a UV filter for my kit lens and the lens after that since it was recommended but now I don't buy them anymore.
I lay the money I save with a polarizer filter, much more handy and usefull I believe instead of a piece of glass infront of your lens.

Thanks for the replies folks. I decided to go for a Hoya UV Pro but I found your observations and those on the 'UV' thread in the Lens section very interesting. What a great, informative forum.

Dave