[Rover]

I've been in a confessional mood lately.  Burn me to the stake!  I don't use filters, unless you consider close up lenses to be filters!

 

I have a slight tendency to want to use a clear filter to protect the front element, but I figure if I use a hood, I get most of the protection with out the cryptic behavior of the filter throwing one more variable into the mix.

Well, of course whatever floats your boat! Me, I prefer to replace a $80 filter rather than fork out hundreds to replace a front element (or, worse still, a whole front group / assembly). I've had my share of filters that got smashed or badly soiled - I would hate to think of that happening to the lens instead.

 

Then again, I got "funky" results once when the filter on my Tamron 70-300 VC got misaligned in its frame. Thankfully, it was only 62mm size so when I decide to buy a new one I won't be set back *that* badly.