Beyond the Hype: Why You Might Not Need That UV Filter for Your Digital Camera

So, you've invested in a fantastic camera, and the world of accessories beckons. Or perhaps a helpful salesperson has already started listing all the "essential" add-ons. Sorting through the must-haves and the nice-to-haves can be tricky. Today, let's tackle one accessory that, in my opinion, often falls squarely into the "skip it" category for most digital photographers: the UV filter.

The very name suggests its purpose: to block ultraviolet (UV) light from reaching your camera's sensor. UV light is high-energy and invisible to the human eye. Back in the days of film photography, however, film was highly sensitive to UV light. Especially closer to the equator, where UV radiation is stronger and harsher, unfiltered UV light could result in photos with a bluish, hazy cast. Hence, for film shooters, particularly in those regions, a UV filter  ...