Using Filters to Protect Lenses

As a mom first and a photographer second, protecting your camera can't always be your top priority. Because of this, many moms end up with fingerprints, scratches, or worse on the front of their lenses. Thankfully, there is an inexpensive, effective way to protect your precious glass. Keeping a clear UV filter on all your lenses at all times provides an extra layer of protection from scratches and dings.

Almost every lens has threads on the front for screwing in filters; and there are lots of different types of filters for different purposes. "Clear" or "UV" filters will not have any visible effect on your images and can be kept on your lens permanently, so they are perfect lens-protectors. Your lens cap can fit right onto the filter when you aren't shooting.

Filters like this can be purchased quite inexpensively. You can get  this one, for about $5 to fit the Nikon 18-55mm and Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6 VRlenses I recommend. If you end up scratching the filter, you can replace it for under $10 instead of replacing your lens for a couple hundred dollars.