CV single coating lens - filter?

[kshapero]

I usually use a B&W UV MRC filter on my lenses, but it occurred to me that on a single coated lens that might not be the best solution. Any ideas?

[Robert Lai]

Why not? I just want the UV filter there for protection. I don't need it to add its own reflections into the image, especially with single-coated or uncoated lenses. Multicoating "minimizes the damage" of putting another two glass-air interface surfaces in the optical path. I use the B&W UV MRC even on my uncoated 9cm f/4 Elmar from the 1930s (34mm filter size).

[P. Lynn Miller]

The only filter I normally use on any of my lenses are color filters for B&W film. But when I bought my Color-Skopar 28/3.5 it came with a B+W UV MRC filter which I decided to let on the lens for good measure. I kept having trouble with flare and coma when shooting into strong light which became my main gripe against the lens. Recently I decided to give the 28/3.5 another chance, this time removing the filter and the issue with flare is gone.

I have never used a filter as a protection measure for the front element on any of my lenses and have never had a front element damaged. A good lens hood is a much better form of protection and increases flare resistance as well.

[kshapero]

UV Filter or no filter?

[Bruin]

The ideal UV filter will have absolutely no effect on your pictures. It would be the same as no filter at all.

Anything less than ideal (real world) may degrade sharpness, introduce a tint, or add flare to your shots. Aside from the first two, my guess is that if you're shooting under conditions where the filter is gonna flare, your single-coated lens is already gonna flare quite a bit anyways.

So you're adding the potential for more flare (assuming no sharpness or tint effects). Is that what you want? If you want even more flare, use an uncoated filter.... heck, stack 'em and see what happens!