What is a "UV filter" and why would I put it on my camcorder?

What is a "UV filter" and why would I put it on my camcorder?

Tim Smith (Camcorder Training Specialist) gives expert video advice on: What accessory will help me protect my camcorder?; How do I protect my camcorder from water? and more...

UV filters, sometimes called skylight filters, are there just to protect the front lens. There are a couple of things you want to think about. Does your camcorder have a built in lens cover? That's a fairly common feature on newer cameras these days. Even though we've always recommended UV filters in the past, it is not as necessary as it used to be. You're going to find that some of the lower priced camcorders don't even offer that as a feature because they are no longer threaded; they don't take filters. So, take a look, find out if you need a UV filter. If you do, it's good protection, they're not expensive, and if you ever scratch a filter, it's time to consider yourself lucky because that would've been the lens you had just scratched. So, you might want to consider it. Talk to your saleperson a little bit about it, see if a UV filter is a good idea for you.