MFDB sensor + protective/UV filter?

[lowep]

Which is worse: image degradation caused by bouncing light from a protective or UV filter on the lens, or dirt on an unprotected lens?

Of course this depends on weather conditions, environment, importance of any given shot etc.

Just curious about what others do?

[John R Smith]

Well . . .

You shouldn't really get dirt on an unprotected lens, unless you are working in a dust storm or something. I use a UV filter mostly to protect the lens if I stupidly managed to bang the camera against something (or stumbled and fell on rough ground). Probably I should take the filter off if I am shooting hard into the light, just to cut down on flare. But I usually forget.

John

[humpty]

Don't have one but I've been reading other forums. Some filters have been known to decrease sharpness and contrast, even expensive ones.
So I would take it off before the shooting session. Oh wait, there's a lens cap for that.