Should I buy a clear or UV filter to protect my digital camera?

I recently bought a Nikon D80 with a Nikon vr lens 18-200mm and want to buy a filter to keep on the lens at all times for protection without compromising color, focus or lighting.

Any suggestions?

We get this question often enough that I decided to upload a sample to Flickr showing the same subject taken with and without a UV filter. Download the image, cut a small section out of the top half and drag it to the same section in the bottom half and see what you think. The photos were taken about 15 seconds apart in subdued sunlight, so I think the lighting was virtually identical for each. There was no post-processing at all so you can make a fair comparison. I will not comment any further and let you decide for yourself if there is any color shift.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7189769@N04...

The picture was taken with a Nikon D200 at ISO 100 with the Nikon 18-200 VR lens @ 112 mm at f/5.3, so it's your camera and your lens. :-)

Buy a name brand like Hoya or Tiffen. Don't get cheap junk to put on the front of your fine lens.

UV, it cuts down a little on flares on the lens, just dont cheap on the filter how ever. Get a good one like the Hoya's multi coat if you can swing about $50.

I would certainly recommend it, particularly after one incident with my Godchild, a toddler than, who managed to open my camera bag, remove the lens cap and stick her finger on the lens and leave a huge red candy gooey glob on the filter... it was easy for me to clean the filter... and in fact, I would not have minded replacing the filter... a filter doesn't cost as much as lens, right? I can't even begin to imagine how much dust and airborne dirt I've avoided by using the UV filters on ALL of my lenses... I don't take chances now!

Yep. A UV filter is good.

I previously used a UV filter but switched to a Skylight filter it reduces excess blue and adds warmth to the picture. This is usually called "All purpose" filter. UV filter is best for black and white pictures.