UV filter for haze reduction?

[Shawn Nelson]

A filter i've yet to see discussed on reduser is a good UV to really cut through haze (as much as possible) for scenic long lens work. I'm not looking for something to protect the lens, I want to put this in the last stage on the MB (in front of an ND and pola) to help do a better job on cleaning up my long lens scenics. See the attached pic, I shot this a few months ago with my RPP100 and really wished I'd had something to clean up the haze.

 

[Shawn Nelson]

Furthermore, I noticed Tiffen has several different flavors of UV filtration (breakdown here http://www.tiffen.com/tips_lens_protection.html) while Schneider has theirs. I'm overwhelmed by the options

 

[Harry Clark]

Hey Shawn,
Definitely worth discussing and mostly overlooked as a subject regarding Red. I wonder if CMOS sensors, in general, react the same as film when it comes to UV, or is the effect worse or better?
Regarding Tiffen's page:
The Sky-1A is sort of the basic all-around haze filter. The Haze-1 is great if you are at higher altitudes. It's kinda funny that they lump the 812 in there, which I have only ever used as a warming filter, but apparently has a UV benefit as well. As a side note, 812 is particularly nice on Caucasian skin, as it warms the tone slightly and adds a subtle touch of pink, but does not warm the image excessively overall.
Regarding your image:
Was that VISIBLE haze? Because a UV filter will really only remove haze caused by UV contamination, which is not visible to our eyes. A UV filter may help a little with visible smog, but only to the extent that the UV is being scattered by the visible smog.
Finally, I will say that in the 4 years+ of being "a Red guy" now, I have not gone out of my way to use a UV filter, mostly because I have not been in a situation that would normally dictate the use of one. I've been mostly in a world of TV commercials on stages or in practical locations. Not a lot of travel/ scenic work at this stage in my career. So I have no first hand experience other than past experience in film and traditional broadcast video, so I'm not a UV/Red authority by any means.
Maybe David Mullen or another narrative-film oriented cinematographer can chime in? Or perhaps a travelogue or scenic (NatGeo-type) cinematographer here?
Cheers,
Harry

 

[Les Dittert]

Regular window glass cuts UV.
Look up the reviews on phototip website, they review many, it's all about the coatings and flare suppression.
Hoya HMC did well.

 

[Patrick OMara]

You want a polarizing filter, it'll cut through that haze.

 

[Tim Duran]

Shawn, there is a slew of UV discussions on Reduser. The threads lasted for nearly 12 months or so. Comments by some of the premier Redusers are all there. You just need to look. Use the Reduser search or Google search for Reduser comments.

 

[Shawn Nelson]

ah come on, you posted that and couldnt just link to them? You cant search for UV, it's too short. Fine, I'll try to go find it