Originally posted by peterjcb If filters were that important wouldn't the manufacturers ship their lenses with filters by default? How necessary are they and what do they actually do to increase image quality?
to answer your specific question, what filters would you want shipped with the lens? Some people use UV, some don't (hate them). If you hate UV filters, would you want to pay for a filter you'll never use?
same thing can be said for CPLs, and CPLs depending on filter size (and quality) can range in price as much as $150. I would hate for my lens to come with a crappy CPL I'll never use because I've just paid a premium for it, and I still have to go out and buy one myself that fits my needs.
and what about ND filters? I shoot waterfalls and need them, but some people who will never shoot a waterfall in their lives wouldn't want to pay for them to be included with the lens.
and add in all the manufacturing costs to cover the variables, you'll pay a lot more for a lens (and included filters) because of this.
I don't want my lens manufacturer to be "a jack of all trades and a master of none". I want each portion of my kit to be mastered, thus separate parties for lenses and filters.