Originally Posted by
Xenedis
Firstly, there's the dreaded lens drop. People drop lenses. I've done so myself. A UV filter offers absolutely no protection whatsoever from an accidental drop. Simple physics explains why.
In the unlikely event that a lens were to hit the ground face-first, it would be even more unlikely for the objective element to strike the ground or an object on the ground. In terms of probability, it is more likely that some part of the lens barrel will strike the ground, owing to the fact that there is far more surface area comprised of the barrel.
Lens hoods do three things:
If a lens is dropped, the hood or barrel (as described earlier) will be more likely to take the hit. In most cases, lens hoods are made from plastic, so they will flex when they come into contact with a hard surface at significant velocity. This cushioning, much like a car's shock absorber, absorbs the force of the impact far more effectively than the rigid surface of a filter rim or the lens barrel itself.
I'd trust my hoods before I'd trust a filter.