Do you use filters?

[laura]

Just wondered if any of you used filters at all? And when?
I have read many articles on them, with mixed reviews.
Have any of you used them yourselves? How did you find them? Would you recommend them?

[dkippen]

Laura -

I have UV filters on all of my lenses to protect them. There are many views on whether these affect picture quality or not. Some people use them, others stay away. For myself - if it's going to happen, it will happen to me, so I choose to use a UV filter to help protect my costly lens against potential scratches.

Another filter to consider would be a polarizing lens. On bright sunny days, this will give you bluer skies and whiter clouds.

If you shoot waterfalls, an ND filter can be beneficial which will allow you to use a slower shutter speed.

For special effects, a star filter for a night city shot will of course create the star effect on lights.

And the list will go on and on. It boils down to personal choice and what effect you want to create. If you do choose to use filters, make sure you get quality filters like Tiffen or Hoya. Yes, they do cost more, but as I've learned with this hobby, cheap doesn't work.

[laura]

Hi Debbie. Thanks for your reply. I had considered buying a filter as protection for my lense, but was worried about it effecting the picture quality, so thought id ask to see if anyone had any experience with them.
Maybe I should buy on and try it out.

[ladyups]

I'm like Debbie...I have UV filters on all three of my lenses. If the quality is affected, I can't tell it.

[laura]

Thanks Mary.

[jonrayner]

I have a UV filter on my lens and thought it made my shots soft, however have realised that it is the lens that is making my shots soft and not the filter.

I also use a polariser which is great on blue skies and water.

Am looking to purchase a ND filter at some point.

[gocamels]

Filters are great, but be careful what you buy. A poor quality filter can hurt your photos more than help.

Think of it this way. A good quality Canon "L" lens is going to cost from several hundred to several thousand dollars. Now, if you just paid, say, $1400 for a good piece of quality glass, do you think a $10 El Cheapo filter is going to make the photos coming from that $1400 lens look better or worse?

My advice is to save up and buy good quality filters, just like with lenses.

[Joel]

I'm looking for a polarizer. But can i use a filter and lens hood? It's on a Sigma 70-300 DG.

Sorry if I'm hijacking.

[laura]

Your not hijacking - you can join in any conversation you want.
I haven't got any filters yet, but from what i understand you cannot use a lens hood at the same time. I may be wrong. I'm sure someone will be a long soon with the correct answer though.

[dkippen]

Joel - it depends on what filter you're using and what you're shooting. If the only filter you have on your lens is the UV, then using the lens hood should be fine. With a polarizer, I don't think so - but don't quote me on that.

[gocamels]

The problem with a lens hood and a polarizer is that the polazizer has to be adjusted so that it is filtering the light the way you want it to.

This is done by rotating it, which the lens hood will interfere with.

[Joel]

Alright thanks for the info. The reason i ask is because it only has one screw thing on the end. I have never used filters before but I'm guessing thats where it goes.

[chris.e.fry]

The only lenses I have right now are Nikkor. I have lens hoods still fit fine if I have a filter on the lens (which I always do for protection). At the very least, I think anybody with an SLR should get a UV or weak Skylight filter for each of their lenses just for protection of the lens. I would much rather scratch a filter than a lens. Also, polarize filters are nice for some outdoor shots.

[reval8r]

I'm looking for a polarizer. But can i use a filter and lens hood? It's on a Sigma 70-300 DG.

Sorry if I'm hijacking.

To answer your question Joel is yes. With the Sigma lens I have the lens hood is a screw mount. You have to screw on the filter and then the hood to the filter. If your camera is auto focus, be sure to purchase a circular polarizer, the linear polarizers don't work with auto focus.

[reval8r]

The problem with a lens hood and a polarizer is that the polazizer has to be adjusted so that it is filtering the light the way you want it to.

This is done by rotating it, which the lens hood will interfere with.

With my Pentax lens, the hood is not affected by turning the polarizer. There's a place in the hood that is removiable so you can rotated the polarizer and the hood stays put. With my Sigma lens the hood has to be attached to the filter so it rotates with hood. What I done was to purchase the old rubber lens hoods designed for wide angle lens. This way I can rotate the polarizer and not effect the hood position. Just a tip I thought I would pass along.

[chris.e.fry]

I had considered buying a filter as protection for my lense, but was worried about it effecting the picture quality

A good quality UV filter will not effect your shots at all, unless there is some reason you want UV to be hitting your sensor.

[solo1]

Filters and lens hoods are used together. I have a uv filter as protection on all lenses the only other filters I use are Neutral density

[pipedesign]

Does anyone have experience of using an Achromatic filter for Macro? I know what they are but would love to see some pics taken using one. Preferably from someone who isn't trying to sell me anything - if you know what I mean?

[jasonobrien]

Filters are great, but be careful what you buy. A poor quality filter can hurt your photos more than help.

Think of it this way. A good quality Canon "L" lens is going to cost from several hundred to several thousand dollars. Now, if you just paid, say, $1400 for a good piece of quality glass, do you think a $10 El Cheapo filter is going to make the photos coming from that $1400 lens look better or worse?

My advice is to save up and buy good quality filters, just like with lenses.

I Agree with gocamels.

I Spent $30 on a polorizing filter a few years ago and it wasn't till recently when i was trying to focus manualy with my 70-300mm
lens that i noticed that i couldnt focus correctly with the filter on, the lens was fine with the filter off.

So im gonna go for a b&w polorizing filter when i can afford it.

Hope thgis helps:)

[coffee]

I use to use UV on all my lenses till I started noticing more lens flare. I've e since taken them all off now. Not just because of the flare, but also because I know anything you add to your lens like filters, and TC's and other filters, will take some quality away. Is it noticeable to the normal Joe, maybe not. But the way I see it, photography is hard enough without making to harder to get a technically correct image. So no more UV fitters just to protect the lens. I do use ND and Polarizers when necessary though. I've also learned the correct way to clean a lens, and do so when ever needed.

[jerryph]

I used to use filters on all my lenses except the 50mm 1.8 which costs less than a good filter.

On one of my lenses, I put on what I thought was a high quality filter, and it cost me $180. For some reason, I always had issues getting razor sharp images. I mean, they were sharp, but not what I expected from a $1500 lens. Just recently I got fed up, and took it off and took 10 quick pictures... eureka! The difference was night and day, it went from a nice lens to an INCREDIBLE lens in a few twists.

From now on, Tiffen and Hoya filters are off my list. I will do research and prefer to pay $200 for excellent UV filters rather than have any at all.

Just a note, even an average UV filter will not affect a mid-range lens much, but put that same filter on a top of the line lens and you will see differences as obvious as being able to see sharpness and clarity on the camera's tiny LCD screen!

[w8jy]

I agree with Joseph 100% - filters can degrade images.

Lens hoods do a much better job of protecting the lens than any filter can!

I use UV filters only if I am exposing a lens to salt spray or blowing dust.

[coffee]

I use UV filters only if I am exposing a lens to salt spray or blowing dust.

That's a good idea.

[ca7696]

Hello all.. I am going to play around and try different filters something I never used before other than to protect my lens. I was wondering would I be better off using different filters like the reds, blues,orange, sepia etc etc.... or would I get the same or better results NOT using a filter and using software to get the same results?? and if so has anyone used a filter based program thats good?

[baan]

Hi guys! I'm just reading through all the comments on filter lenses. Now I'm confuse, some says UV is great and some says it isn't. I'm a newbie and would like to protect my lens from scratches, but I don't want to lose the quality of the photo. What should I do? Also, any recommendations on a portrait filter...I like that soft look.

Thanks,
Sheroba

[trashytrucker]

...I'm just reading through all the comments on filter lenses. Now I'm confuse, some says UV is great and some says it isn't...

Thanks,
Sheroba


Sheroba,
Good advice has been given in above posts. All that anyone is saying is and was also explained to me some time ago... If using indoors? Take the UV off. The lens hood could supply better protection anyways. Perhaps outdoors, and if you might be in an awkward situation...such as climbing, near the woods, branches etc. You might leave it on. If you want to reduce some glare of an object in a pic and DONT want to move, use a circular polarizer (CP) also CP makes the sky "pop" and makes it take on a richer blue. However you can spend the time post editing and get the same effect.
If you want to use a slower shutter speed (you want to blur action) and you have too much available light and cannot? Use a (ND) neutral density filter. The ND is the same as if you are putting sunglasses on your lens.

If you are wanting your photos to "pop" with more colors you can go into your cameras custom settings and bump the saturation up. You can do the same effect in post editing. But again if you have the time.
But main objective here is this: whenever you stack any glass on top of glass, you risk having a reduction in quality. However in certain instances a filter can and will be appropriate in certain applications.
Hope this helps some,

regards,
Matt :D