Filters/Polarizers

[photo_DAD]

I am a Outdoor/Nature photographer. Wondering what Filters/Polarizers are a MUST for my bag. How do I know what size to get? Thank you for all the help.

 

[ann]

the size is based on the lens, you will find that information on the lens itself. It will look something like 58 with an infinity mark lying on its side or a o with a slash at a diagonal to the o. It all depends on the lens. Netural density filters are the other most useful filter and they come in different strengths, and if you do a lot of landscape work they are very helpful.

 

[Vinny]

Definitely a circular polarizer. Possibly a neutral density or graduated neutral density although I personally don't have them but I was thinking about getting a graduated neutral density But getting a good brand is the key. The debate goes on whether to get UV filters for lens protection; digital doesn't need UV filters for the most part. I've read you can use a polarizer as a limited use Neutral density filter although I haven't tried that yet.

As far as size - I would buy the largest size of your lenses and buy step up rings. You can find the size usually on the lens cap.

 

[WesternGuy]

I would agree with all that has been said so far. You do have to remember that filters are like any other glass, you get what you pay for, so the only suggestion I would offer is to not buy cheap ones, they can do you more harm than good, having said that good ones can be expensive, e.g., a Hoya circular polarizer will cost you upwards of $100 ± depending on the size. Also, buy glass filters as opposed to plastic ones and make sure they are coated to reduce glare.

If you tell us what lenses you have and their diameters, then we can probably offer more suggestions as to what you might want to acquire.

The suggestion to buy the largest one you need and then buy step up/down rings is a good one and is exactly what I did. It is definitely a lot less expensive than buying a circular polarizer or neutral density filter for each lens. HTH.

Cheers,

WesternGuy

 

[GeorgieGirl]

A circular polarizer is a great first choice for what you do. Note there is a difference in the size/diameter that you will need versus the focal length of your lens. Just incase you are confused.

So for example, I have an 85mm lens, for this I need a 58mm filter since that is the diameter of the face of the lens. (That's where your cap clicks on)

I have a 70-200mm lens, this lens diameter is 67mm.

Ergo the suggestion to purchase the largest filter and then step down rings since they are nearly a hundred a pop and three lenses can be $300.00 in filters.

Now one last thing in the event your lenses are wide(r), for example my 10-20mm lens glass is so near the top of the ring that the filter will screw into on the lens that I need for that lens a 'thin filter'.

The polarizers (since we are speaking about these) come in a couple of 'thickness' in order to accommodate the need for a filter that sits more above the lens bubble on wider (angle) lenses in order to reduce the vignetting that may come from the screw ring becoming part of the photo due to it sitting to near the lens glass and becoming part of the short/wide image capture.

 

[ann]

Also, be aware if you using a lens hood if is going to be difficult to rotate the filter to place it in the direction you wish.

 

[kundalini]

Also, be aware if you using a lens hood if is going to be difficult to rotate the filter to place it in the direction you wish.

​

Slide your finger inside the hood, touch and rotate as required, easy peasy. ​

 

[ann]

Depending on the size of your hands, it may be or it maynot. But if it works for you, terrific.

 

[benhasajeep]

A multi-coated circular polarizer is what you should get. Decent ones with multi coating are anywhere from $50 for smaller ones to over $200 for the best biggest ones. Skip the cheap ones as they will work, but there is a quality difference. The multi-coating helps control lens flare and stray light. Hoya has a good multi coated CPOL (circular polarizer) in the moderate price ranges. Top end models would be Hoya Pro Digital line, or B+W multi-coated variety.

As for regular or thin ones. The thing to watch for is for really wide angle lenses you will not get a consistant result because the angle of view the lens captures. Also thin ones do not have front threads so you can't stack other filters on it.

As for size, you can save money by buying to match your largest lens or even the largest lens you plan to buy. Then buy step up rings for each of your smaller lenses to match up to the big filter size. Step up rings are about $10 deppending on where you shop and size. An example of this is I bought a 77mm B+W MC CPOL when I first started getting back into photography. That fit my biggest lenses. I then bought 2 step up rings to fit my smaller lenses. This way I got a very good CPOL and it fit my four lenses for what 3 less expensive CPOLs would have cost. Over the years I have picked up other sizes as well. But if your not sitting on Fort Knox buying a single good one and step up rings is the way to go starting off.

 

[djacobox372]

Just make sure whatever filters you buy are of high quality. You can typically tell the quality by where they're made, germany is the best, japan is "okay," and china is crap.

I personally think an ND filter is the most important as digital manipulation can be used in place of a polarizer and graduated filters (although polarizers are great for cutting reflections, which can't be done in post).

An ND filter will allow you to achieve motion blur and narrow dof in bright sunlight, two things that are not easily faked in post.