Using Filters. Yes, No, Maybe?

[Jcampbelll]

I wouldn't use any UV filters. It degrades the pictures.

 

[sobolik]

Alright.....now that everyone has gotten their smart ass remarks out of their systems. Does anyone have any suggestions as to a better filter or filters to use?

What is the brand and model camera? this is required to answer the question fully but in general...

Now days all you need for filters that can not be addressed with software are the Circular polarizer and the ND filters. Technically UV can not be addressed with software but mostly UV is for protection.

Of the 2 the CP will get used more often and produce killer colors and awesome results. The ND filters will tone down very bright areas so the camera recording range is not overloaded. i.e prevent detailless bright or dark areas.

ps from my observations smart ass remarks are likely because they don't have a clue as to the proper answer.

UV filter
And here is another tired and worn often repeated bunch of **&*^&^ "I wouldn't use any UV filters. It degrades the pictures." Look at this web page and tell me that a piece of glass as in a UV filter is going to degrade anything worth even thinking about http://kurtmunger.com/dirty_lens_articleid35.html

 

[kundalini]

What is the brand and model camera? this is required to answer the question fully but in general...

Not likely.

ps from my observations smart ass remarks are likely because they don't have a clue as to the proper answer.

DING-DING-DING..... WE HAVE A WINNER FOLKS....

or is it?


hmmmm


:-D

 

[aadhils]

Circular polarizing filters (when used properly) help you get those lovely rich blue skies with clouds that stand out. Also they help you cut glare/reflections from glassy surfaces and lakes and what not.

 

[IgsEMT]

"pha-tah-gra-fuhr"

:lmao:

 

[mjhoward]

I dont believe UV Filters do anything to 'protect' a lens. A lens has glass elements... UV light is not going to harm glass, I certainly dont have UV filters on my windows at home or in my car, and the look good as new. What a UV filter IS useful for, however, is FILM. Unlike a CMOS or CCD sensor used in digital cameras, film is sensitive to UV light. Using a UV filter will prevent film from having a blue or purple haze. It does absolutely nothing for a Digital SLR other than degrade your optics.

 

[KmH]

I wouldn't use any UV filters. It degrades the pictures.

Maybe. It depends on the quality of the UV filter. A good UV filter will not improve an image, but it won't degrade it either.

It also depends on the altitude the photographer is at when making images. The higher you get, the more UVA light there is. From about 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) and higher, a good UV filter can slightly improve an image.

Cheap filters are not optically clear because they are not uniformly flat across both of their surfaces. The are in plastic or soft aluminum housings.

The better filters are made using Schott glass and have brass housings.

 

[Infidel]

I dont believe UV Filters do anything to 'protect' a lens. A lens has glass elements... UV light is not going to harm glass, I certainly dont have UV filters on my windows at home or in my car, and the look good as new. What a UV filter IS useful for, however, is FILM. Unlike a CMOS or CCD sensor used in digital cameras, film is sensitive to UV light. Using a UV filter will prevent film from having a blue or purple haze. It does absolutely nothing for a Digital SLR other than degrade your optics.

The 'protection' thought to be imparted by a UV filter has nothing to do with attenuating UV light, rather the logic is that by putting an inexpensive piece of sacrificial glass in front of the expensive lens, there is an additional barrier to protect the front lens element from impact and abrasion. Whether or not this truly constitutes protection is controversial.

Also, most CCD and CMOS sensors are indeed sensitive to UV light (as well as infrared light). The reason why screw-on UV filters are largely irrelevant in digital photography is that most digital cameras are equipped with a manufacturer installed UV/IR filter in front of the sensor, thus rendering an external filter redundant at best, an exception to this would be in the case of higher altitudes, noted above.

 

[j-dogg]

Alright.....now that everyone has gotten their smart ass remarks out of their systems. Does anyone have any suggestions as to a better filter or filters to use?

I actually keep an FLD and a Neutral Density filter stacked together in the bag for long exposures, like super long exposures of lights at night when I want the lights but not the points from the number of blades on my aperture.

The UV filters are typically used for physical glass protection, not for UV light but from scratches. and the circular polarizer is great for photos with a lot of sky or reflection. I had a cheap UV on the front of my $500 Tamron and found a scratch on it a week ago, so it did it's job. I remove it when I'm about to shoot.

but you do get what you pay for.

 

[Infidel]

The ND filters will tone down very bright areas so the camera recording range is not overloaded. i.e prevent detailless bright or dark areas.

I don't understand how a ND filter can selectively tone down very bright areas without also darkening shadows....unless you are referring to a graduated ND filter. It is my understanding that a ND filter does not compress the luminance range, rather it shifts the entire histogram to the left, independent of relative brightness. The same effect (on the histogram, that is) can be obtained by reducing the exposure via aperture, shutter speed, or ISO. ND filters are typically used to enable slower shutter speeds or larger apertures (for creative effects) in bright lighting conditions.

Maybe there is something missing from my understanding; could you (or anyone else) please explain how this works?

 

[sobolik]

The ND filters will tone down very bright areas so the camera recording range is not overloaded. i.e prevent detailless bright or dark areas.

I don't understand how a ND filter can selectively tone down very bright areas without also darkening shadows....unless you are referring to a graduated ND filter. It is my understanding that a ND filter does not compress the luminance range, rather it shifts the entire histogram to the left, independent of relative brightness. The same effect (on the histogram, that is) can be obtained by reducing the exposure via aperture, shutter speed, or ISO. ND filters are typically used to enable slower shutter speeds or larger apertures (for creative effects) in bright lighting conditions.

Maybe there is something missing from my understanding; could you (or anyone else) please explain how this works?

You are mostly correct and also lacking creativity. If you were creative you could answer your own question.

For example when shooting into the setting sun I will use several non graduated ND filters (10 or more stops) hand held to line up the bottom edge with the horizon. And no, the camera cannot focus on the edges of the filters so it don't show.

Creativity? Cut out a small circle of an ND filter (like a welding shade) stick it to a clear piece of glass and tone down a moon. If anyone just gasped in horror at the thought of degraded image quality then I again refer to this link. http://kurtmunger.com/dirty_lens_articleid35.html

 

[o hey tyler]

The larger ones work great as coasters for beer and soda cans and bottles...they give your house or apartment that "pha-tah-gra-fuhr" look!

I can't begin to explain how awesome of an idea this is. Have you seen the Camera Lens Mug, Derrell? That may be right up your ally.

 

[tirediron]

The larger ones work great as coasters for beer and soda cans and bottles...they give your house or apartment that "pha-tah-gra-fuhr" look!

I can't begin to explain how awesome of an idea this is. Have you seen the Camera Lens Mug, Derrell? That may be right up your ally.

You mean this one? http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...s-reviews/219159-shiny-new-birthday-lens.html

 

[o hey tyler]

The larger ones work great as coasters for beer and soda cans and bottles...they give your house or apartment that "pha-tah-gra-fuhr" look!

I can't begin to explain how awesome of an idea this is. Have you seen the Camera Lens Mug, Derrell? That may be right up your ally.

You mean this one? http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...s-reviews/219159-shiny-new-birthday-lens.html

Yes, you are one lucky dog for having one of these! However, I have a feeling I may be getting one in my Christmas Stocking from my lady. I drive a Saab, and the one complaint is that they have very narrow cupholders. So I feel like this lens mug would work so much better in it. I guess I'll have to wait to find out.

 

[table1349]

For digital cameras the only two filters that are necessary are a circular polarizer and neutral density filters.
Polarizers
Neutral density filter - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Keep in mind that you are putting a piece of glass or plastic in front of you lens. Top quality filters will cause significantly less IQ loss than cheap filters. Singh-Ray, B&W, Helopan, to name a few.
Here is a good place to find about anything you need in filters.
CameraFilters.com - Official Site