Choosing between types of filter

[radhak]

I only found out about the awesomeness of Neutral Density Filters this week (!) and now I feel I can't live without it ! (Yes, I know I sound like Calvin there).

Then I realize that my circular polarizer was bought for the kit lens and I really need to get one sized 67mm for the 17-50mm lens that I nowadays use as a walk around.

So, is there a priority between these two types of filter - or should I get both? As you can infer, I have not used the polarizer very often in the past year, and need to, seeing that I shoot landscapes a lot. And I need to read up on how exactly the ND filter is used.

And while we are here, what other types of filter are out there that are used often?

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

There are a few that are really useful:

1. UV / Clear - for protection from cracks and scratches. If you get a high quality multi-coated one it will not affect sharpness. If you have a UV filter + lens hood that combo will be enough to protect your glass from most physical damage. Highly recommended.

2. ND - I assume that you are not talking about a SPLIT / GRADUATED ND Filter. A simple ND filter just lowers the amount of light reaching the sensor, allowing you to use longer shutter speeds. Very good for creating motion blur during times of the day when it is still too bright to get a sufficiently slow shutter speed. Even during later times in the day, it is good for getting even more blur.

ND Filters are also essential for videography and time lapse photography. If there is motion in the scene, shutter speed will actually determine how sharp and / or "flowing" the video will be.

https://vimeo.com/videoschool/lesson/56/frame-rate-vs-shutter-speed-setting-the-record-straight

3. Circular Polarizers - they reduce reflection and glare as well as make colors pop out a bit more.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/polarizers.shtml

The color popping thing can easily be done in post processing, but reducing glare and reflections can not.

4. The more or less standard size for professional-level lenses is 77mm. If you're low on cash you can get step up / step down adapters that allow different sized filters to screw onto different sized lenses.

 

[slashbinslashbash]

Yes, are you talking about a graduated ND or a plain ND? In either case I would actually recommend a kit like this one:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ty_Filter.html

Once you have a kit like this with the filter holder, you can buy any Cokin filter you want, graduated or not:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...l_Density.html

The biggest benefit of this system is that it is oversized so that it will fit practically any lens. (Problem when you buy a 77mm filter and then Canon updates their lenses to use an 82mm filter...) You just need to get a cheap adapter for your particular lens size (67mm). You can also stack filters in these holders easily and without worrying about vignetting (except with ultra-wide angle lenses).

 

[Scooby Doo]

Only ones I know of are the ND and circular polarizers, UV filters are more or less worthless.

Funny, we don't even need the old cooler/warmer filters anymore

 

[Throckmorton]

Why do you feel like you can't live without a ND filter? They are pretty specific in purpose... lowering shutter speed when there is too much light. I can't think of any instance when I've needed one.

 

[slashbinslashbash]

Why do you feel like you can't live without a ND filter? They are pretty specific in purpose... lowering shutter speed when there is too much light. I can't think of any instance when I've needed one.

There are some specific effects that people get. Like get a 10-stop ND filter, point your camera at some buildings with clouds moving behind them on a sunny day, let it sit for some minutes and you can get a cool blurred-cloud thing. It's not just a movement thing, it can also give an environment kind of an ethereal look.

Also helpful for when there are people/cars/other movement, if the movement is consistent enough (nobody sitting in one place for too long) then they kind of blur away and disappear.

Graduated ND filters are great for sunrises/sunsets, you can make the sunset nice and saturated without turning your foreground into a black blob.

 

[radhak]

Why do you feel like you can't live without a ND filter? They are pretty specific in purpose... lowering shutter speed when there is too much light. I can't think of any instance when I've needed one.

I was being facetious - but slashbin's sample pictures show what's motivating me - both the landscape that looks like an oil painting, and the picture where people moving around don't show up! Would be great at some museum/monument, or at the beach.

The circular polarizer is useful, but you gotta remember it's on, and learn to use it right. Very easy to not see any effect if the filter is not oriented correctly, or the photographer is not.

I do have a diffusion filter that I stopped using - supposedly good for portraits because it 'smooths out skin', I found it just softens focus for everything which is not all that satisfying.

I saw pics taken with a 'star' filter that turns a light source to have a 'star' effect :

interesting, but a one-trick pony that get old fast if used indiscriminately:

 

[slashbinslashbash]

There is a way to get something similar to the star effect with simple aperture masks made out of construction paper or card stock. It only works on out-of-focus highlights, but it can be a cool effect, for free.

http://www.diyphotography.net/diy_create_your_own_bokeh
http://www.flickr.com/photos/overoften/sets/72157604008894707/

 

[Scooby Doo]

Oh my... I love that!

 

[jhansman]

Only ones I know of are the ND and circular polarizers, UV filters are more or less worthless.

Funny, we don't even need the old cooler/warmer filters anymore

Agreed. The consensus these days is a UV filter is useless on digital glass. I have, however, used a clear protector filter for peace of mind. As for a graduated ND, I wouldn't leave home without it. That and my circular polarizer are must haves.

 

[Jtorrespr1]

Great info here, thanks you all for the input.
Im getting that kit slashbinslashbash thanks for recommending one.