Weekly Poll: Do you use filters on your camera?

[Nicole]

This week we ask a question that's been discussed a few times: Do you use filters on your camera?

Lots of people argue that all filters can be replaced with Photoshop, but do you agree?

For some reading on the matter, try these articles:

• Filters vs Photoshop (PopPhotography)
• Introduction to Filters for DSLRs
• Filters vs Photoshop for Color Enhancing
• Glass vs Photoshop: Fight to the Photo Finish

So, do you use filters or not? Why or why not? Are they obsolete, or are they still a valuable part of the image making process? If you do use filters, which ones do you use? And what is the one you could never live without?

[hpebley3]

The main filter I'm use is the circular polarizer. We have a couple other special effects that my wife inherited, a cross effect and soft spot. I haven't really used those. I want to get a graduated neutral density for landscapes and a regular neutral density (possibly more than one) for cutting out light when I have too much and doing long exposures during daylight. I'm not convinced the effects these provide can be reproduced in post-processing. Now I'm off to the links Nicole provided to see if they can convince me otherwise.

[hpebley3]

Originally Posted by hpebley3

Now I'm off to the links Nicole provided to see if they can convince me otherwise.

Cool. These links tend to validate the direction I've been leaning. ND and polarizing are better to do when getting the image. Everything else is better done in post. Here's an interesting polarizer I hadn't heard of before; another thing to add to my list.

[PerJr]

I got UV-filters on my two lenses - I dont think it has a big effect on my pictures in any way - but i'd rather have a blow of sandgrains or a sticky fingerprint on a cheap filter than on my kinda expensive lense.

so - pure protection

[Drax]

UV Filters when shooting in full day light. (but now, it's just for protection sake).
No filters indoors (when its a lil' dark).

P.S.: Nicole, Thx for the links.

[wulf]

No but I would like the following at some point in the future:

Polariser - this opens up a lot of views that are not easily reproduced in post production, such as removing surface reflection so you can clearly see fish swimming in a pond

ND - allowing slow shutter shots in brighter conditions

Graduated ND - to save time having to blend multiple exposures when a scene presents two areas with major light differences.

Wulf

[filemanager]

Originally Posted by PerJr

I got UV-filters on my two lenses - I dont think it has a big effect on my pictures in any way - but i'd rather have a blow of sandgrains or a sticky fingerprint on a cheap filter than on my kinda expensive lense.

so - pure protection

Same here, but I want a polarized filter

[WooD]

I got a couple cheap multi coated UV's on my 2 long lens for protection.


I wood like to try out a super good CP some day thou.

[peeperita]

years ago when i had my old ae1, i used more than a few colored filters....but, these days with my photoshop, i have little need for anything more than a circular polarizer and a uv filter.....i have all the control i need in post for color tweaking.....

although, i think i would like a nd filter sometime in the future.....

peeper

[Nicole]

Originally Posted by hpebley3

Here's an interesting polarizer I hadn't heard of before; another thing to add to my list.

Isn't that one neat looking? I had never heard of it until I came across it a few months ago in some reading. In some ways it probably is a very specific thing, but it still looks like it'd be a really neat piece of gear to have.