Filters

[hambino]

Did some searching but couldn't really find anything substantial on the issue of filters. What are some basic starter filters? What I've found, so far, is I should look into some kind of Neutral (natural?) Density filters and a UV filter. Any advice to give a beginner? Like, what are some of the basic things to consider when looking at filters?

Thanks, guys/gals!

[digirebelva]

dont go cheap...B&W, HOYA etc...if you have good quality lenses, why would you mount cheaply made glass on it...it can effect your image quality...
Think about what you will be shooting, that will help determine what types of filters you will need..
Landscapes...ND, GND, Polarizer...

[hambino]

Excellent, don't go cheap, got it! I mainly take photos of landscape and people (doesn't everyone?! lol) that I see when I'm walking around Tokyo, etc mostly in the late afternoon - evening. I've been looking at filters b/c when I don't shoot at these times, the light is way too bright and I don't really PP my photos, sooooo. What's "GND"? Also, what makes a filter "cheap"?

Thank you for the feedback!

[tinton14]

Cheap filters would be those you get off ebay for 3 dollars, the difference is the glass, quality of it is different. Adding a filter is going to affect your quality somewhat since it is another piece of glass in front of your lens, but the more expensive filters are suppose to have less image degrading to your images. GND is graduated neutral density filters, these are sort of like a gradient filter in a way since it fades from ND to clear, it will help to take photos when the sky or land/water is overexposed, this way it helps keep the whole image properly exposed instead of half proper and half over-exposed. I'm sure others can give you a much more indepth and more accurate information. I'm still new to this but thats what I've understood from it.

[digirebelva]

The more expensive filters have better coatings on the glass and are generally better made (i.e. higher guality) the use better materials.
A GND works best when you have 2 seperate exposures going on..a bright sky and a darker ground...it allows you to get both in 1 shot rather than exposing for one and either blowing out the other or underexposing the other..

[hambino]

Thank you for the info, y'all! Guess I'll be looking for either a GND or a ND filter this weekend. What price range should I be looking at? I'm shopping in Japan and understand some Japanese but if I can spend more time looking at the filters in the right price range instead of having to read every package that'd be super helpful

[Henry Wilt]

You mentioned UV filters also and as no-one else has touched on it I will. In reality they are not necessary for digital sensors as the sensor itself has the filter.
Some people use them as protection for their lenses, the argument being a UV filter is a hell of a lot cheaper than the lens. A lens hood can be used for the same purpose to an extent.
It really is a personal choice.

I do have them on all my lenses but then I have four kids with sticky fingers etc and we also go to the beach quite a lot. I find it a lot easier to clean the filter than the lens.

[joe27]

Did I miss something, I thought a polarizer was also one of the first “must haves.”

[mattdm]

I'm curious why you're finding the light too bright. Unless you're intentionally trying to shoot with long shutter speeds for effect, that's not a usual complaint. People using ND filters usually do so to take pictures of waterfalls and etc., where a long exposure smoothes the water.

[Krusty79]

Here's another thread that talks about filters and other equipment recommended for photographers who want to get serious:

Landscape gear

As Joe said, a circular polarizer is a "must have," as you cannot duplicate the results in PP.

Also, you're going to have to learn how to do some PP if you want the best results.