Filters....

[janakkpandya]

I do not have 50mm f/1.8 (prime) lens I'm planning to buy the same. Can anybody suggest me should I use filter on top of my lens? If Yes then which one I should go for make and type of filter? With that prime lens I'll shoot portraits and may be Landscape. Is that is right choice for landscape?

Please suggest me with your valuable views.

Thanks in advance.

[Nicole]

For shooting landscapes I'd recommend a polarising filter and a grad ND filter. I use a Hoya filter for my polarising filter and Cokin for my Grad ND.

[janakkpandya]

Originally Posted by Nicole

For shooting landscapes I'd recommend a polarising filter and a grad ND filter. I use a Hoya filter for my polarising filter and Cokin for my Grad ND.

Thanks Nicole. Can you please explain me what is Grad ND means???

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by janakkpandya

Thanks Nicole. Can you please explain me what is Grad ND means???

Picture a tinted windshield on a car with the dark band on the top of the windshield. A split ND filter is on the same idea. Dark on the top and getting lighter toned as you go down to the bottom of the filter. That will help you to get good exposure on the brighter lower part of the image while maintaining good detail in the sky and clouds. Basically, it cuts out some number of stops of brightness in the upper sky area.

[janakkpandya]

Originally Posted by autofocus

Picture a tinted windshield on a car with the dark band on the top of the windshield. A split ND filter is on the same idea. Dark on the top and getting lighter toned as you go down to the bottom of the filter. That will help you to get good exposure on the brighter lower part of the image while maintaining good detail in the sky and clouds. Basically, it cuts out some number of stops of brightness in the upper sky area.

Oh.... ok now I understood thanks dear.

[ishootRAW]

^^^^^^^ are good for specialized uses. I always get a UV filter for the front of my lenses, It protects them and makes you pics a bit better in daylight. For a $119 lens this is not all that important, but when you have $1600 lenses, you don't want them broken just because you touched the front element with your finger nail.

[janakkpandya]

Originally Posted by ishootRAW

^^^^^^^ are good for specialized uses. I always get a UV filter for the front of my lenses, It protects them and makes you pics a bit better in daylight. For a $119 lens this is not all that important, but when you have $1600 lenses, you don't want them broken just because you touched the front element with your finger nail.

Just for my curiosity I'm asking this. So does it means that filters doesn't make much difference in photography images other than protecting precious lenses

[Zeke Menuar]

Originally Posted by janakkpandya

Just for my curiosity I'm asking this. So does it means that filters doesn't make much difference in photography images other than protecting precious lenses

Depends on the filter. The graduated ND filter is almost mandatory for sunrise and sunset shots. For waterfall shots a regular ND filter is needed to get that silky look.

The UV filters on my lenses are for protection, same with lens hoods.