Building up a filter collection

[JeffSmith]

Hi everyone, I've decided to get back into photography after a few years of lapse and I'd like some comments on the filters you have in your camera bag.

For me, a Circular Polariser (CPL) is an absolute must to saturate the colours and make the sky a deepr blue etc.

I've just bought a Graduated Neutral Density (GND) which has just been pushed through my letter box this morning so I haven't used it yet. My aim with this one to to even out the light in shots where the sky is much brighter than the subject. Sunsets are a good example.

So onto the point, what's in your bag and why?

many thanks in advance for your advice

Cheers,

Jeff

[Xtrah]

For my 50:

A FL-D filter (killer of all orange flourescent looking lighting)
A "soft focus" filter
A 8x pointed star filter
A circular and regular polarizer
A filter for basically to decrease the amount of light that is let in for longer long exposures (2x and 4x ones)

I think that is it I'm a big filter fan.

[JeffSmith]

A filter for basically to decrease the amount of light that is let in for longer long exposures (2x and 4x ones)

You're describing Neutral Density. I have these for photo's of waterfalls etc on a slow shutter speed - plus just ordered the graduated ND so only a portion of the light is effected.

I prefer not to use a soft focus because you have the option to do that in Post Processing and have the best of both worlds.

Do you have a pic to post where you have used your FL-D filter please?

[JeffSmith]

Has anyone here used the ND fader filter?

It's a single filter that when rotated contains ND at 2x, 4x, 6x, and 8x. Obviously, rather than carrying a set of 4 filters around, you only need this one; but is it any good?

[Boyan]

Hi Jeff, I only have filters that provide effects which I can't easily simulate in software. So polarizer is an obvious one, I also have a 3 stop ND for times when I want long exp in daylight or I'm using flash in bright daylight.

Grad NDs I almost never use because I prefer to take separate exposures and blend them in post. Of course grad NDs have their place too, but I personally rarely use them.

Other than that, the only other type I have are UV filters for protection. All the other ones are too gimmicky for my taste (star, soft focus filter etc) and the color ones can easily be simulated in post production anyway (I always go nuts in post processing either way, so using a color filter would not really save me any time)