So how many of you use Filters for your cameras ?

ShadowMaster · #1 Posted **Mar 4, 2013, 7:27 PM**

Just a poll. How many of the folks here use glass filters in front of your lenses ? I see many debates about this on the net. A lot of people seem to use the filter as a form of protection for their glass while others are against it since it may cause ghosting and flare.

glowrock · #2 Posted **Mar 4, 2013, 7:51 PM**

Depends on the filter. I ALWAYS use a UV filter at minimum on all of my lenses. If nothing else, they serve as an excellent lens protection system and also help out on those hazy, cloudy days. I definitely use a circular polarizer for most daytime work, especially in moderate to bright sunlight. I should pick up a few neutral density filters so I can better handle daytime or dawn/dusk long-exposure work as well.

Aaron (Glowrock)

RyanD · #3 Posted **Mar 4, 2013, 10:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by glowrock

Depends on the filter. I ALWAYS use a UV filter at minimum on all of my lenses. If nothing else, they serve as an excellent lens protection system and also help out on those hazy, cloudy days. I definitely use a circular polarizer for most daytime work, especially in moderate to bright sunlight. I should pick up a few neutral density filters so I can better handle daytime or dawn/dusk long-exposure work as well.

Aaron (Glowrock)

I just got a ND2, ND4, and ND8 filter set. They're absolutely fantastic in the right setting and it takes a lot of the washout on those bright days too. I'm going to start a timelapse project and I guess those are essential for doing timelapses as well.. That being said, I've also botched a few photos (probably because I don't know what I'm doing) using the ND filters because they can add a layer of haze under certain conditions as well as make the sky SUPER blue.. But those are the only filters I have since the glass in front of the sensor is a UV filter already. Oh and I have a Holga lens which is an awesome effect.

Doady · #4 Posted **Mar 4, 2013, 11:19 PM**

UV filter I use as protection. Polarizer sometimes as well.

Make sure your filters are multicoated to avoid the flare and ghosting mentioned above.

Polariser and ND filters are the only ones that can't be replicated digitally.

diskojoe · #5 Posted **Mar 4, 2013, 11:49 PM**

I just use them for protection mostly. I shoot everything in Raw so easy to save lots of stuff. Now someformofhuman is the filter master. That guy will show you how to use those things properly. I had another hipster friend that would go apeshit with old cokin filters to destroy photography. The result are usually pretty cool. He has an old cokin rainbow filter. It actually has a cheesy rainbow on it.

I actually just got some filters in the mail recently. Got a 82mm filter coming for my wide angle too. Hope it comes in soon since it has one of those curved lenses and im afraid of scratching it.

initiald · #6 Posted **Mar 5, 2013, 2:37 AM**

Mostly just a circular polarizer. ND every now and then. I'd like to get one of those ND gradient filters for situations where you want to darken the sky but not the foreground. Anybody use one of those?

Illithid Dude · #7 Posted **Mar 5, 2013, 6:19 AM**

I'm going to start. I've recently gotten a few scratches on the front element of my lenses. These are very very fine scratches, and have no effect on my pictures, but I don't want to risk getting more.

photoLith · #8 Posted **Mar 5, 2013, 6:28 AM**

Nope, no filters for me.

initiald · #9 Posted **Mar 5, 2013, 12:51 PM**

This is what I want to get next: http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/grads.htm

JManc · #10 Posted **Mar 5, 2013, 3:23 PM**

I started upgrading to decent glass so I use them for protection as well. I use a circular polarizer on my 17-55

Tony · #11 Posted **Mar 5, 2013, 4:36 PM**

Usual not. I do have a UV filter on my main lense, maybe it's the low quality of the filter, but I swear sometimes I get some glare from it.

I do have a couple of circular polarizers, but I don't use them much anymore.

i_am_hydrogen · #12 Posted **Mar 5, 2013, 4:50 PM**

There's a lot of debate over whether UV filters are necessary. I don't use them.

ShadowMaster · #13 Posted **Mar 5, 2013, 7:26 PM**

I had purchased uv filters (cheaper 10-25$) for a lot of the lenses that I own but recently stop using them. Was a habit since I started buying more expensive equipment besides the basic point and shoots, and that was only because it was 'recommended' on some blogs and stores.

Noticed a difference in contrast and flare/glare and ghosting being absent after removal. The hood works and also keeping the cap on when not in use. Also can carry a small lens-pen in the bag if you are worried.

The special effect and polarizing filters would make more sense. Also is you are going to a environment like a beach or something.

Over at DigitalRev they had made a video on this subject -

• Video Link

Funny guy with good reviews, luv his shows.

big T · #14 Posted **Mar 5, 2013, 9:18 PM**

as was mentionned UV filters are useless for UV filtering on digital. as for using them for protection, my personal experience is a UV filter tends to be more detrimental to picture quality than a few scratches on the lens front element - scratches there are so far out of focus that it takes a reasonable amount to start affecting sharpness, whereas reflections due to filters can show up way more dramatically.

i do use a circlar polarizer for daytime landscape. i also experimented with handmade 'cutout' filters to get odd-shaped boked (star-shaped mostly), can be neat for novelty portraits.

volguus zildrohar · #15 Posted **Mar 10, 2013, 9:12 PM**

I started using them last fall but need to purchase a couple more now that I've got more lenses to work with.

The UV and CPL are always on but admittedly they're cheap and I need to get better ones. That said they definitely make a difference. I've only used the ND8 a handful of times.

diskojoe · #16 Posted **Mar 14, 2013, 10:56 PM**

Believe in the (cokin) Rainbow!

SLC Projects · #17 Posted **Apr 1, 2013, 8:45 AM**

still do.

novaCJ · #18 Posted **Apr 1, 2013, 5:20 PM**

No filters, although I can't even if I want to since I just use a simple point-and-shoot.

flar · #19 Posted **Apr 1, 2013, 10:44 PM**

I don't use a filter for protection (I always use hoods).

There have been many occasions where I've wished I had either a neutral density or graduated filter. I have a polarizer but it doesn't fit on my main lens.

Colour filters are pretty much not necessary on digital.

bulliver · #20 Posted **Apr 7, 2013, 5:42 AM**

Yeah, lots of people use the UV filter as general protection, reasoning that it is better to break a $50 filter than a $300+ lens. I don't use them though, as I mostly shoot night-time long exposures and a UV filter will just cause ghosting and excess flare.

I sometimes use a circular polarizer on particularly nice blue sky days, but that's about it.