What filter should I buy?

[theantiquetiger]

I have a $200 Best Buy gift card. There is really not much I can buy as far as a lens or something, so I figured I would get a nice filter (or two).

Any suggestions?

[asnow]

From what I know .... I think your best bet would be an ND (for long exposures, shallow depth of field during the day - especially if you do video) or perhaps a Polarizing filter. Others who use filters may have some better suggestions.

[theantiquetiger]

I don't want an ND filter, that just limits me to certain type of photography. I want to optimize against glares, UV, etc.

[Barefoot]

I don't want an ND filter, that just limits me to certain type of photography. I want to optimize against glares, UV, etc.

Living as close to Pontchartrain and the coast as you do, I'd damn sure have a 10 stop ND.( course, I do have one and a 16 stop as well). Regardless of what type of filter you choose to buy, my advise is to buy the B+W brand for the largest thread size you have and step down rings for any other lenses you might want to use it on. The sweet spots tend to be toward the centers of ND's and CPL's. Less vignetting, if you know what I mean.

[JAS_Photo]

I think the top photo of the Playa is reason enough to get a 10 stop ND Filter.

https://digital-photography-school.com/why-i-switched-from-lee-filters-to-formatt-hitech-for-landscape-photography/

[Marko]

but if you don't already have a polarizer....get that first.