Filters

[Hallow's Maiden]

Right now I have a 67mm CPL filter. I have read you can get better effects (ex: colors) from a polarized filter, so thats what i bought first. I am wondering if it would be beneficial for me to get a UV filter too? Any other suggestions about filters? Thanks!!

[tegan]

If you can find them, take a look at an enhanced filter, an enhanced polarizer or a split focus filter.

Tegan

[Marko]

Hi HM,

Most pros and advanced shooters use a UV filter mainly to protect their lenses. Your CPL filter is good for occasional use, but for everyday protection (with or without wings ) use a UV filter to protect your lenses.

[tegan]

Hi HM,

Most pros and advanced shooters use a UV filter mainly to protect their lenses. Your CPL filter is good for occasional use, but for everyday protection (with or without wings ) use a UV filter to protect your lenses.

Disadvantage with a UV filter is that in combination with a polarizer, it can often cause vignetting with a wide angle lens. As a result, a number of photographers are keeping a polarizer on for almost all shots rather than playing with taking a polarizer or UV filter on and off.

Tegan

[tirediron]

A CPOL is definitely a good first choice. Remember that to get the maximum effect from it (The deep blues and contrasting skies for which effect it's most often used) the sun needs to be low in the sky, and as close to 90 deg to your lens axis as possible The higher in the sky and closer to the sun, the less effect it will have. They're also useful for removing reflections on water and other shiny surfaces (The sky in this image is all as a result of using a CPOL at the opitmal time: http://www.rthtg.net/john/crete/Buil...%20(Large).jpg )

UV filters are relatively pointless on DSLRs except as an added layer of protection for the lens since there is one built in, and then, as mentioned, often cause vignetting at larger apertures.

If you're going to get another filter, I would suggest a graduated neutral density (G-ND) which will allow you to reduce the dynamic range between sky and ground in landscapes and scenes like that, resulting in fewer blown clouds and more foreground detail

Remember, filters are part of your optical process. In fact, they're the first thing the light hits, so DON'T BUY CHEAP! . Cheap filters will cause flare and aberration as well as hazing in your images. Tiffen and Hoya multi-coated filters are decent. Singh-Ray, B+W and Heliopan are even better.

[tegan]

I agree with everything Tired Iron mentioned.

Tegan

[Hallow's Maiden]

Thank you so much so far everyone! Very informative I love this forum.. everyone is so nice!

[ret]

after reading this thread and looking at the pic posted by tired iron, I got a CPOL as well, today .... It says Hoya Super Quality Cir-Polarizing on the box so it should be a decent one, i guess

[MikeS]

Polarized filters are great but they are tinted (like sunglasses) so you will have to slow your speed by a stop or two, which can make a difference depending on the light sources available...
I use one whenever I shoot waterfowl otherwise the light reflections can really bugger up the shots eh.

[tirediron]

Ret: That filter should do you just fine.

MikeS: Yes and no; CPOLs do reduce the light hitting your sensor (by one stop), but they aren't tinted. They're optically neutral, meaning that they block light but impart no colour caste or tone on the image.