Filters or Photoshop?

[Hatem Eldoronki]

Do lens filters have any advantage against doing the desired effects on PS? The question comes to mind as I also ask myself whether to buy a soft focus lens or do that effect on PS..

[RichardtheSane]

For soft focus, I would personally choose PS over lens/filter.
The reason is you have far more choice over the effect than you would with a single lens/filter.
:)

[barnold999]

Some filters, like star filters, I would prefer on the lens, but colored filters, PS makes SO MUCH more sense.

Replicating a star effect is difficult in photoshop, to make it look like the star filter (some of my coolest photos are with star filters)

Neaturaul density (though not special effect filters) are helpful to have, especially gradiated ones.

But, now that I read your question, do soft focus on PS... but maybe look at a Cokin catalog and see how it looks in there, and try to replicate it... There are various gradiated ones, which make the outside soft, etc.

I dont have my Cokin cataloge with me right now, but there are a few other filters that would be better on the lens, instead of PS.