Filters - beginners guide - help!

[booboos]

Anyone have one to hand or can provide me with a forum link or website pls? didnt manage to find one in a quick search i did.

looking for something that tells me how and when they should be used, which ones do what, etc etc

thanks

[Jon]

Start with the Protective Filter FAQ (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=368177), which has information that applies to any filter with respect to quality. Beyond that, the only ones really essential (depending on your interests) are circular polarizers, neutral density (ND), graduated ND, or IR. Most others that aren't extremely special-interest can be duplicated in post-processing.

[condyk]

Good thread here (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=315987)if you want ND and ND Grads info

[DDCSD]

That link that condyk posted is bad, here it is.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=315987

[argyle]

The protective filter FAQ is good to go through, but unless it has changed since I've looked at it last, it really only pertains to protective-type filters. To get an idea as to the what/how/when of filters, try this link:

http://www.bythom.com/filters.htm

I'm sure if you do a google, you'll come across a bunch more.

[Jon]

The protective filter FAQ is good to go through, but unless it has changed since I've looked at it last, it really only pertains to protective-type filters. To get an idea as to the what/how/when of filters, try this link:

http://www.bythom.com/filters.htm

I'm sure if you do a google, you'll come across a bunch more.The statements in the protective filter FAQ with respect to quality, as I said, will apply to any filter you may use. Just because it's a polarizer doesn't mean it's magically better or worse than the UV from the same product line. And the Thom Hogan site is focused on film; warming and light balancing filters are generally unneeded on your lens. There may be cases when you'd want to filter your light source (mixed lighting), but setting your in-camera white balance correctly, or shooting RAW with a neutral target and correcting in post-processing, is going to give you better results.

[argyle]

The Thom Hogan site addresses various types of filters, for both digital and film. Of those mentioned, the big three (CPL, ND, GND) are typically the only filters that a digital shooter will need. Some can argue that a GND isn't really necessary due to digital blending, but that's for a different thread. Since the OP was looking for info as to the how/when/why of filters, the info presented on the Thom Hogan site is just as valid for the three primary filters of interest. Lester's FAQ is definitely a good resource and is helpful for both new and experienced shooters, but I'm detecting a bit of a bias against Thom Hogan? I think that good info is good info, no matter where it comes from.

[Jon]

Detect what you will Captain Hastings. Thom Hogan's page throws a lot of extraneous material that doesn't apply. If OP knew enough to spot what, as digital photographer, to ignore in that thread, s/he wouldn't have needed to ask in the first place. This is actually a topic where film and digital usage difer significantly.

[booboos]

thanks all, the FAQ thread was what i was looking for as im a beginner. so it seems that a high quality protective filter is all i need for now and some argue you dont even need these!

i assume all the usaul camera shops like adorama, B&H, canoga etc are all fine/competitively priced for these filters?

thanks

[condyk]

Check out hvstar (http://hvstar.net/)... very significantly better prices, reliable service and good stocks. Many use them.

[DDCSD]

Check out hvstar (http://hvstar.net/)... very significantly better prices, reliable service and good stocks. Many use them.

I agree with condyk on this. I've used them. If you really think you need a UV filter, I'd get the UV & CPL Hoya Pro-1 Digital combo. I personally just have a CPL & ND grad set, but it is your choice to use a UV filter or not.

[DStanic]

Also check out ebay store Quality Filters (http://stores.ebay.ca/Quality-Filters_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsQ3amesstQQtZkm) I've bought from them before and they have good prices.

[Amamba]

How much difference would using a CPL do ? I wanted to get one for nice sky shots but had different opinions on whether it really helps.

[Jon]

It'll have a very pronounced effect on the sky if you're shooting on a clear day and at right angles to the sun. Shooting into the sun it won't do much at all. But shooting around non-metallic reflective surfaces, it'll help kill the reflections (glass, gloss paint, leaves). If you were told that it wouldn't ever help, you were told wrong.

[DStanic]

it also makes a big difference with the reflections in water.