What are filters for?

[btraywick]

Having recently purchased my first DSLR, I researched what equipment I should obtain to make my photos that much more effective. Following advice that I received from several photographers and books on the subject, I purchased a Ultraviolet filter, a Neutral Density, and a Circular Polarizer. I only have two questions. What are they for, and how do I use them?

[slitherjef]

Uh... you bought filters and don't even know what they do? Yikes! UV filters are for protection (if you use them), the circular polarizer polarizes light, increases contrast, helps remove reflections, a good filter. A ND filter, allows you use a wider aperture (lower f/number) or a slower shutter speed.

Since you are just starting out, I would take the filters back, learn some about photography, stops, aperture, shutter speed, taking photos and then look into filters. The ones you picked up may be low quality anyway. What kind are they? Depending what you shoot, you may not need filters anyway

[SkipD]

I hope you didn't buy cheap filters, because they can degrade or even ruin your images.

Some folks use UV filters for "protection of the lens". There's little other value for them, and if the filter isn't one of the best quality multicoated filters available you can expect flare and poor contrast as a result.

An ordinary (screw-in) neutral density filter allows you to open the lens' aperture up a bit (reduce the f-stop setting) while keeping the shutter speed on the slow side. The typical use would be to blur a stream of water.

A graduated neutral density filter (usually a rectangular filter requiring a rather fancy holder that fastens to the lens) can help reduce contrast between sky and ground for things like sunset shots.

A polarizing filter can reduce or eliminate reflections on non-metallic surfaces such as glass, water, paint, etc. It can also darken blue skies behind scenery, enhance the green color of foliage, etc.

A polarizing filter is really difficult to use with the "kit" lens you have. That's because you need to rotate the filter to set the amount of effect it has. Your lens' front element rotates when you focus it. Thus, you'll be fighting the focus and filter adjustment to get things right.

Again, cheap filters should be avoided. If you got some cheapies, please return them and come back for advice on which ones to consider buying after you figure out what effects you may want from them.

[argyle]

Here...read this link with regard to your particular filters (I just hope that you bought good quality filters). Filters can get expensive, especially if you first unknowingly purchase poor filters because you liked the price, and then have to replace them with higher quality, more expensive filters. Best to read up on them and their uses before dropping down any money.

Filters and Their Uses (http://www.bythom.com/filters.htm)

FWIW, omitting any "gimmick" filters, you really only need three filters for digital photography (ND, GND, and polarizer). And if you don't shoot landscapes, you can most likely omit the GND. The UV is a personal choice, but I use mine when the shooting conditions require additional protection from the elements.

[argyle]

Your link does not work....

Fixed...I mistakenly used the IMG button instead of the "link" button. I guess the caffeine hadn't hit yet when I made the post. ;)

[Pete]

Also, if you need a filter purely for "protection", then filter manufacturers do offer completely neutral clear filters.

These aren't likely to protect from physical damage (dropping your lens on a rock for example), but will protect from airborne contaminants (sea water spray, etc).

[HappySnapper90]

Uh... you bought filters and don't even know what they do? Yikes! UV filters are for protection

I'm sorry but UV filters aren't really needed anymore. They can be useful if you're in the mountains with lots of haze, but they aren't needed for "protecting" your lens.

Front elements of lenses aren't as soft as they were decades ago and a UV filter is more likely to cause filter flare ruining your photos than it will actually help protect your lens. That's what a lens cap and lens hood are for. A lens hood is far better than a UV filter because a lens hood actually improves the IQ of your photos and protects your lens.

A UV filter won't do anything if you drop your camera and the edge of the front element/UV filter hits a hard surface. Your camera and lens will feel the full impact. Yet a lens hood will prevent your lens from making contact with a hard surface. The lens hood will make contact (unless your camera body takes the initial impact). Lens hoods are semi-flexible which soften the impace and unless the drop distance and camera and lens weight are significant, the lens hood won't break and will be quite usable afterwards.

I have a few UV filters laying around... anyone want to buy them? :lol:

[hollis_f]

I'm sorry but UV filters aren't really needed anymore. They can be useful if you're in the mountains with lots of haze, but they aren't needed for "protecting" your lens.

I don't think they do anything for haze either. In the old days, when film used to be sensitive to UV then such a filter may have helped with haze. But the filter built-in to the sensor array already filters just about all the UV.

[HappySnapper90]

I don't think they do anything for haze either. In the old days, when film used to be sensitive to UV then such a filter may have helped with haze. But the filter built-in to the sensor array already filters just about all the UV.

They make UV Haze filters, here is one: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/446797-REG/Cokin_CC241D405_40_5mm_UV_Haze_Glass.html

[SkipD]

They make UV Haze filters, here is one: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/446797-REG/Cokin_CC241D405_40_5mm_UV_Haze_Glass.htmlRe-read Frank's post above. What he's said is that UV filters do not noticeably affect DIGITAL photos taken with DSLRs. They were useful in the past when shooting with film, but they do very little to change a digital image. That's because of the UV filtering inherent with the stuff inside the digital cameras.

[slitherjef]

I'm sorry but UV filters aren't really needed anymore. They can be useful if you're in the mountains with lots of haze, but they aren't needed for "protecting" your lens.

I have a few UV filters laying around... anyone want to buy them? :lol:

You're right, and I don't use UV filters :D (though if any readers here DO use UV filters, that is your choice and there is nothing wrong with doing so bw! )
The only reason why I would use one is if I needed to finish weather sealing a lens, but since my 30D is far from weather sealed and non of my lenses are weather sealed, I guess I don't need em :lol: