main purpose of filters?

i have been new to photography and have been using a 20d. few people have been recommending me to get filters with whatever lens i get. my question is what is the main purpose of the filters?.. i know it helps protect the lens from hitting direct sunlight but there got to be more than that it can do. i am planning to get a 10-22mm and was wondering what kind to get or how many different types are there and what do they do?

Well, there are lots of reasons to get filters. The most common reason is to provide protection to the front element of the lens. Now, there is a lot of debate on this. One school says put a lens hood on and you'll get all the protection you need, the other that a filter of some sort should be used.

Protection filters are usually of the UV type. Keep in mind that the UV part adds no benefit as the CMOS sensor in your 20D already has a UV filter on it. The benefit is protection. If you do get a protective filter get a good one, especially with the lens you mention above. I would always recommend a Hoya or B+W MRC. These are great filters that won't degrade your image quality. A cheap filter will definitely degrade image quality.

Just to finish off what was mentioned above, there are reasons to get filtes beyond protection. This reason is image enhancement of some sort. For example many of us use Circular Polarizing filters to enhance the blue in a sky and make it pop. Just one example, but you get the point.

Best of luck.

ok.. thanks for the info. more info would help too..

This may help.
It's a link to a filter manufacturers web site.

http://www.tiffen.com/​camera_filters.htm

I only own three types of filters: circular polarizer, neutral density and gradient (gradual) neutral density. There's no reason to own any other for digital photography, as all others can be emulated with post processing.

The people telling you to get filters... Do they work for camera stores, by any chance?

no but people who have been shooting for a while are tellin me!.. when u guys get these filters do they work for any lens or i have to buy one specifically depending on the lens?

Filters are kind of an old school attitude... as mentioned there are specific reasons. In my case I run them where I can for protection... shooting racing tends to get you sprayed with pee gravel and rubber shards. Having said that the big lenses 300/2.8, 400/2.8, 500/4.0 etc don't accept front filters and they hold up just fine with hoods only.

I buy a UV filter and lens hood for each lens, I believe in protection - others don't.
A polarising filter for each lens thread I have as some lenses use the same size thread.
I also use a cokin type system for ND & ND Grad filters so it is only a matter of buying the adaptors.

i have a 28-135 mm and planning to get 10-22mm. so u guys would recommend me to 2 different filters for each lens?.. that way it will protect the lens as well as would have to swap from time to time.

implayaz9 wrote in post #4261720
i have a 28-135 mm and planning to get 10-22mm. so u guys would recommend me to 2 different filters for each lens?.. that way it will protect the lens as well as would have to swap from time to time.

I do NOT recommend filters for "protection" unless you will be shooting in hazardous (to a lens) conditions such as blowing snow, rain, etc.

However, I highly recommend your buying - and using all the time - properly designed (for each lens) rigid lens hoods. The hoods will improve your images by blocking stray light that can reduce contrast and add flare to the images. In addition, and a little more important to me, rigid lens hoods add a tremendous amount of physical (as in bumping and even dropping the lens) protection for the lens.

It is a personal preference, and mine is to use them. Filters do provide some added protection, as most people have seen photos of lenses that have been accidentally dropped and only the filter was damaged. It can also help protect the front of the lens from sand, rain and other elements of nature. The downside is that some believe filters can result in degradation of IQ, as you are adding another layer of glass to the end of your lens.

My only advice is that if you do decide to use UV filters, buy good quality ones, e.g B+W MRC UV Filters.

ok cool. thanks.. quick question..
what filters do u recommend me for:
10-20mm
28-135mm(already have a UV promaster filter but will get other if recommended)
10-22mm
.. and where do i get these filters?..

B+W filters .
http://www.schneiderop​tics.com/info/handbook​/
Reasons I use filters
1 . protection
2 . It's easier to clean filter than lenses
3 . easier to use a filter than photoshop .
4 . someone sneezes , water - wine dust , etc - it's a lot faster to change a filter than clean a lens and miss a shot .
5 . The people that say don't use them [filters] put front and rear lens caps on the lenses not on their camera -[I hope] for same reason you should use a filter . If lens protection wasn't important - none of the manufacturers would spend the money to supply them .
6 . I already own probably 40 to 50 from film days .
My advice buy the best you can afford - try to get brass - most of mine are tiffen and Hoya [NOT BRASS] - but thats because of film days .
I just bought a B+W UV and KSM CPL - after taxes about $200 with change .

Tony-S wrote in post #4261303
I only own three types of filters: circular polarizer, neutral density and gradient (gradual) neutral density. There's no reason to own any other for digital photography, as all others can be emulated with post processing.

I agree, buy the best you can afford and I MEAN THE BEST! If you get a $1K lens and put SH!T glass in front of it, you're wrong. B+W all the way...well we'll throw some Lee in there for variety

CPL
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …mm_Kaeseman_Cir​cular.html

ND
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …etails&Q=&sku=8​087&is=REG

GND
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …6_Graduated_ND_​Resin.html