lens filters

jonathan_ed

jonathan_ed

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Jonathan
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i'v recently stepped up in the world of d-slr and bought a new camera and couple of lenses. was wondering if it is worth buying lens filters, partiuarly a UV and polarising filter. Is it worth spending that little extra, and are the results of using a filter noticeable.

Cheers
J
 
Not sure about UV and polariser, but I use ND grads from Cokin and they're great. Rather than screwing the filter on you screw an adaptor ring onto the lens and then attach a filter holder. You slide the square filter in and off you go.

Edit: The Cokin System
 
UV filter or Skylight? These will have NO effect on what you shoot with your new lens but WILL protect it if you use a good filter. Do you insure your house? Car? Think of a filter as an insurance policy against scratching the front element of your lens.

Alan
 
Not forgetting actual insurance lol :D
 
If you shoot landscapes then a polariser would be very useful. Skylight or UV filters are commonly used to protect your lens from scratches, but it is very much a personal decision whether or not to use one. Many do, others, myself included, don't bother and use a lens hood as protection and am very careful when handling the camera.
ND Grads are handy, but not essential for landscapes. You can achieve the same results in postprocessing. There are so many to choose from. Not only do they come in different strengths from 1/3 to 3 stops they also come in two flavours, hard and soft, which refers to the transition between dark and transparency. Hard are normally used for straight horizons, like seascapes and soft where there are mountains or whatever making for an irregular horizon. I've got a few, but don't use them any more. I take 2 exposures and merge them in Photoshop.
Full ND filters can be useful if you like shooting water and getting that blurred effect.
 
No, I wasn't referring to HDR, although that is another alternative. I meant that you could take 2 shots, one exposed for the foreground and one for the sky and then merge them in PS.
If you're not familiar with the technique I'd be happy to give you a run through of how I do it. :)
 
happy haggis said:
I meant that you could take 2 shots, one exposed for the foreground and one for the sky and then merge them in PS.
Click to expand...

I only have Elements, Happy Haggis, if it can also be done in that programme I'd really appreciate you running through it.

Thanks

Pete
 
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