Does anyone use filters? i have used a polariser in the past with film but not yet with digital.
I have a uv on all my lenses just for protection, also have a set of close up filters & have toyed with the idea of getting an ND filter for those moving water shots. Tried a polarizer but was not keen on the results, skies looked too blue & fake.
i have a few different filters both screw in and square.
mainly use the ND grads (nd2, 4 and 8 ) with the siggy 10-20 when there are some nice clouds around. Had varying results but thats down to my inexperience/ability
Have a UV on all lenses for protection mainly and have played with some square coloured filters such as orange, tobacco and greens but hated the results.
Also have a B+W 25% screw in grad on my 70-300vr lens which has given some nice results.
RR
Alf
apart from lens protection what does the UV filter do to your pictures?
Quote from: Trickee on August 01, 2009, 10:00:25 AM
apart from lens protection what does the UV filter do to your pictures?
It cuts out heat haze, not something we had here this year! >:(
I've got a polariser that fortunately fits my 17-70mm - don't bother with other filters tho.
I have some ND grads - but not really used them. I did buy a UV for my 24-105 - but have taken it off some time ago as I felt it was affecting the IQ.
As I tend not to through my gear about, I don't worry about the front element - although I do use the hoods on all bar 1 lens (It hasn't got one - and thinking about it, that is the nifty fifty which I have on loan from a friend and that does have a UV)
I keep a protective filter on all my lenses. I have managed to scratch this once while clambering down a steep slope and I was very glad that it wasn't my lens! Like Mark I would normally have the lens hood on but for some reason didn't at that point.
I use polarisers to cut glare, and sometimes to deepen colours. And I have used ND grads a few times and been very happy with the results.
I'm beginning to sound like a filter junkie!
Don't put filters on any of my lenses but do put the hood on. With the Nikon 14-24mm F2.8 and fixed hood, can't use any filters of any type anyway. Usually carry them with me but seldom use. ;D
Thank you for all your replies, they tell me that at the moment i would have little use for filters, but in time i will probably invest in some grads and have a crack at some serious landscape and seascape shots. :tup:
I use a skylight filter on most of my lenses, just for front element protection. Also have a couple of polarisers. Don't use any filters on my Bigma, as I can't afford them, lol... Just have to be careful not to scratch the lens on that one.
I take it with any filter that enhances / changes colours, you would use a manual or preset white balance setting rather than auto?
I can't see any point in using colour changing filters on a digital cam - too easy to do in post - but yes, if you were, you'd have to do either a custom WB without the filter, or use a preset - otherwise, as yousay AWB with compensate (Or try to!)
Like most people have already said, I have a UV filter on all of my lenses.
I also have a circular polariser and some ND grads as well, although only relatively cheap ones (Kood & Hitech/Formatt).
I like ND grads, although they take practice. I found that's it's not as easy as just strapping them onto the front of the lens and thuming away at the shutter release. In fact. I quite like that about them. They make me concentrate more on the scene and I spend more time looking and setting up the shot rather than just snapping away. Same is true for my 35mm prime.
I'm surprised there's not many people using ND's. I wouldn't be without mine and they save an awful lot of faffing about... Especially for landscapes! I don't generally use UV or skylights 'cos it's a layer of glass that can and does deteriorate the image quality unless you want to pay silly money for a top-of-the-line version (which I should do really). ;)
I'm about to upgrade my Cokin P series grads for a set of Lee's. Wouldn't mind the Singh-Ray double grad but at about £200, I think I'll leave it.
Don't forget that the true effect of a neutral density graduated filter (along with polarisers) can't be replicated in photoshop... If the grad's there in the first place, there's a good chance the exposure will be right in camera (which saves us all from having to HDR every landscape shot!) :)
Everyone always says that UV filters can cause degradation on image quality and the
logic is generally impeccable. Thing is, though, I tested my 18-105VR shooting the same focus test chart with and without my very cheap (7 day shop) UV filter and couldn't see any differences.
I'm sure that UV filters can cause affect image quality, I just can't see it under relatively controlled conditions
Quote from: Chris P on August 30, 2009, 11:04:52 PM
Everyone always says that UV filters can cause degradation on image quality and the
logic is generally impeccable. Thing is, though, I tested my 18-105VR shooting the same focus test chart with and without my very cheap (7 day shop) UV filter and couldn't see any differences.
I'm sure that UV filters can cause affect image quality, I just can't see it under relatively controlled conditions
Have you still got your white stick? :2funny: :legit:
Quote from: Oldboy on August 31, 2009, 12:06:07 AM
Quote from: Chris P on August 30, 2009, 11:04:52 PM
Everyone always says that UV filters can cause degradation on image quality and the
logic is generally impeccable. Thing is, though, I tested my 18-105VR shooting the same focus test chart with and without my very cheap (7 day shop) UV filter and couldn't see any differences.
I'm sure that UV filters can cause affect image quality, I just can't see it under relatively controlled conditions
Have you still got your white stick? :2funny: :legit:
Nah, I lost it. Just wander around blindly now with my hands out in front
Have a circular polariser for a couple of my lenses. It's great for macro and adding some colour to those "white colourless skies".
I'm now starting to look at nd filters. Have a screw in nd4 for the same lenses as the polariser and a kit with nd grads.
Still looking to get a real chance to experiment with them - but living by the sea side - should get plenty of opportunity.
Interested in trying out some other filters as well. But one step at a time.
If you want to have fun with a filter Andrew, go and get yourself a B+W 10-stop Neutral Density filter. They're not cheap but the images are really striking!
This is one of my favourites taken last week at Llyn Efyrnwy near Welshpool...
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3488/3862339371_ca10eb7abd.jpg)
That was a 90 second exposure at f16 with the Sigma 10-20.
Lovely image there Si. 8)
I've got a couple of uv 's and a couple of cp's plus an nd grad kit but haven't really got to grips with the grads yet. Lack of opportunity mostly. Might get me some normal nd filters for longer exposures though as they really aren't that dear.
jim
Thanks Jim. :)
I generally use a three-stop Cokin ND grad over the top of the 10-stop ND or else the sky still gets blown out. Composition gets a bit tricky 'cos I have to put the 10-stop on before the grad but generally they come out ok.
I really need to stop being a tight-arse though and get a decent CP... Mine's only a cheapy and it puts one hell of a colour cast on the images. :)
Best wishes,
Si
I`ve got a couple of CP`s, UV`s on all my lenses and a set of ND`s and ND grads.
And a lump of welding mask glass..
I`ve not long had the ND`s, so I`m still learning with those. Good fun though!
Just got a CP from 7dayshop need to get out there and tr it out now...stupid question time now...should you use a CP filter with or without the lens hood???? I'm never sure told you it was a stupid q...want to get some nd filters as well, the potential problem is that the SONY lenses have the focusing ring on the end of the lens...which I reckon could end up opening a whole world of pain.....any suggestions gratefully received....
Quote from: krennon on October 09, 2009, 09:50:10 AM
stupid question time now...should you use a CP filter with or without the lens hood???? I'm never sure told you it was a stupid q...
Don't see a reason why not although a lot of course depends on the design of the hood. The original (Canon) hood for my WA lens is so big that I can easily access the rotating outer part of the CPL. However, the lens hood of my 70-200 is such a long narrow tube that accessing the rotating outer ring is almost impossible.
When I'm using a screw on CP I set the CP first and then put the lens hood on - except for the kits lens hood which has a removable bottom section that allows access to the filter.
I've got a CP that I use with my Tamron 17-35 with the lens hood on and it's great. It helps that it is a petal type hood so can get my fingers in to access the filter.
Steve