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Ok, so you have got the DSLR camera, you have the lenses, and even possibly Photoshop or some other photo editor to retouch your pictures. So why on earth do you need any camera filters? The reason is because…well there are a few reasons, firstly they will protect the camera lens from getting scratched or damaged, and secondly, getting the image right in the camera can improve the quality of your photos, giving you better results, and also help you to improve your photography. You will spend far less time editing your photographs on the computer. Which means more time out and about taking great pictures. Convinced? If so read on.

But which filters should you use? That’s the easy part, there are 3 essential camera filters that every budding photographer should have.

For me, the most important filter is the UV/Daylight filter which is clear. Before digital cameras came on the scene, UV filters helped eliminate haze and blueish casts that were captured on the film caused by daylight. With todays digital cameras, this is not a problem as they have a low pass CCD (charge couple device) filter that blocks out infrared and UV rays. The reason to use this essential filter, is that not only does it protect the front element of your lens from becoming accidentally damaged or scratched, but also protects the threads on the lens for when you need to attach other filters. In the long run this essential filter can literally save your lens, and your money. You can buy these filters from any good photography shop, and they are fairly cheap. Make sure you buy the right size, if you are not sure how to find the size, look on the front of the lens and you will see something like 54mm or 56mm etc. If you only buy one filter then this is the one I would recommend.

The next essential filter is the Circular Polarizer, this filter does a fantastic job of adding saturation to images on an overcast day, deepen blue skies, and make clouds stand out. A polarizing filter also removes unwanted reflections from shiny surfaces such as glass or water.

If you get the effect right when you take the photograph, it is something that cannot be replicated on a computer. The polarizer is very easy to use, compose your shot, (whether it is a landscape, or water picture), and rotate the filter until you get the required affect. As you can see from the photo below, the image (by jcptalbot) can be quite dramatic. Once you start using this filter you won’t want to take it off.

The 3rd and final essential filter that you should always have with you is the Natural Density filter. ND filters are grey and come in different strengths (the higher the number the darker the filter), which can allow you to achieve slower shutter speeds and wider apertures on a bright sunny day, (for more information on shutter speeds, apertures and camera modes, read this article).

Why would you want to use slower shutter speeds in bright daylight? You may want to record movement in subjects such as milky, flowing waterfalls, clouds, cars etc. Impossible if it is to bright as your shutter speed will be to fast. A variation in in ND filters is the ND graduated filter (half of the filter is grey and the other is clear) which allows you to take landscape shots that have correct exposure for both the sky and the land. Impossible to take without one, as depending which part of the image you meter for will result in either a blown out or very dark sky. If you would like more information on ND filters click here.

I hope I have given you food for thought here,  at the very least you should have a UV filter.

Do you already use filters? If so, which one is your favorite and why?

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 27th, 2008 at 1:00 pm and is filed under Photo Tips and Techniques. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.