Filters

[jdma]

Do most use a UV filter or do you use a polarized much on sunny days. I am trying to decide if I should spend a little extra for the good polarized lens or if a good UV is all I need for outdoors. What type do you use? Your recommendations are much appreciated.

[Big-Buck]

Would like to know as well. I'am starting to take my friends senior pictures and would like to use filters as well.

[scotty]

I use a polarising filter occasionally, and I need to pick up a set of ND filters. The ND filters would allow me to slow my shutterspeed way down when I need to. A lot of people use a UV filter in order to protect the front lens element from scratches. I don't. I use the lens hood, and I'm careful. I didn't spend all that cash on my lenses to stick a $50 piece of glass in front of them. That's what insurance is for. I can get most of the filter effects by using Lightroom.

[Shane]

+1^^^ to what Scotty said.

[SanAngeloBowman]

If you read up on the BASIC necessities for outdoor filming one of the MUST haves is first and foremost a good UV filter. It has nothing to do with protecting anything.....its about giving good natural color contrasts. Contrast is everything when it comes to good photos or video. Always check your lighting and angles. Time of day has alot to do with your shots as well. Just as when your hunting, first and last hours of light aslways add the best dramatic affect for good interesting shots. A good quality lens hood always compliments a filter as well. As far as a PolARIZING filter goes I wouldnt spend the money unless you plan on shooting over water alot or anyplace there is alot of reflected glare or extreme front lighting. Hope this helps ya some. I dont claim to be a pro but thats all I know from my little experience and limited photo class experiences.

[Shane]

I've used a UV filter before, and my eyes can't see any difference at all between pics taken with the UV filter and pics taken without it, other than a slight decrease in sharpness with the filter. Human eyes don't see UV light anyway. Having a piece of glass in front of the lens can degrade your image clarity, especially if the filter in question is a cheaper one. It can do more harm than good in that case.

I use a good polarizing filter most of the time outdoors. Cutting glare on water is just one use. There can be glare on leaves, grass, flowers, rocks, or anything else. A polarizer gives you better contrasts and definition. It can also cut haze (better than any UV/Haze filter I've ever used). It will make the sky look bluer, and it will give you much better detail and contrast in your clouds. It makes all your colors look more saturated as a result of removing any glare or haze. You can tell a big difference between polarized shots and the same shots taken without a polarizer.

You can't simulate polarization with software after the fact. The only way to get the benefits of a polarizing filter are to put it in front of your lens before the shot. Of course, quality of the glass is a huge factor with polarizing filters too. Just like with all filters, a cheap one will do more harm than good for your image quality and sharpness. Don't go cheap if you're going to put an extra piece of glass on the front of your high-dollar lens.

The only other filters that really can't be fully simulated with software are Neutral Density filters, like Scotty mentioned. All of the warming filters and other color tint filters can be replicated easily with software.

[SanAngeloBowman]

I've used a UV filter before, and my eyes can't see any difference at all between pics taken with the UV filter and pics taken without it, other than a slight decrease in sharpness with the filter. Human eyes don't see UV light anyway. Having a piece of glass in front of the lens can degrade your image clarity, especially if the filter in question is a cheaper one. It can do more harm than good in that case.

I use a good polarizing filter most of the time outdoors. Cutting glare on water is just one use. There can be glare on leaves, grass, flowers, rocks, or anything else. A polarizer gives you better contrasts and definition. It can also cut haze (better than any UV/Haze filter I've ever used). It will make the sky look bluer, and it will give you much better detail and contrast in your clouds. It makes all your colors look more saturated as a result of removing any glare or haze. You can tell a big difference between polarized shots and the same shots taken without a polarizer.

You can't simulate polarization with software after the fact. The only way to get the benefits of a polarizing filter are to put it in front of your lens before the shot. Of course, quality of the glass is a huge factor with polarizing filters too. Just like with all filters, a cheap one will do more harm than good for your image quality and sharpness. Don't go cheap if you're going to put an extra piece of glass on the front of your high-dollar lens.

The only other filters that really can't be fully simulated with software are Neutral Density filters, like Scotty mentioned. All of the warming filters and other color tint filters can be replicated easily with software.

Shane

My experience has been that UV filter is supposed to sharpen the image and cut out "Haze" especially if you look at your depth of field where blue sky meets and background imagary which adds a more clear contrast in colors. All filters serve there npurpose and folks have their preferences. I tend to use UV filters and shoot in best lighting conditions possible. If i was shooting mid day with bad lighting situation and expected alot of sun glare I'd go with the polarizing filter.

BTW Shane due to your opinion (thank you) I plan on experimenting more with a polarizing filter and hope I get same results as you.

[Hillary]

All I use is a ND Filter, especially on sunny days, and at the beach.
I can't put a Polarizer on my ultra wide without distortion (so I hear...)

UV filters, blah, I'm with scotty on that one...

[Shane]

Hillary, I use a polarizer on my 12-24mm. I didn't know I wasn't supposed to, I guess.

Most of my shots with that lens are at or near 12mm, and I haven't noticed any distortion that's any different than without the filter. One thing that you have to watch out for with ultra-wides is vignetting. The wide lens can pick up some of the filter ring in the view, especially if the filter's ring is wide. My filter for that one is pretty "low profile", so it hasn't been a problem.


Rob, if it ain't broke don't fix it, bud. I may not have had any high quality UV filters before. Maybe that's why I never saw that they did any good??

[SanAngeloBowman]

Hillary, I use a polarizer on my 12-24mm. I didn't know I wasn't supposed to, I guess.

Most of my shots with that lens are at or near 12mm, and I haven't noticed any distortion that's any different than without the filter. One thing that you have to watch out for with ultra-wides is vignetting. The wide lens can pick up some of the filter ring in the view, especially if the filter's ring is wide. My filter for that one is pretty "low profile", so it hasn't been a problem.


Rob, if it ain't broke don't fix it, bud. I may not have had any high quality UV filters before. Maybe that's why I never saw that they did any good??

I always used them while shooting with backlighting and early or late afternoon/evening hours when contrast was optimum. It would be most noticable around the skyline in background. "should" make the blue sky seem more vibrant. I did look at Polarizing filters yesterday and think I'm gonna buy one on my next order this week. I'm building up a new rig right now. Thanks for advice

[Kevin]

All my gear has UV filters on it for protection from dust, rain, mist, etc... I think I must use my gear in situations where most sane people would put their gear up. My filters are horribly dirty after 4 months or so if I am shooting with any regularity.

[Shane]

Kevin, I almost always have a polarizer on when outdoors anyway, so I guess I've got the protection going with that. When I don't have it on, like in low light situations where I can't afford to give up any speed, I just keep my lens hood on for protection. Oh, and I clean my lenses and filters every time I take them out of the bag. I hate dust specks on pics. They're there anyway, but I try to keep them at bay.

[jdma]

Thanks for all the information on this. It sound like it would be beneficial to get an ND filter instead of a polarized filter. What name brand filters are recommended. Hillary - what ND filter do you use on your lens for outdoor shooting. Rob - do you use an ND filter on your lens when you shoot the waterfalls, etc?

[Hillary]

I use a .6ND for bright days and slowing speed

[Casey]

I have a circular polarizer, a couple of Neutral Density filters as well as graduated Neutral Density filters.