BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Camera Filters

Lori S. Dickman

Which Filters Are Most Useful?

I have a Nikon D70 and wonder as a picture hobbyist which 3 filters would be best and most useful to buy, besides a polarizer. Thanks.

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September 12, 2005

Michael H. Cothran

If you already own a polarizer, I'd spend the money elsewhere. Most other filters could be considered gimmicky. If you shoot in adverse conditions a lot, then a good quality UV or haze filter will help protect your lens.
My advice on filters is to use them sparingly.
Michael H. Cothran
www.mhcphoto.net

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September 12, 2005

Kerry L. Walker

I agree, for the most part, with Michael. Film photographers have more use for filters than digital, but not a lot. You don't need color conversion filters - just change the white balance. You don't need an ND - just change the ISO. You can do without a warming filter - change it in Photoshop, etc. The one filter I would suggest is a graduated neutral-density filter. It is often needed when shooting landscapes and the sky is much brighter than the foreground.

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September 12, 2005

Aaron Reyes

no need for a ND filter either with photoshop and a digital camera. just bracket either side for the same shot, a couple of times for more latitude, and combine them in CS2 with the HDR automation, or if you have older photoshop follow this tutorial
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/digital-blending.shtml
you don't have to use a tripod, but is much easier if you do...

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September 14, 2005

Aaron Reyes

no need for a ND filter either with photoshop and a digital camera. just bracket either side for the same shot, a couple of times for more latitude, and combine them in CS2 with the HDR automation, or if you have older photoshop follow this tutorial
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/digital-blending.shtml
you don't have to use a tripod, but is much easier if you do...

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September 14, 2005

Ka Yee Ella Kwan

Hi all,
I used to take photo in film and also just got my D70s for a few months. I also take photos for just a short period. However, I think a ND filter and ND grad filter are still required for DC. I don't understand why we don't need a ND filter. Can anyone explain? For example, if you want to use slow shutter speed to take a waterfall under bright light condition. You are already using the slowest ISO such as 100 or 50. The shutter speed may still not be slow enough as what you want. In this situation, you still need to use ND filter. Am I right? A ND grad is absolutely useful. What I think in digital photography, you can do some post-processing easily with computer software. However, if detail is lost in the original picture, you won't be able to put them back in the photo with software. So I think these filters are very important. I hope I am right =)

~Ella

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September 14, 2005

Larry Randall

I agree that a neutral density (ND) is very useful in some situations. For example, if you want to photograph moving water and get that nice, smooth look, you'll need a slow shutter speed. The lowest ISO on the D70 is 200, which, depending on the light, may not allow you to set a slow enough shutter speed. Enter the ND filter, which is available in different densities and which will reduce the effective ISO of the camera by 2 or more stops, letting you set a slower shutter speed.

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September 14, 2005

George Anderson

I think most filters sold today aren't 'gimmicky' in the sense of being rarely used effects filters. Whether you have 1 filter or 500, if it fills a specific need, it isn't 'gimmicky' at all.

If you are using a film camera, for example, you might wish to change contrast between tones in B&W, warm a 'cold' rendition lens or change color cast of an excessively blue daylight or open shade scene, reduce exposure range for color films, reduce shutter speeds, soften a lens for portrait scenes, enhance skin tones, correct for different light sources, enhance fall foliage or red desert rocks, protect the lens, polarize light - the list goes on and on. All these are legitimate, none are 'gimmicky'.

It is true that digital users have less need for filters besides polarizers and ND filters, but only if you enjoy Photoshop. I think I'd rather do my filtration on camera rather than have to sit through multiple computer sessions, but neither choice is wrong.

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September 14, 2005

Aaron Reyes

my point was on Grad-ND filters (split light to dark). to use them properly for many situations would require spending lots of money. obviously you can't go without a nd filter if you want to cut out light for showing movement when there's too much light. thanks to HDR automation in photoshop cs2 it's incredibly easy to combine several photos of different exposures so that you get the detail in the shadows and in the highlights in one picture. next time you see your histogram "hit the wall" on the shadow and highlight end, bracket, or manually take 3-7 photos of the same scene with different exposures and combine them in cs2! you won't be sorry!
-aaron

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September 14, 2005

George Anderson

"my point was on Grad-ND filters (split light to dark). to use them properly for many situations would require spending lots of money."

Try Hi-Tec's square ND grad 82mm hard-edge 2 and 3-stop for Cokin P holder. Very hi-quality and affordable, IMHO.

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September 15, 2005

Aaron Reyes


	silence hdr merge of 3 bracketed photos. Aaron Reyes

don't need them with digital!! waste of time and $$.
has anyone even used the HDR merge?
there have been some great reviews on it...

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September 15, 2005

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