You might think that Photoshop and other post-production software programs have made lens filters obsolete but there are still 3 filters that digital photographers cannot be without.
1. U/V or Protection Filter. The sensor on your camera may not be vulnerable to ultraviolet light but the traditional U/V filter is still useful to protect the front element of your lens. A U/V or clear protective filter will protect your lens from scratches, dust and fingerprints at a relatively low cost. You should have one on each of your lenses, it’s cheap insurance. Click here for inexpensive U/V filters.
2. Polarizing Filter. A polarizing filter has a few uses and its effects cannot easily be replicated on the computer. Most commonly it is used to increase the contrast between the clouds and the sky. It does this by removing polarized component of light from the photograph. Another comon use to remove reflections in water or glass surfaces. These filters work best when used at a 90 angle from the sun. Note that you want a CIRCULAR polarizer for digital cameras. Click here for circular polarizers.
3. Neutral Density Filter. This filter reduces the amount of light that hits the camera’s sensor and allows you greater control over your exposure under bright conditions. A typical use would be to photograph a waterfall or running water during bright daylight with a long exposure time in order to create a silky, motion-blur effect. Another use is to use a larger aperture when shooting video with your DSLR. If you want to use the correct shutter speed based on your frame rate (usually around 60 for 30fps video) you will not be able to shoot with your lens wide open to obtain shallow depth of field without overexposing the scene. If you are already at your lowest ISO the only thing you can do to lower the exposure time is to reduce the available light. You can buy neutral density filters in various densities but the best value is a variable ND filter which you can adjust to suit the circumstances. Click here for ND filters.
