Filters for New SLR

[Al Kidner]

Hi all,

 Well I've gone an ordered a new Canon 350D that comes in a double lens kit and I'm real keen to go and play upon it's arival.

 My question is what sort of filters do you all use if any? I'm new to Digital photography so lets have it!    

In Oz, al

[Phil Magistro]

The only filters I own and use are circular polarizers and graduated neutral density filters.  With digital, anything that other filters do can be done in post processing.

Phil

[luv2bowhunt]

I second what Phil said. Those are the only 2 that I use as well.

Kevin.

[Al Kidner]

Thaanks fellas. I was thinking of a polarizer as well. The area I hunt is oftern in the dry and the contry is all browns and grays. Would this filter put a nice touch to it or should I look at something else?

 in Oz, al

[Phil Magistro]

The polarizer won't do much for what you described.  But it will darken the blue sky and pull the clouds out.  Along with cutting glare it also enhances greens but it sounds like you don't need to worry about that.

Use the light right and you shouldn't have any problems making good images.

Phil

[Fritz Brown]

Al, if you are wanting to find colors amongst the browns and grays of your landscapes, you are going to be shooting at first and last light.  Go to your local library and look for books by Galen Rowell.  He was the master at landscape lighting before his untimely death.  

I concur with Phil that graduated neutral density filters and a polarizer will get you through most situations.  You might also consider adding a warming filter or two to the collection.  In particular they will be useful when photographing people or when photographing on overcast days.  The 81a, 81b, and 81c are progressively stronger warming filters.

-Fritz

[Phil Magistro]

Fritz, with digital cameras I'm not sure it's worth carrying a warming filter.  Along with changing the white balance it's easy to add warmth in post processing. Moose Peterson, a fairly notable outdoor photographer, used to sell a combination polarizer and warming filter.  He raved about it.  In the past year or so I noticed that he stopped selling it since it made little sense for today's digital world.

Phil

[Fritz Brown]

Phil,  You are probably right.  However, I am something of a Ludite.  I still shoot 90 percent film, a good chunk of it 4x5 or larger, and only do a little digital. As such I haven't mastered the art of digitally reproducing what I can do with filters, and I leave the white balance set to daylight values. So I try to get what I am looking for in the initial exposure and limit post processing to cropping and applying an unsharp mask.

-Fritz

[The BushMaster]

I really like using an IR filter on my Nikon D1 in black and white mode.  Here are a couple of examples.
 

 

[Phil Magistro]

BushMaster, I've never played with IR but thost look pretty cool.

Fritz, I remember film......    

[paleFace]

all of the above for sure.  also i use an 81a or uv on the front of every lens for nothing more than to protect the lens. case in point my camera fell out of the pack yesterday and landed on the lens. thanks to the filter on the front my lens survived the blow.  for landscapes the ND filter will really save you some headaches, just be prepaired to pay some bucks the ND filters are not cheap.

[Phil Magistro]

paleFace, I understand why you use the uv or 81a filter on your lens.  I used to do that myself years ago.  But that extra piece of glass can sometimes cause more problems than it does good.  I stopped using any "protective" filters when I realized that putting a $10 piece of glass on my $1500 lens isn't going to help give a better image.

Phil

[Weasel]

I'll second Phil on all counts. I used to put a protective filter on my lens when it was in the bag. I don't trust the snap-on caps to stay in place.  I've heard a few horror stories about caps coming off and scratching the lens while it's in the bag.  Now I use metal screw-on lens caps.

I know I used to espouse folks using the UV or Skylight filter for lens protection.  I just figured a lot of folks aren't as careful with their equipment as I.        :D  

Jerry