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What is your favorite basic filter?


9 years 6 months ago #136324 by bad mom
I am looking for a basic filter for my D60. Nothing to fancy, just talking the basics here. I do a lot of outdoor shooting. I only have 70-200 mm lens. I am curious to see what you all recommend for filters. Thanks.

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9 years 6 months ago #136325 by MLKstudios
Get a good lens hood instead. A filter degrades the image and a hood improves it.

:)
Matthew L Kees
MLK Studios Photography School
www.MLKstudios.com
[email protected]
"Every artist, was once an amateur"

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9 years 6 months ago #136327 by bad mom
I already have a hood.

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9 years 6 months ago #136328 by dwi3x4

MLKstudios wrote: Get a good lens hood instead. A filter degrades the image and a hood improves it.

:)


a hood and a filter are two different "tools" and do two different things to the shot...do you know that?

To answer the question..
My favorite is a circular polarizer filter.

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9 years 6 months ago #136329 by MLKstudios
A filter is useful around salty air and sand (beaches). The best are made by B+W. Though Lee and Hoya also make good filters.

A basic filter is a 1A or UV filter. Either will work.

:)
Matthew L Kees
MLK Studios Photography School
www.MLKstudios.com
[email protected]
"Every artist, was once an amateur"

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9 years 6 months ago #136331 by MLKstudios

dwi3x4 wrote:

MLKstudios wrote: Get a good lens hood instead. A filter degrades the image and a hood improves it.

:)


a hood and a filter are two different "tools" and do two different things to the shot...do you know that?

No, I didn't. Thank you.
Matthew L Kees
MLK Studios Photography School
www.MLKstudios.com
[email protected]
"Every artist, was once an amateur"

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9 years 6 months ago #136449 by cod
Why are you looking for a filter? Is there something about your current images that you are unhappy with that a filter will help improve? That's the real issue. What do you want to do that a specific filter will help with? Identify the problem then get the filter that helps. If you can't identify a specific issue then I'd suggest reading up on types of filters and their uses and learn more before buying. Each type of filter serves a different purpose. Filter purchases should be deliberate with a particular goal in mind.

Common filter types include;
  • UV and plain glass "protective" filters. I'm with Matthew on that one. Digital sensors are rarely affected significantly by UV light. A hood is better protection than an otherwise unnecessary extra piece of glass.
  • Polarizing filters help reduce reflections and are good for darkening skies and improving colours on foliage and similar things. For general outdoor photography I would suggest a polarizer as a first filter.
  • Graduated neutral density filters improve contrast between sky and land in landscape photography but you would probably want to be working from a tripod to get the best out of them.

Here is a good article about choosing filters.
Chris O'Donoghue
Winnipeg, Canada
codonoghue.prosite.com

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9 years 6 months ago - 9 years 6 months ago #136464 by MLKstudios
:agree:

However, improve means a graduated ND "lowers" the contrast between land and sky. Used when the contrast is too high.

Just to be 1A.

:)
Matthew L Kees
MLK Studios Photography School
www.MLKstudios.com
[email protected]
"Every artist, was once an amateur"

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9 years 5 months ago #137183 by effron
A circular polarizer is my favorite, most used filter......B)
Why so serious?
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9 years 5 months ago #137203 by Baydream

effron wrote: A circular polarizer is my favorite, most used filter......B)

If I have to choose only one, this would be it.
Shoot, learn and share. It will make you a better photographer.
fineartamerica.com/profiles/john-g-schickler.html?tab=artwork
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9 years 5 months ago #137225 by fotozone
At this point I never use a filter. I need to get a circular polarizer, but I never use any of the filters I do have. I have a brand new ND I have not even played with.
www.zazzle.com/thefotozone

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9 years 5 months ago #137227 by Baydream

fotozone wrote: At this point I never use a filter. I need to get a circular polarizer, but I never use any of the filters I do have. I have a brand new ND I have not even played with.

If you ever visit a waterfall or an ocean beach, the ND can work magic.
Shoot, learn and share. It will make you a better photographer.
fineartamerica.com/profiles/john-g-schickler.html?tab=artwork
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9 years 5 months ago #137241 by fotozone

Baydream wrote:

fotozone wrote: At this point I never use a filter. I need to get a circular polarizer, but I never use any of the filters I do have. I have a brand new ND I have not even played with.

If you ever visit a waterfall or an ocean beach, the ND can work magic.

I got a discount on it when I ordered my macro lens. I never pass up a deal, especially on photo equipment.
www.zazzle.com/thefotozone

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9 years 5 months ago #137267 by Stealthy Ninja
Honestly you only really need the following:
Circular Polarizer.
Grad ND of some kind (you can try different ones)
ND (different stops for different effects).

Everything else can be done in post.
img\def

www.aevansphoto.com or www.aidav.net

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9 years 5 months ago #137271 by Screamin Scott

Stealthy Ninja wrote: Honestly you only really need the following:
Circular Polarizer.
Grad ND of some kind (you can try different ones)
ND (different stops for different effects).

Everything else can be done in post.


I would add an IR pass filter like a Hoya R72 as the IR in photoshop just doesn't cut it (provided you don't have a DSLR with a strong anti -aliasing filter that is...)
Scott Ditzel Photography

www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/
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