Do you really need Lens Filters for your Photographic camera? - UV vs CPL vs ND Filters

Photo by Yann Allegre

Photo by Yann Allegre

When I offset started getting into photography, I had no idea what a UV, CPL or ND filters were. I didn't even know that CPL stood for Circular Polarising Lens, or that ND stood for Neutral Density and came in all sorts of variants (which I'll get into later). I thought that if I was a adept enough photographer, I wouldn't even need them considering I'm super frugal and the proficient ones don't come up cheaply!

However, when I finally did invest in some good quality filters, I found that they allowed me much more creative liberty. While yous don't demand every filter on the planet, it is worthwhile figuring out what type of photography yous're into and which filter is the best for that use. Either way, I would highly recommend e'er having at least one filter on your photographic camera lens for protective purposes - ie. to avoid dust, clay and scratches.

In this web log article, I'm going to explain what each of the UV, CPL and ND filters do, how you can use them to enhance your photography, and how to cull which filter to buy.

CONTENT:
one. What are Ultraviolet - UV Filters?
two. What are Circular Polarising Lens - CPL Filters?
three. What are Neutral Density - ND Filters?
4. What is the deviation between Fixed and Variable ND Filters?
5. How to choose which Camera Lens Filter to purchase?

one. What are Ultraviolet - UV Filters?


What is a UV filter and what does it do?

  1. Reduces Haze:
    UV filters tin reduce atmospheric haze in your photos, but it actually doesn't outcome the exposure or colour of your photos in any fashion.

  2. Protects your Lens from Natural Elements":
    More importantly, UV Filters are an added protection for your camera lens and prevents clay, dust, sand, and pelting from getting in and permanently scratching your precious lens.


How can a UV filter heighten your photography?

As you tin can run into from the photo below, the deviation is often not fifty-fifty that noticeable because UV filters don't alter or bear on the exposure or color. However, they can cut out atmospheric haze and can make your photos seem just that little chip sharper - which you lot can also do mail processing.


Practise you need a UV filter?

If you don't have a filter for your lens yet, so consider getting i of these to at least prevent dirt, dust and scratches from potentially dissentious your precious lens. In my opinion, every lens needs at to the lowest degree one filter for protection purposes - even if you're just starting out with photography. Plus, UV filters are very affordable (between $15-$30 for expert ones).

2. What are Circular Polarising Lens - CPL Filters?


What is a CPL filter and what does it practice?

If you've ever tried to take photos of fishes under the h2o or subjects behind a glass pane, then you'll know the frustration of light reflection.

Think of CPL filters a flake similar sunglasses for your photographic camera lens. CPL filters are rotatable filters, which substantially block different polarised calorie-free rays that cause the unwanted glare and reflections, as you plow the CPL filter.

Hither is a more than detailed article for those who are interested in the technicalities: How do CPL filters work?


 How can a CPL filter enhance your photography?

The ability to block unwanted polarised light (every bit you rotate the filter) allows for better contrast in your photos by balancing the lite and shadows, while also enhancing the saturation in your photos.

Overall, information technology tin can make your photos look more than vibrant and balanced, less hazy, and with less unwanted glare from lite reflection.


Practise you need a CPL filter?

If you're an intermediate lensman who is looking to better your photography then this is a good filter to showtime experimenting with. You can discover expert quality CPL filters from $30-$60. For a while, I shot about 70% of the fourth dimension with a CPL filter during my 'intermediate phase'. It acted as a protection (in identify of a UV filter) and cut out unwanted glare.

3. What are Neutral Density - ND Filters?


What are ND filters and what exercise they practice?

Neutral Density (ND) Filters come up in varying strengths and their purpose is to reduce the calorie-free exposure then that you can:

  1. Shoot with a Wider Aperture (ie. f/one.8) - for portrait shots in a very bright environment. It allows y'all to dial the aperture to reach that precipitous focus surrounded by a blurry background (called bokeh), without over exposing your photo.

  2. Shoot Long Exposures (ie. long shutter speed) - for capturing silky waterfalls, polish water surfaces, or move mistiness during broad daylight without overexposing your photograph.


What do the dissimilar ND gradients mean?

Neutral Density filters range from: ND 2 (smallest corporeality of light reduction) through to ND 1000 (highest corporeality of calorie-free reduction). The higher the ND number, the darker the photo becomes - which ways you can compensate that with longer exposure (shutter speed) or wider aperture (lower f-stop) to create the desired effects.

eg. Shutter Speed:
ND 8 - could potentially extend your shutter speed to a few seconds to photograph motion blur
ND 128 - could potentially extend your shutter speed to five-x secs to shoot silky waterfalls in brilliant daylight.


How can ND filters heighten your photography?

ND Filters can be a game changer if you lot know how to shoot in manual style. Information technology allows so much more creative freedom because you can play effectually with the discontinuity (to create depth of field) and shutter speed (to create long exposures). Therefore, you tin make your photography stand out more.

four. What is the difference between Fixed and Variable ND Filters?

While ND filters come in varying strengths, they tin can be divided into 2 categories: Fixed and Variable. I have recently switched from Fixed ND Filters to Variable ND Filter, so I will outline the deviation below:


Fixed ND Filters

  • These have merely one specific light reduction forcefulness (ie. not variable)

  • Skilful for those shooting in a abiding lite environs like a studio because the light reduction is fixed.

  • Not so great for those shooting outdoors where the sunlight tin can alter quickly or be difficult to predict, which would then require multiple strengths of ND Filters.

  • Can be fiddly if you're constantly switching from filter to filter


Variable ND Filters

  • This is basically multiple ND filters all packed into i filter! Only rotate the filter to vary the strength of light reduction.

  • They often come up in these ranges: ND 2-400 // ND ii-32 // ND 8-128.

  • Good for indoor and outdoor shooting.

  • Easier to travel with and easier to shoot with.


Do you need ND filters?

I would definitely recommend ND Filters for those who are shooting in Transmission already. If you want to shoot portraits or long exposures (eg. silky waterfalls) during the day - then yes, yous will well-nigh likely need an ND filter!

Between the Fixed and Variable ND Filters, I would actually recommend the Variable ND Filter, just considering it'southward and so much easier to travel and shoot with. You don't need to bring several filters because you just demand the one, which covers all your shooting needs.

Currently, I shoot with my Variable ND eight-128 Filter about 80% of the time!

v. How to choose which Camera Lens Filter to buy?


"If you could only buy 1 filter… what should it be?"


For Beginners shooting in Automated

  • UV Filter to protect your lens. If y'all're just shooting for fun and don't intend to go into manual photography just yet.

  • Hither is 1 I would recommend: UV Filters - GOBE


For Intermediate learning to shoot in Manual

  • CPL - if you lot love shooting effectually water or glass and would like the ability to filter out the light reflection so that you can actually capture what'south below/behind it. Tin also offset experimenting with some medium long exposures.

  • Here is the 1 I would recommend: CPL Filter - GOBE


For Advanced Photographers shooting in Manual

  • Variable ND Filters are great if you're going to be shooting outdoor portraits or long exposures. Yous but need to buy one filter to cover a range of light reduction strengths, plus the ease of rotating the filter means less hassle when shooting on the get.

  • Here is the 1 I would recommend: Variable ND 8-128 Filter - GOBE

Do you shoot mostly with or without a lens filter? And which filters are you currently using? If you have a photography portfolio on instagram or on your ain website, share your work downwardly beneath! And if you have any questions most using UV, CPL or ND filters, but ask away! :)

Here are some actress creative expressions shot with ND filters:
 CPL and ND Filters: Before & Later on
10 Artistic Ways to Shoot with ND Filters

COLLABORATION & AFFILIATE LINKS:

This commodity was done in collaboration with GOBE Filters who kindly provided me the opportunity to shoot with their Variable ND eight-128 filter. Even so, despite the co-performance, my recommendations and thoughts are all my own.