Filters

[Matthieu]

My new Canon DSLR will be arriving shortly. I will be getting UV filters for both my lenses ( 18-55mm kit and 50 mm) , but what other would I need?

What other lenses do you guys recommend?
My queries on filters are in relation to

1)I would want to do long exposures in daylight, such as waterfalls or street photography. To avoid over exposed shots. Are ND filters the ones that can be used here?

2)Portraits and such. So to get that hazy soft feel on the edges of the frame, are there filters for doing so other than digital manipulation?

3)Natural light, as in the twilight time zones to get the purple haze and such, are there filters that will enhance image?

And if any other that I should look into? I basically have no specific subject, more into I shoot at sight persona! :)

Thanks

[KrishnenduKes]

Get yourself a decent tripod. Get yourself a Skylight 1B filter. I prefer it over the UV.

Discussion Approved

[surya@64]

A circular polariser is must in the line-up. A set of Cokin Filters...which includes Graduated filters will be useful for Landscape and Water fall shots...Ofcousee ND is pretty useful.

A word of caution...FILTERS MAKE OR RUIN A PIC. unless its from a reputed manufacturer...

[Aryan]

Matthieu: Once you start taking pictures, you yourself would be the best judge as to what additional lenses you would require. :)

As for the filters, get yourself an UV filter each for the 18-55mm and the 50mm. Also, try and procure a CPL and a ND Filter too. I have all but once used a CPL (during my visit to the Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh) and found that it is MORE than just useful. It really is a great little filter! :)

[KrishnenduKes]

A circular polariser is must in the line-up. A set of Cokin Filters...which includes Graduated filters will be useful for Landscape and Water fall shots...Ofcousee ND is pretty useful.

Can you please be more detailled on how to use Graduated on landscapes and what to do with ND?

[Matthieu]

Thanks guys for your inputs, A CPL I presume would be to selectively cut off reflections and such sort?

Are Graduated filters just the sort that will let in less and less of light in steps in sections of the filter?

@KrishnenduKes can you explain what a skylight filter is?

[surya@64]

Can you please be more detailled on how to use Graduated on landscapes and what to do with ND?

Graduated filters comes in different tonal variation...of the color spectrum...Something vaguely similar to graduated tinted sun glass. According to time of the day of color temp. you can use those drop in filters to enhance to colors....

Orange or yellow grads for Sunset or Sunrise...Blue grads for twilight...and so on...

Now a days...most of it is done on software which gives the same effect.

ND filters or Neutral Density filters as name suggests...is a grey scale filter which when used allows you to prolong the exposure time for the same given setting...there by allowing more data to be recorded.

I have seen ND being used in landscape and water fall photography...

Its my 2 cents...of limited knowledge of filters...
Any further info by experts...i stand corrected....

[KrishnenduKes]

@KrishnenduKes can you explain what a skylight filter is?

UV filters eliminate UV. Skylight filters eliminate UV and correct colours to a warmer tone. This is more evident when you take landscape photographs where you have a lot of sky or sea or snow. This is why I prefer the Skylight over UV.

Graduated filters comes in different tonal variation...of the color spectrum...Something vaguely similar to graduated tinted sun glass. According to time of the day of color temp. you can use those drop in filters to enhance to colors....

Orange or yellow grads for Sunset or Sunrise...Blue grads for twilight...and so on...

Now a days...most of it is done on software which gives the same effect.

ND filters or Neutral Density filters as name suggests...is a grey scale filter which when used allows you to prolong the exposure time for the same given setting...there by allowing more data to be recorded.

I have seen ND being used in landscape and water fall photography...


Thanks for the input. I used to use graduated during my film days many many years ago in a creative sort of way. But I never knew that it could be done to enhance Sunsets etc. I have given up using graduated filters since I really could not get hold of quality filters.

This is becoming interesting! Could you show us examples of usage of graduated filters? Have you any? Or ND filters for that matter? It would be a great help for us I am sure.