Filter Help...

[DKMsport]

Hi all,

My hobby is photography, mostly of the motorsport variety and I'm getting to grips with the camera nicely. I was wondering however if there are any filters that might be of some use to me.

I have a uv filter on my 55-200mm workhorse but are there any that might actualy add a little something to my pictures when used correctly?

cheers

Dan

[andy-xr]

Before you go off looking at filters to put infront of the camera, have a look at a Color Efex Pro trial. Integrate with PS Elements if you use that, or standalone. I have it with Capture NX, does some very cool stuff with selection points

[bramley]

Get a polariser, will make a big difference to car shots by reducing reflections and boosting colour saturation. Well worth it. A decent Hoya one off ebay isn't too much.

[Simpo Two]

The days of digital have killed off the need for most filters I think. However two are still very useful:

Filter 1: Polarising
Filter 2: ND

Everything else: Photoshop

[Bee_Jay]

Simpo Two said:

The days of digital have killed off the need for most filters I think. However two are still very useful:

Filter 1: Polarising
Filter 2: ND

Everything else: Photoshop

+1. The UV filter you have is unnecessary, get a lens hood instead.

[RobDickinson]

Poleriser will take 1-2 stops of light from you, which is sometimes handy and sometimes a nightmare.

Also needs adjusting as soon as you move the camera...

[LukeBird]

Bee_Jay said:

Simpo Two said:

The days of digital have killed off the need for most filters I think. However two are still very useful:

Filter 1: Polarising
Filter 2: ND

Everything else: Photoshop

+1. The UV filter you have is unnecessary, get a lens hood instead.

I've taken some pictures with my camera outside of cars on the move (the Caterham being a prime example for this!) and have been a little worried by stones flying up, added protection for the lens is worth it, surely?

[Simpo Two]

LukeBird said:

I've taken some pictures with my camera outside of cars on the move (the Caterham being a prime example for this!) and have been a little worried by stones flying up, added protection for the lens is worth it, surely?

In that case it would seem sensible, yes.

[LukeBird]

Simpo Two said:

LukeBird said:

I've taken some pictures with my camera outside of cars on the move (the Caterham being a prime example for this!) and have been a little worried by stones flying up, added protection for the lens is worth it, surely?

In that case it would seem sensible, yes.

I've stuck them on all of my lenses for precisely that reason.
Just seems a cheap way of protecting something expensive!

[DKMsport]

LukeBird said:

Simpo Two said:

LukeBird said:

I've taken some pictures with my camera outside of cars on the move (the Caterham being a prime example for this!) and have been a little worried by stones flying up, added protection for the lens is worth it, surely?

In that case it would seem sensible, yes.

I've stuck them on all of my lenses for precisely that reason.
Just seems a cheap way of protecting something expensive!

Thats why I have one on my 55-200mm, I use it alot more than my other lenses so dont want to damage it and have to replace it. That and it was free lol

[Bee_Jay]

DKMsport said:

LukeBird said:

Simpo Two said:

LukeBird said:

I've taken some pictures with my camera outside of cars on the move (the Caterham being a prime example for this!) and have been a little worried by stones flying up, added protection for the lens is worth it, surely?

In that case it would seem sensible, yes.

I've stuck them on all of my lenses for precisely that reason.
Just seems a cheap way of protecting something expensive!

Thats why I have one on my 55-200mm, I use it alot more than my other lenses so dont want to damage it and have to replace it. That and it was free lol

Indeed - in situations where there is flying debris then it makes sense, that is about it though... For every other occasion potentially lowering the quality of my images and or introducing abberations/flare by making sure there is a bit of cheap (free) flat glass in the way is not high on my list of wants. I spend a lot of money on specially shaped and coated glass in the form of lenses and don't want to waste it...