Types of Filters and Their Use

 

Types of Filters and Their Use

Filters once played a key role in photography, especially in landscape photography. With the advent of digital photography, many people predicted the demise of camera filters. They couldn't have been more wrong. Often, the effect or benefits of using filters cannot be replicated during post-processing, and many filters remain important and widely usable in this digital age.

Screw-in filters are typically made of optical glass, with high-end filters boasting multi-coating to minimize glare and maximize image quality. These types of filters are also easy to use, simply screwing directly onto the front of the lens via the lens's filter thread.

Filters come in different types (ultraviolet UV, polarizing filters - circular and linear, protective Protect and ND filters) and diameters, usually ranging between 52mm and 82mm, which are also the diameters of most modern lenses.

When used well and appropriately, filters have the ability to enhance the quality of your photographs, in fact, even completely transform them.
Our guide to the world of screw-in filters will help you arm yourself with the knowledge and know-how to buy only the filters you need.

 

What filters do you need?

Let's start by looking at a few types of filters that are truly unnecessary in the digital age. Cooling-down and Warming-up filters (which served to correct color temperature) once played a significant role in film photography. Nowadays, we have the ability to set a precise "white balance," and when shooting in RAW format (which we strongly recommend), we also have the option to determine the color temperature during post-processing.

Soft Focus filters were also very popular – though not necessarily among landscape photographers. Again, the effect is easily achieved in Photoshop using tools like Gaussian Blur.

 

Step-up and Step-down Adapter Rings (Adapters)

These rings are designed to adapt a filter to a lens when there is a difference between the filter and lens diameters. For example, let's say you have a 77mm threaded filter but want to attach it to a 67mm diameter lens. An appropriate Step-down ring will allow you to do this. They are made of plastic or metal and are relatively inexpensive, available in various sizes to accommodate different thread combinations. Step-down rings allow larger filters to be used on lenses with smaller thread diameters and are a good way to use your largest filter (e.g., 77mm diameter) on your smaller lenses (e.g., 67mm). Step-up rings are used to use small filters with larger diameter lenses but are generally less practical as they increase the likelihood of vignetting.

 

Screw-in filters essential for landscape photography

In my opinion, there are a handful of different types of filters that remain essential today - UV, Protector, polarizing, and Neutral Density (ND). I will try to introduce you to their specific qualities.

Manfrotto UV filter from the Advanced series

 

UV filters are completely transparent but are designed to counteract the effect of ultraviolet (UV) light, which can reduce contrast.

The digital sensors of modern cameras are capable of recording UV light, which is invisible to our sensory system, but a UV filter will block ultraviolet rays. They are especially useful when shooting at high altitudes, where the air is thinner and the greater presence of UV rays would cause a "cold" bluish tint to be added. They are also useful when shooting winter landscapes, when the light is generally cooler in color. Snow also reflects UV light, and here, a UV filter can again be helpful.

Skylite filters are also a suitable alternative and are very similar to UV filters. However, it is important to note that they have a slight pink tint, which slightly "warms" the shadows. Like UV filters, they are completely transparent and do not absorb light; they can also be used as protection, safeguarding the lens from damage.

 

A shot that does not require the use of filters

 

This shot did not require the use of a filter. In it, I wanted to emphasize the silhouette of the castle against the rising sun. I also needed a fast shutter speed to capture the gulls in flight and did not wish to use an ND and polarizing filter, which would have had a negligible effect.

The only thing I used was a UV filter on a 70-200 zoom telephoto lens, the purpose of which was to protect the optics from splashes and sand.
 

Manfrotto Professional Protect filter

 

Optics are precious and delicate, so it is important to always take care of their proper storage and to protect the front element from scratches or damage. While UV and Skylite filters have their purpose and can simultaneously protect your optics, dedicated Protect filters are the best choice if the goal is solely lens protection. They are completely transparent and designed to be kept permanently mounted on the lens - although you may want to remove them when other types of filters are used.

All Protect filters do is protect the front lens element from dust, dirt, sand, moisture, and scratches. Manfrotto Protect filters are designed for professionals and enthusiasts seeking maximum protection for their optics. The filter is water repellent and constructed to be scratch-resistant and repel oils, and offers antistatic and anti-reflective coatings. A Protect filter is a good investment that could potentially save you a lot in the event of an accidental drop or impact to the lens. It is much easier and cheaper to replace the filter than the lens.

 

Shot taken with only a Manfrotto Protect filter

 

When shooting in challenging weather conditions – when rain, snow, dust or sand are directed at the camera – I would recommend keeping a UV or Protect filter attached to the lens to ensure it remains clean and undamaged.

 

Polarizing filters

For landscape photography, a polarizing filter (also called a "polarizer" for short) is absolutely essential. It can be said that no other type of filter will have a greater impact on your photos. Polarized light causes glare and reflections, reducing the intensity of color on surfaces. By blocking polarized rays from entering the lens, a polarizing filter is able to restore the natural saturation, contrast, and color of a scene. This will result in more attractive-looking photos.

Polarizers are usually round, screw-in filters. They are made of a thin polarizing film sandwiched between two circular pieces of glass. By rotating the filter, you can change the amount of polarized light, allowing you to precisely control the filter's action. They are intuitive to use. Simply look through the camera's viewfinder (or use LiveView) while simultaneously rotating the filter. You should be able to see reflections appearing and disappearing, and the intensity of colors intensifying or fading.

It is important to note that the strength of a polarizing filter's effect depends on the camera's angle relative to the sun. The most polarized rays are those that fall at 90 degrees to the sun. Metallic objects, such as polished steel and chrome surfaces, do not reflect polarized light and are therefore unaffected by the filter.

Using the filter is very easy; just rotate it until you achieve the effect you are looking for. For landscape photography, the polarizer is most popular for capturing blue skies and enhancing and enlivening their colors. However, it is also useful for reducing glare coming from wet and shiny leaves and foliage, making it a very useful filter for photography in forests and even for close-ups of flowers.

Manfrotto Professional CPL filter

 

Manfrotto are among the brands that produce high-quality polarizing filters, available for various lens diameters up to 82mm. It can be said that the polarising filter is the most useful and important filter when shooting landscapes. The Professional version of Manfrotto has a 12-layer coating for maximum image quality, allowing an impressive 90% light transmission. This is a filter that can elevate the quality of your shots.


 Shot taken without the use of a Manfrotto CPL filter

 

Shot taken with a Manfrotto CPL filter

 

Although best known for their effect on skies, polarizers are very useful when photographing water and forests. They eliminate reflections from water and from wet, shiny leaves to produce results with much greater color saturation and overall impact.

 

Achieving a saturated blue sky with a Manfrotto Professional CPL filter

 

When I photographed these vibrant beach huts, I chose a low angle and rotated the polarizing filter until the sky became as saturated as possible, thus achieving maximum effect.

 

Disadvantages of polarizing filters

The effect of a polarizer looks extremely attractive through the viewfinder. However, this effect will not always yield the best and most natural-looking results. When the filter is rotated to maximum polarization, you may encounter some problems. Cloudless skies and photographs taken at higher altitudes are most at risk of appearing excessively dark. You should be able to spot the problem through the viewfinder, but always review your images and ensure that the sky remains natural-looking. If the sky appears too dark, simply reduce the polarization level by rotating the filter.

Uneven polarization is another common problem. At some angles to the Sun, you may find that the filter's effect is uneven - part of the sky is darker in some areas than others. Short focal lengths (16-35mm) are most susceptible to the problem due to the wide field of view they capture. To solve this problem, try reducing the polarization, using a longer focal length, or (if possible) changing your perspective.

 

Linear or circular polarizer?

 

Polarizing filters are available in two different variants: linear and circular. Although both types are circular screw-in filters, the construction of linear filters affects the accuracy of metering in digital cameras.

The design of circular polarizers ensures that the metering system is not disturbed and functions correctly. Therefore, we recommend purchasing a circular polarizing filter, also known as a CPL (Circular Polarizer).

 

Filter factor
 

Polarizing filters absorb some of the light entering the lens. This phenomenon is known as the filter factor. Polarizers have a filter factor of 4x - thus they absorb up to 2 stops of light. Your camera's TTL (through-the-lens) metering will automatically measure this loss, but just be aware that the shutter speed will be extended. For this reason, polarizers can be useful as an improvised Neutral Density (ND) filter, to artificially extend shutter speeds for creatively blurring the motion of a subject, such as moving water.

 

ND Filters

Neutral Density (ND) filters are another important and essential piece of equipment for any landscape photographer. They are simple, grey filters designed to absorb light. In this way, they allow photographers to artificially select long shutter speeds to achieve creative motion blur. Water is the most popular element to blur, but foliage, clouds, people, and animals are other subjects to which you might want to apply the filter's effect. The impression of motion can truly add emotion, life, and energy to your photographs. These filters have great creative potential. ND filters with densities of 3-, 6-, and 10-stops are the most popular.


Shot taken with a 6-stop ND filter

 

I recommend combining filters to achieve a result that will make your shots interesting and remarkable. It is not uncommon to use a polarizing filter to restore natural color saturation in combination with an ND filter to achieve subject movement. In this case, I used a 6-stop ND filter to create this seascape with a different mood.

You can view the range of Manfrotto filters here

 

Ross Hoddinott
Ross is one of the leading landscape photographers in the UK. He is the author of 8 photography books and the recipient of numerous awards. Ross has worked as a professional photographer since 1997, authoring numerous publications and advertising materials.

Based in Southwest England, Ross is best known for his close-up nature shots. He is a member of 2020VISION, an ambassador for Nikon UK, and from 2013-2015, he was also one of the ambassadors for Manfrotto.