About Camera Filters
Camera filters applied to your SLR camera lens can provide creative results, as well as protection for your camera lens. With a variety of camera filters on the market, photographers, at a minimum, can use them to minimize glare and increase photo clarity.
Type
There are hundreds of types of camera filters for a variety of functions, including exposure, clarity and safety.
Choose a polarizing filter when photographing a reflective surface, such as water. A polarizing filter will allow you to see the fish, rocks and plants underneath the water's surface. They can also be useful for product and museum photography with glass display cases.
A UV, haze or sky filter will help clarify pictures. When photographing scenes from a distance, the haze in the air will be eliminated by these three types of filters. These are also the most commonly used filters to protect your lens and add an element of sharpness to the images.
Features
Camera filters are applied to the lens portion of an SLR film or digital camera. Filters are available in two physical shapes. The most common are the round glass pieces, fitted with a threaded-screw mount. The second filter shape is a square. These filters slide into a mount that is attached to the camera lens. This style of filter is made of plastic or glass.
Size
Each camera lens requires a specific size of filter. You cannot purchase one creative filter and expect it to fit on all of your lenses. Circular-style filters are measured in millimeters. A series of numbers with information about the lens is printed on the end of the camera lens. One of the numbers is the filter size for that specific lens. A 'o' symbol with a line through it is the symbol for filter. Look for a number next to that symbol, ending with mm.
Benefits
Camera filters are an easy way to enhance photos immediately. As the photograph is made, the features of the filter are applied. This eliminates post-production processes on the computer or at the computer lab.
Camera filters also work as a cheap insurance policy. Since they cover the end of your camera lens, they provide a layer of protection in the event of a drop. Camera filters range in price from $10-70. Replacing a filter is much less costly than replacing a damaged lens.
Risk Factors
Since some filters darken images to help enhance and saturate colors, it is easy to accidentally underexpose a photograph. You'll see an exposure guide on the filter package. In this case, the photographer will need to use their camera in a manual setting to adjust the aperture for a correct exposure.
Some filters require manual focusing. Soft-focus filters and polarizing filters work best when the photographer is manually adjusting the focus. An automatic focusing system can sometimes be fooled by filters.
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