Shooting with a digital camera offers plenty of creative freedom, especially when you start experimenting with the wide range of filters available to boost image quality. A handful of well-chosen accessories can make a photographer’s workflow far smoother and far more rewarding. Below, we’ll look at some of the most popular filters you can attach to a DSLR camera.
- Ultra Violet filter
- Circular Polarizing filter
- Neutral Density filter
- Colour Filters:
Ultra Violet Filter:
Outdoor shots often suffer from haziness and a soft, unclear appearance, and ultraviolet rays are usually the culprit. A UV filter cuts out these rays, which proves especially useful when you’re shooting landscape scenes. It also doubles up as a handy shield for the front element of your lens. For these reasons, fitting a UV filter to your DSLR is a smart move if you want consistently sharp, clean images.
Circular Polarizing Filter:
The circular polarizer really shines when you’re dealing with reflective surfaces such as water, windows, or shiny glass. Light bouncing off these materials changes direction at specific angles, and this filter lets you cut through those unwanted reflections. On top of that, it deepens colour saturation and sharpens contrast, giving your shots a richer, crisper look overall.
Neutral Density Filter:
A neutral density filter cuts down the amount of light that reaches your sensor. This gives you the freedom to shoot at a wider aperture in bright daylight without having to push your shutter speed too high. The result is a beautifully sharp subject set against a softly blurred background, giving your image that appealing shallow depth of field.
Colour Filters:
Colour filters for DSLR lenses come in a huge range of shades and strengths. They’re used to fine-tune and correct the colour balance in your shots on location. Of course, similar tweaks can also be handled in post-production rather than in-camera. Either way, it pays to get familiar with the various filter types available for your DSLR so you can pick the right tool for the job.