Your Favorite Filter - DPChallenge Forums

12/21/2008 12:00:19 PM · #1

Lets say you had all of the normal protective filters but could only buy ONE more "fun" filter that you attach to your lense. What would you choose and why?

If you have a photo that shows how you used this filter please show it.

Message edited by author 2008-12-21 12:01:33.

12/21/2008 12:03:11 PM · #2

No brainer for me.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

12/21/2008 12:05:29 PM · #3

What filter did you use? Im not saying polorizor or UV. Im talking about a fun one like maybe mist or soft focus or infrared etc. Something like that. I want to see what all of the different filters do and what some think they would buy that they cant really do in editing as good as with a filter that attaches to the lense.

Mal37

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

12/21/2008 12:10:29 PM · #4

Favorite fun filter... Star effect. I'm terrible at replicating the effect in Photoshop.

Not the best example, but it's already online.

12/21/2008 12:11:56 PM · #5

Thank you. That is a lovely picture!

12/21/2008 12:28:45 PM · #6

The first shot was done with a wet polarizer. You can breathe on a filter or lens and shoot as it clears up to get several levels of "foggy", and, it's free.
The second was shot with a standard cross star filter, and the last with an adjustable star. With the adjustable one, each set of lines is in a separate glass, and you can turn each one to get he angles in the lines that you like for the shot.
A gradient neutral density filter is a very useful one as well when shooting outdoors, to get the sky to look nice. Sometimes I use one when riding in a car and shooting, and it saves a lot of time later when I edit.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

12/21/2008 12:32:48 PM · #7

Thank you MelonMusketeer. That was very useful and nice pictures!

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

12/21/2008 12:33:12 PM · #8

The only "real" filters I have are a polarizer and a graduated ND, but I have these "special effects" filters (I think about about $3/dozen from Oriental Trading Company) which just happen to fit the lens opening of my Olympus camera:

used to make pictures like

I made this "star filter" from a bottle top and a piece of "screen tint" -- high-contrast film with a pattern of dots -- used in offset printing:

examples:

dahkota

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0 L USM

12/21/2008 12:34:24 PM · #9

cokin diffusion:

or infrared:

Love both, for different reasons.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0 L USM

12/21/2008 12:54:27 PM · #10

Thank you GeneralE. Those are cool.

dahkota this one is great

What did you use exactly?

What about this Graduated Neutral Density 0.6 Filter. Is this to light? I cant tell by the numbers what to get that is dark enough or not.

Message edited by author 2008-12-21 12:54:58.

dahkota

Canon EOS-7D

12/21/2008 01:02:09 PM · #11

Originally posted by limerick:

Thank you GeneralE. Those are cool.

dahkota this one is great

What did you use exactly?

What about this Graduated Neutral Density 0.6 Filter. Is this to light? I cant tell by the numbers what to get that is dark enough or not.

Cokin Professional Series with a cokin infrared filter.

Benefits of the cokin system are the ability to use the same filter on all lenses - just purchase step up rings for the filter holder.

Olympus 12-45mm f/4.0 Pro

12/21/2008 01:17:35 PM · #12

I also use thread to thread step up rings for 3 of my lenses. The largest filter that I need is 72mm, so I have rings to fit it down to 67 and to 58 for a couple of other lenses. That way the expensive part fits several lenses. I have 52's for most of my Ai Nikkor lenses. I use the Cokin system for the G ND filter.

OdysseyF22

Panasonic DC-G9

12/21/2008 01:24:01 PM · #13

My Cokin Circular Polarizer hardly ever leaves my lens - no matter which lens I'm using (with the exception of indoor shots). I love the way it kicks up the colors and darkens the sky.

Although I'd love to get an IR filter - I tend to think that I'd get hooked on that really fast!

12/21/2008 01:24:26 PM · #14

Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:

Thanks. This is good information to know. I am going to have to think about this for a while and see what I want. ;=)

Man_Called_Horse

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

12/21/2008 03:47:29 PM · #15

Originally posted by limerick:

Lets say you had all of the normal protective filters but could only buy ONE more "fun" filter that you attach to your lense. What would you choose and why?

An all natural, not bleached, #2 coffee filter.

Because of the non chemical leaching into my coffee, and the protective qualities from scratching the lens.

12/21/2008 04:36:46 PM · #16

I have decided to get the infrared and the graduated ND. I ordered a UV and Polarizer set that is coming with a flourescent filter and a 4x ND filter extra but I dont know what the flourescent does. Hahahahah. I am going to get to a fisheye lense and a light tent kit and a zoom lens. That is it for a while and then I will get a high speed photography kit later on with a snapshotII strobe but that is a few months away. I want to do milk drops later on. I think the other stuff will get me off to a good start tho.

Thank you for your replies and I hope you all have a nice Holiday!

Agnes

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS

12/21/2008 07:55:30 PM · #17

The florescent filter is sort of useless with the digital cameras, since most of them have a white balance setting for that sort of light. The 4X ND can help you get shallow depth of field in bright daylight if you want to do that for some reason. Shooting moving water would be the first thing that comes to mind. It is also useful for lengthening exposures for shooting lightning or fireworks where you want the shutter open longer.
Have fun with them.

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

12/21/2008 08:56:38 PM · #18

Either an IR filter or a 6-stop ND filter. Not a .6 ND. Six full stops.

Message edited by author 2008-12-21 20:57:11.

Citadel

Nikon D7500

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

12/21/2008 09:03:26 PM · #19

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

Either an IR filter or a 6-stop ND filter. Not a .6 ND. Six full stops.

6 stop ND would be fun. I can imagine taking pictures of lakes and stuff with that. Wait a minute...I have one. Why haven't I yet??? :)

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 16-35 f/4 ED VR

12/30/2008 10:29:14 AM · #20

dahkota I know you used the Cokin IR for this but what did you use to get the blue? How did you edit it exactly?

For anyone - I want a graduated filter. Would it be best to go with a graduated ND or a color like a graduated blue if I want deeper sky color which is really what I am after or would they both work the same since I can edit anyway?

If I do go with the graduated ND for example what is the "exact" filter you suggest because there are some that have more grey then others for the ND.

Agnes

darnok

Nikon D850

12/30/2008 10:33:14 AM · #21

Originally posted by limerick:

You would get more use out of a graduated ND filter than a graduated colour filter - you could also add some colour in post processing. I have Cokin P-series 8x (3-stops) GND filter, sometimes I wish I had a stronger one, but it's a good start.

Beetle

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS

12/30/2008 11:37:09 AM · #22

This one isn't my favorite, but my most interesting one - it is perfect for disappearing unwanted tourists.
Read the text under the photo for details.

12/30/2008 01:05:54 PM · #23

Originally posted by Beetle:

This one isn't my favorite, but my most interesting one - it is perfect for disappearing unwanted tourists.
Read the text under the photo for details.

Wow. Welders glass? That is weird but creative!

12/30/2008 01:07:24 PM · #24

Originally posted by darnok:

Originally posted by limerick:

For anyone - I want a graduated filter. Would it be best to go with a graduated ND or a color like a graduated blue if I want deeper sky color which is really what I am after or would they both work the same since I can edit anyway?

If I do go with the graduated ND for example what is the "exact" filter you suggest because there are some that have more grey then others for the ND.

Agnes

You would get more use out of a graduated ND filter than a graduated colour filter - you could also add some colour in post processing. I have Cokin P-series 8x (3-stops) GND filter, sometimes I wish I had a stronger one, but it's a good start.

I think I am going to go with the graduated ND, but I dont use Cokin. I will be using a 62mm with a step down ring to a 58mm. So I need to know what kind to buy other then a Cokin? The exact name would be good. I have seen the .6 ones but they look a little light colored for me. I want one a bit darker.

chromeydome