The Ultimate Guide to the Best Lens Filters: Uses, Types & More

So you’re wondering what a lens filter is and how it can be used? Chances are, you’ve seen them in use but never really knew the best way to use them. The best lens filters from brands like B+W, Hoya, Tiffen, or Lee can help increase your photography skills by improving image quality. Filters come in many different shapes and sizes depending on their purpose. In this guide we will go over some of the best uses for these handy little accessories!

What are lens filters for?

Lens filters are small pieces of glass that attaches to your camera lens. They change the way the light goes through the lens and let’s you take photos in different ways.

Why use filters on lenses?

Many photographers use a protective filter in front of their best lenses so they can have peace-of-mind when shooting in wet or dusty conditions as they act as an extra layer between the environment and our camera’s lens which reduces the risk for potential damage that could lead to a costly replacement or repair.

Alternatively, Lens filters can be used to enhance a scene or reduce the intensity of light.

By Filter Effects
Protective Filters
Reduce Glare
Reduce Light
Special Effects
Colour Correction
IR Control
By lens filter brands
Hoya
Lee
Tiffen
B + W
Cokin
Kase
Lensbaby

Best Lens Protector Filters

There are three main types of protective filters; Clear Filters, UV Filters and Skylight Filters.

Clear Filter –

You may consider a good quality clear filter to protect your lens. But they can be expensive in comparison with UV filters and you would need one for every single lens on the camera, which is impractical when it comes time to pack up at the end of shooting day!

B&W lens filter in case

B+W 58mm XS-Pro Clear Filter

Ultraviolet (UV) filter –

Ultraviolet filters help control the amount of ultraviolet light that can reach a camera’s sensor, and while some photographers will argue that they can diminish the quality of the image. The protection they give to your camera lens out weight any diminished image quality.

The best uv filter brand depends on how much you want to spend. I personally recommend Hoya’s UV filters as I haven’t see any change in image quality, however if you’re on a budget then try Tiffen.

best lens filter for starters

Hoya 58mm UV Filter – Best lens filters to start with

Tiffen 58mm UV Protector Filter

Skylight filters

A skylight filter is a type of lens filter that reduces the effects of ultraviolet radiation on colour film and digital sensors. There are different types, but they all reduce blue light so colours look more natural.

Cokin X230 Skylight 1A Filter

Circular polarisation filters aka CPL filters

What is a circular polarising filter?

A circular polarising filter will help remove reflections/ glare from non-metallic surfaces, such as glass or water. They can also be used to increase the contrast between a subject and its background – which is why they are often found in landscape photography.

Best practices on how to use a circular polariser is to mount the filter on your lens while looking at what you want to shoot. This means that you will be rotating the ring of your CPL right or left until reflections disappear and contrast is improved – then lock off with one hand by twisting-in.

When should you not use a polarising filter?

Obviously, if you want to highlight water reflections or rainbows then you wouldn’t use a CPL Filter. You’ll also need to consider that a CPL filter will reduce your light by about 2-3 stops, so are not ideal for low light situation.

Hoya 58mm Circular Polarizer UV Filter

ND filters – Best neutral density filters

A Neutral Density filter is a type of lens filter that reduces the intensity of all wavelengths by providing variable shading, or partial opacity to reduce glare and reflections from strong light sources (the sun for example).

The best ND filers are those which offer multiple values such as variable ND filters for best control and best quality. Alternatively, you can choose from GND filter (Graduated Neutral Density) which allows you to darken part of an image instead of the whole image as ND filters do or Central ND Filters.

When to use a GND filter?

One of the most common questions regarding landscape photography is how to get both foreground and sky well-exposed. Frustration might occur when you are shooting outside, finding either the sky completely white or landscape way too dark. You’re also struggling to get whole image correctly exposed with your current settings on camera – there are two solutions that will help: Blending multiple images (combining exposures) and Graduated ND Filters which can be used in different scenarios for example if it’s sunny, cloudy etc.,

Round ND filter VS Square ND filter

Round ND Filters screw on like the other filters which make them secure and doesn’t leak any light through, however they are more expensive.
Square ND filters on the other hand slot in and therefore give you the option to stack different ND filters togethers very quickly, but as they are not attached they allow light to leak in, and can fall out of the holder.

Cokin Gradual ND Kit plus Holder

Great for those wanting to dabble and learn the process.

Kase best lens filters kit

Best lens filters kit

Kase Wolverine Magnetic Circular Filters 77mm Professional Kit

Great for those wanting professional level gear.

Special effects filters

A number of different types of filters can be used for a variety of purposes, but the best special effect lens is one that you create yourself by using multiple shots and editing software.

Macro Filters (Diopter Filter)

Close-up or macro photos are best with a diopter filter. Diopter filters allow you to reduce the minimum distance required that you can focus your lens. Everything from up close to full frame is possible, it all depends on what you’re doing and how far away the object of your attention is.

Macro Filters tend to come in Macro filters kits with three or four lens filters. They all have varying magnification from 2x to 10x or more.

Lensbaby 46mm Macro Filter Kit

The Lensbaby 46mm Macro Filter Kit includes +1, +2, and +4 screw on close-up filters. 

Star filter

Star effect filters, also know as starburst filters, create a circular scattering of light and can be best used as a creative way to create starbursts off lights. The best star filters are: Lee Star Standard, and Cokin – just remember to get the right holder.

Diffusion Filter

Diffusion filters can be used to create magical, enchanting portraits. The keyword here is “soften.” Basically, a diffusion filter diffuses strong light but still keeps an image sharp and contrasty with the original colours unchanged – so it’s different from using out of focus or softening features in post-production software like Photoshop. It’s mainly used for portrait work because small skin defects are softened almost completely while wrinkles and facial contrasts disappear before your very eyes!

Tiffen 77mm Black Pro-Mist 1/4 Filter

Colour Conversion Filters

Whether you’re looking to balance your light colour with Tiffen’s Light balancing filter, correct white balance, enhance with a warming filter 85B or a cooling filter 80A. It’s all about reading the scene you have and adjusting accordingly. This biggest reason for correcting these colours in camera is for film and cinematic.

FLD filter

FLD filter is Fluorescent Light – Daylight (FLD) conversion filter.
FLD filters create a more natural, white appearance in high-fluorescent light situations. They are an invaluable tool for professional photographers to use when dealing with greenish tones that fluorescent lights often produce and can be used on film or digital cameras alike!

Black and white filters

Black and white filters improve contrast between colours that reflect similar grey tones by separating them from other colours nearby, understanding the colour wheel in reference to grey tones is important in black and white photography. In the simplest terms a coloured filter will pass its own colour and block its complimentary colour.

Infrared lens filter

Did you know that to get those otherworldly effects where leaves are white in black and white photos instead of grey, an infrared filter is the key? These filters are specifically designed to block visible light while only allowing infrared light through into a lens or camera. Infrared photography yields very interesting, sometimes stunning, creative results as objects in a scene can reflect ultraviolet much differently than normal light.
Picking the best lens filters will depend on your subject and what colours you’re working with.

Hoya 58mm Infrared R72

FAQ – Filters

What are the best lens filters kits?

It can be best to get a starter kit or few filters, rather than buying individual lens filters. But you’ll need to first decide on the type of effect you’re looking for, Macro set, ND set, or something like B&W Starter set or Hoya’s Digital Filter Kit.

Best filter cases / filter holder

The best filter cases work with your camera system / camera bag. It’s all about having them easy to access while protecting them with soft lining. Some systems have colour coding in them.

What Filter Should You Buy First?

When you’re first starting out then you only need a protective filter, after that you’ll need to think about the type of photography you wish to do, and therefore which would be the best lens filters for that project.

How to remove filter from camera lens?

Simply unscrew the ring at the base of your lens and then take off the cap holding in place . To remove a stuck filter from your lens, you’ll need a special filter removal wrench.

What are the best filters for sunsets?

If you’re looking to enhance a sunset, then look into neutral density and colour correction filters. You’ll need to think about what the sunset is like.

How to work out the right lens filter size?

Filters and lens are sized by the diameter in mm. You can find it at the end of the lens.

What are filter adapters?

There’s a few different types of filter adapters out there like step-rings, but I personally love Manfrotto’s Xume Quick release.

Which brand of lens filter is the best?

There is no best brand of lens filter that beats all the others. Kase, Lee and B&W all produce excellent quality filters. You’ll struggle to find a bigger range than from Tiffen at such affordable prices, not unlike Hoya.

Similar Posts