Which filters for digital landscapes?

[markgriff]

I've recently upgraded to a digital SLR and I was wondering what filters are essentially required for landscape shots when shooting digital.

I have a number of filters which I used to take out with me when shooting on slide film but I was wanting to know with the facility of digital software, are most of these filters now redundant and do I only really need a select few?

What's in your camera bag?

Regards,

Mark

[mjs1973]

Welcome to the Forums Mark. Just about everything your filters will do, so will Photoshop with the exception of a polarizer. Photoshop will aslo give you more control over the affect those filters will have, and you can apply those affects to certain areas of your image instead of entire image. I don't carry or use a lot of filters, but a poarizer is a must have in my book.

Another filter that I found to work very well was an enhancing filter like this. I borrowed one for a trip to see some fall colors and it worked great. I'm sure I could have just bumbed up the saturation with Photoshop later, but I like to get as much done "in camera" so I can limit my post processing time.

[photofun]

Welcome to the Forums Mark. Just about everything your filters will do, so will Photoshop with the exception of a polarizer. Photoshop will aslo give you more control over the affect those filters will have, and you can apply those affects to certain areas of your image instead of entire image. I don't carry or use a lot of filters, but a poarizer is a must have in my book.

Another filter that I found to work very well was an enhancing filter like this. I borrowed one for a trip to see some fall colors and it worked great. I'm sure I could have just bumbed up the saturation with Photoshop later, but I like to get as much done "in camera" so I can limit my post processing time.

I have the cir polarizer and it is a must have especially if you are shooting in snow. I will have to try the other filter. Thanks for the info.:thumbsup:

[freygr]

I've recently upgraded to a digital SLR and I was wondering what filters are essentially required for landscape shots when shooting digital.

I have a number of filters which I used to take out with me when shooting on slide film but I was wanting to know with the facility of digital software, are most of these filters now redundant and do I only really need a select few?

What's in your camera bag?

Regards,

Mark

Well a UV filter is needed if you go up into the mountains, MT. Hood, Pikes Peak, and like.

[Ronnoco]

A polarizer for reducing reflections in water and on wet vegetation, as well as making skies more blue with fluffier clouds is certainly a necessity. Neutral density filters from 2 to 4 for shooting sunsets since they brighten up the foreground and still leave the dramatic rich colours in the sky. Ideal for a sunset over a lake scene for example. A UV haze filter for keeping finger prints off the lens and hopefully slightly reducing blue haze.

Some digital cameras have colour filters in their menues that may be worth a try as well for seeing how they affect your landscapes. Photoshop plug-ins also give you some flexibility and filtration to adjust either the whole photo or selective parts to meet your needs.

Ronnoco

[greghalliday]

The only two filters I use since going to digital are a multicoated circular polarizer and a graduated 2 stop neutral density filter. Some will say that you can get both effects in Photoshop, but at least with the ND graduated, I haven't yet figured out how. Ditch all your color filters for B&W (unless you will still be shooting B&W film). Any contrast and tone changes are very easily done with even the most basic PS skills. Happy shooting.

[another view]

The only two filters I use are a Polarizer and a UV. I've never heard of any software that can match the effect of a polarizer - and I can't imagine it's even possible. The UV is only used when it's raining and there is a good chance of getting water on the front element of the lens.

It takes more time to do it later in Photoshop, but you have more control. I used to use graduated ND filters a lot with slide film, but a lot of times I didn't want the straight line between clear and ND parts of the filter - and PS gives me that control.

[mwfanelli]

Well a UV filter is needed if you go up into the mountains, MT. Hood, Pikes Peak, and like.

No, this advice is at least 20 years old! The "bluish haze" at high altitudes was due to the extra UV fogging the film. In fact, a Skylight 1A or 1B was recommended, not UV, to also eliminate some of the extra blue. In any case, neither modern film (for decades) nor digital cameras are sensitive to UV light.

[markgriff]

Many thanks for your replies,

I had the polariser and the uv filter already packed, so I didn't appear to be too far off the mark. Just need to get a couple of ND's to go with them!

Regards,

Mark