Filters for digital cameras at DVinfo.net

Dorothy Engleman · January 10th, 2004, 06:32 PM

Can someone please advise me whether film filters like NDs and circular polarizers are necessary with digital cameras?

Dorothy, excitedly about to take the plunge into digital photography with a Canon Powershot A80.

Frank Granovski · January 10th, 2004, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Can someone please advise me whether film filters like NDs and circular polarizers are necessary with digital cameras?

Not so much as with film cams. But you will still find a "protective" UV or skylight and a circular polarizer useful. A rubber hood is a good idea as well, depending if your digicam has one or not, and if it will fit.

Dorothy Engleman · January 10th, 2004, 09:00 PM

"But you will still find a "protective" UV or skylight and a circular polarizer useful."

Thanks, Frank, for your prompt reply! But I'm curious why an ND filter or the specialty warming and softening and color filters aren't useful for digital cameras?

Dorothy

Frank Granovski · January 10th, 2004, 09:18 PM

More light means higher shutter speed (or smaller aperture). A higher shutter will not effect the still, as with video. Regarding warming filters, all you need is MS WIN 3.11 and a shareware paint program to do all sorts of things with your digital still.

Adrian Douglas · January 10th, 2004, 11:39 PM

Filters are just as useful with still as with digital, but as Frank said the same can also be don digitally, especially if you have Photoshop CS as if has a 'Filter effects' utility included.

With your A80 you're somwhat limited with filters as it's such a small front element that fitting filters would require a bunch of adapters as well as the filters themselves.

An ND or grey grad would be just as effective with digital as they would be with film due to limited dynamic ranges of CCD/CMOS sensors.

Dorothy Engleman · January 11th, 2004, 12:29 AM

Thanks, Frank and Adrian. I really appreciate your input!

I want to learn how to shoot as photographically as possible without having to resort to adding effects in post. Canon has a 52mm lens adaptor so I'm going to order that along with a UV, circular polarizing and ND filter.

Dorothy

Frank Granovski · January 11th, 2004, 03:05 AM

I'm not too sure what a plain ND will do on a digital camera; just increase the shutter speed if you want to cut down on light.

Adrian Douglas · January 11th, 2004, 05:01 AM

I'd just go with the polarizer and forget the ND. The polarizer acts like an ND and cuts 1 & 1/2 to 2 stops as well as controlling glare and saturating colours. Unless you plan to shoot in extremely bright situations then the polarizer should do the job for you.

Jeff Donald · January 11th, 2004, 08:43 AM

ND filter are useful because many for the small digicams are limited to F8. The lenses are so small that higher apertures (F11, 16 etc.) cause noticeable diffraction. You may want to consider this adapter and filters from Cokin. Adapters can also be purchased to use the same filters with many 35mm cameras and DV cameras. B & H sells the adapter and filters.

Dorothy Engleman · January 11th, 2004, 12:33 PM

Thanks Jeff! Yes, the A80 is limited to F8.

Which value neutral density filter would you recommend, ND.3 or ND.6?

Canon makes a lens adaptor I was planning to get along with some 52mm filters:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=300531&is=REG

The Cokin digi-cam adaptor and filters sound interesting but I can't locate 'em on B & H's site.

Dorothy

January 10th, 2004, 06:32 PM	#1
Dorothy Engleman Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Santa Monica, California Posts: 146	Filters for digital cameras Can someone please advise me whether film filters like NDs and circular polarizers are necessary with digital cameras? Dorothy, excitedly about to take the plunge into digital photography with a Canon Powershot A80.

January 10th, 2004, 11:39 PM	#5
Adrian Douglas Trustee Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Chigasaki, Japan. Posts: 1,660	Filters are just as useful with still as with digital, but as Frank said the same can also be don digitally, especially if you have Photoshop CS as if has a 'Filter effects' utility included. With your A80 you're somwhat limited with filters as it's such a small front element that fitting filters would require a bunch of adapters as well as the filters themselves. An ND or grey grad would be just as effective with digital as they would be with film due to limited dynamic ranges of CCD/CMOS sensors. __________________ Adrian DVInfo.net Search for quick answers Where to buy? From the best in the business...DVInfo.net sponsors

January 11th, 2004, 05:01 AM	#8
Adrian Douglas Trustee Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Chigasaki, Japan. Posts: 1,660	I'd just go with the polarizer and forget the ND. The polarizer acts like an ND and cuts 1 & 1/2 to 2 stops as well as controlling glare and saturating colours. Unless you plan to shoot in extremely bright situations then the polarizer should do the job for you. __________________ Adrian DVInfo.net Search for quick answers Where to buy? From the best in the business...DVInfo.net sponsors

January 11th, 2004, 08:43 AM	#9
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	ND filter are useful because many for the small digicams are limited to F8. The lenses are so small that higher apertures (F11, 16 etc.) cause noticeable diffraction. You may want to consider this adapter and filters from Cokin. Adapters can also be purchased to use the same filters with many 35mm cameras and DV cameras. B & H sells the adapter and filters. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

January 10th, 2004, 09:00 PM	#3
Dorothy Engleman Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Santa Monica, California Posts: 146	"But you will still find a "protective" UV or skylight and a circular polarizer useful." Thanks, Frank, for your prompt reply! But I'm curious why an ND filter or the specialty warming and softening and color filters aren't useful for digital cameras? Dorothy

January 10th, 2004, 09:18 PM	#4
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	More light means higher shutter speed (or smaller aperture). A higher shutter will not effect the still, as with video. Regarding warming filters, all you need is MS WIN 3.11 and a shareware paint program to do all sorts of things with your digital still.

January 11th, 2004, 12:29 AM	#6
Dorothy Engleman Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Santa Monica, California Posts: 146	Thanks, Frank and Adrian. I really appreciate your input! I want to learn how to shoot as photographically as possible without having to resort to adding effects in post. Canon has a 52mm lens adaptor so I'm going to order that along with a UV, circular polarizing and ND filter. Dorothy

January 11th, 2004, 03:05 AM	#7
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	I'm not too sure what a plain ND will do on a digital camera; just increase the shutter speed if you want to cut down on light.

January 11th, 2004, 12:33 PM	#10
Dorothy Engleman Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Santa Monica, California Posts: 146	Thanks Jeff! Yes, the A80 is limited to F8. Which value neutral density filter would you recommend, ND.3 or ND.6? Canon makes a lens adaptor I was planning to get along with some 52mm filters: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=300531&is=REG The Cokin digi-cam adaptor and filters sound interesting but I can't locate 'em on B & H's site. Dorothy