Different filters have different applications, and they can be used with film or digital cameras.
The advent of digital technology has resulted in some significant advancements in the field of photography. Rather than being recorded on light-sensitive film, images are now captured by an electronic sensor that takes the image viewed through the camera's lens and converts it into a digital file. With that file there are a number of changes and effects you can add in photo editing programs. Even with these advancements it is in the photographer's best interest to create the best possible picture at the time of capture. You can use the same lens filters you used on your film camera with digital cameras and lenses.
Instructions
1. Attach a UV/skylight filter to any lens you buy. This filter is designed to cut down on the amount of ultraviolet light your camera lens may pick up, and therefore can be used anytime you are taking pictures. It also protects your lens from getting scratched or broken.
2. Attach a circular polarizer filter to your lens if you are shooting outside in very bright sun or hazy conditions. This filter is designed to filter out certain wavelengths of light, and will reduce the amount of reflection or glare on objects. The amount of filtration is controlled by rotating the filter. Hold the camera to your eye focus and compose the picture you are photographing.
3. Rotate the circular polarizer with the camera still held to your eye and you will be able to see the way the filter changes the scene you are shooting. When you achieve the desired effect, press the shutter release to take the picture.
4. Attach a neutral density (ND) filter, or series of ND filters, when you want to reduce the amount of light entering your lens. ND filters are used when you need to shoot with a slow shutter speed. You may want to blur the water running in a river or stream, and using a slow shutter speed will do that. One problem is that during daylight hours it may be too bright to use the shutter speed you need to blur the water. By reducing the amount of light entering your lens you can the slower shutter speed with apertures available on the lens.
5. Attach a red colored filter to the front of your lens if you are shooting black and white film to increase the contrast and tonal range of the film. Black and white film records the tonal ranges from pure white to all black. Red, orange and yellow filters alter how the film records the different tonal ranges, producing interesting effects. A dark red filter on a camera loaded with black and white film will create a near black sky, while leaving any clouds in the sky white.
6. Screw a close-up filter to the front of you lens when you want to shoot small or detailed objects. Close- up filters are similar to a magnifying glass for your camera. Close-up filters have a very shallow depth of field, requiring accurate focusing and a smaller aperture of f8 or higher for the best results.
Tags: your lens, shutter speed, white film, amount light, amount light entering, blur water, camera lens