Camera Lens
Camera Lens What "lint free" material can I use to make camera lens cases? I am looking to make camera lens cases for my camera and do not know what materials will be safe for that function. Any...
Camera Lens
Camera Lens Filters - Getting Started
If you are just getting started in SLR photography, the thought of all the ancillary items you need can be mind-boggling. Between lenses, cases, battery packs and hot shoes, it’s no wonder most people enroll in a course or get a how-to book to figure out the basics. One item that almost all professionals carry with them and is relatively inexpensive is a series of lens filters. Lens filters improve the contrast, sharpness, color and intensity of the captured image. There are also special effect lenses that allow the photographer unprecedented control over the image at the point of capture.
Many of the more common lens filters such as UV/haze, polarizing, neutral density, and warming/cooling or color filters are key to capturing the correct image in a variety of lighting conditions. Knowing when to use them is the real trick and something that comes with time and experience.
UV filters have a primary purpose of reducing UV light from entering the lens, but because they are so common and inexpensive, as well as their small impact on the lighting of a picture people opt to use them as safety lens filters. Safety filters are primarily designed to protect the expensive lens from scratches and damage, because you would much rather replace a $10 lens filter than a $300 lens.
Polarizing lenses only allow the light to enter from a particular direction which reduces the amount of available light but increases the saturation of the image as a result. They are especially effective when used on landscape scenery to remove glare from water and increase contrast of natural settings.
Neutral density filters reduce the overall light such that aperture may increased in very bright light settings, which makes a reduced depth of field possible. Uses include capturing of water objects like rivers such that the water looks smoother and ND filters also provide some level of blurring for objects in motion. Sharpness is typically increased with these filters as well which is especially useful when capturing stones under river beds.
There are also many graduated filters available which provide varying levels of image opacity. These filters would be used such that in highly lit scenes you could select a transparent-to-opaque look by adjusting the filter.
Colored filters provide an overall color shift for the image and can often result in an artistic look that can not be replicated as easily in post-production settings. By filtering the light at the source there are benefits to the midrange colors over traditional leveling techniques. White balances can also be adjusted using a specialized filter to adapt to the current scene requirements.
The result of using any particular filter on the end photograph will be as varied as the styles of the photographers taking the photos. Selecting the right filter is as individualistic and dependent on conditions as framing the shot correctly. Knowledge of the correct filters to use to achieve a particular look is something that comes with experience, so buy lens filters and start practicing!
For more information on camera lens filters including Nikon 52mm filter, Canon 58mm filters and 52mm filters visit: http://www.cameralensfilters.net/category/52mm-filters
About the Author
The author is a professional photographer and shares his views on the latest updates in the world of camera and its accessories. For more information regarding camera lens filters including Nikon 52mm filter, Canon 58mm filters and 52mm filters visit: http://www.cameralensfilters.net/category/52mm-filters