Moved this to "Other Gear".

But, I'll get back to you with a good rundown of them if someone else doesn't help you first.

this is going to be a good thread, i can already tell. someone school me on ND filters too please and what the '+2' means when it comes to them.

I've never found a good use for a UV filter. A lot of people use them all the time to protect their glass. I don't see the need.

I think a Circular Polarizer, or CP, is one of the most useful filters with digital. I use it to make clouds "pop", or take reflections out of water or glass. The things it does cannot be reproduced in Photoshop either, like a lot of the warming filters and such. You can really make some incredible looking clouds with it.

You lose a stop or two of light depending on how it's adjusted, so keep that in mind.

Here's a good tutorial on CPs:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tu...larizers.shtml

yeah i use a CP filter for the exact reason apex stated, i keep it on me at all times.

as for the UV filter, by habit (and getting it beaten into my head by my dad when i was younger) i use one to protect my glass, i'd rather bend, scratch, scuff a $10 uv filter rather than destroying the value of my lens.

Originally Posted by b84wm

as for the UV filter, by habit (and getting it beaten into my head by my dad when i was younger) i use one to protect my glass, i'd rather bend, scratch, scuff a $10 uv filter rather than destroying the value of my lens.

See, I look at it the other way. I'd rather not pay hundreds of dollars for nice glass, only to shoot through a $10 POS filter.

Originally Posted by LateApex

See, I look at it the other way. I'd rather not pay hundreds of dollars for nice glass, only to shoot through a $10 POS filter.

still though...$10 filter or 50% of the value of your lens?

Originally Posted by quirkeejames

By having a UV filter on does it reduce the quality of the image being shot through it? I haven't noticed.

i haven't noticed or head of that, but i could be wrong.

Probably not... it's just how I think. I don't like them. I wouldn't tell someone else not to use one.

Also, a lens hood does an okay job of preventing scratches too.

I'm just careful, and am pretty religious about using my lens cap when I'm not actually taking pictures.

My point was just that a UV filter, as a filter, doesn't do a lot.

Originally Posted by b84wm

someone school me on ND filters too please and what the '+2' means when it comes to them.

"School me on ND Filters" Thread:
http://newschoolofphotography.com/fo...read.php?t=140

As for the +2, I have no idea what that would mean. But all of them do have strengths attached to them (1-stop, 2-stop, 3-stop, etc.), so that might mean its a 2-stop strength filter.

And, I'll +1 the not using UV filters. I've never had one on a single lens.

As far as UVs go, I have them on all my lenses aside from the L, I have noticed no difference in IQ with or without. You will get some sun flare with or without a hood in bright sunlight. Im super careful with my stuff so Im not to concerned with it.

I used to use UV filters but I've gotten away from them. Mainly as I've upgraded and gotten new lenses I haven't wanted to buy a bunch to put them on. I've got one of each size for bad weather, blowing water, snow, etc.

Originally Posted by CJimenez

Can I ask if anyone recommends a diffuse filter at all?

About the only use I could think of would be for portraits to soften the skin, and as far as brands I have no idea. Do you have a shot in mind that you think you need a diffusion filter for?

Originally Posted by tardypizza

About the only use I could think of would be for portraits to soften the skin, and as far as brands I have no idea. Do you have a shot in mind that you think you need a diffusion filter for?

is that to avoid being able to see pores and and faint hairs?

yeah, it's like a "soft focus" lens...
It give you that "dreamy" look to images.
I'm not a fan because it can easily be done in PS, or you can do it with a normal lens or other very inexpensive options (grease up an old filter, nylons over the front of the lens, etc.). The only time someone should buy the soft focus lens or a diffuser is if you need to shoot this all the time, and you don't want clients to see nylons on the front of you camera or a greased filter...