Filters
Key points
Section titled “Key points”- Three essential filters for beginners:
- UV filter: protects the lens and reduces haze/blue cast.
- Circular polariser: deepens skies, enriches colours, reduces reflections.
- ND filter: reduces light for video (maintains shutter speed) and photography (long exposures).
- Filters must match lens diameter, but step-up rings let you adapt one larger filter across lenses.
- ND filters come in fixed strengths (e.g. ND8) or as variable NDs for flexibility.
- Polariser and variable NDs require rotation to achieve effect.
- Example uses: smoother water/clouds with long exposures; keeping cinematic shutter speed in bright light.
- Brand used (Gobe/Urth) supports reforestation projects.
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- ND filter numbers can be confusing: ND2 = 1 stop, ND4 = 2 stops, ND8 = 3 stops, etc. (each doubling of the number adds one stop).
- Variable ND filters may introduce colour shifts or “X” patterns at stronger settings — fixed NDs avoid this.
- UV filters are mainly for protection today, as modern sensors already handle UV well.
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Exercise
Section titled “Exercise”- Try out each of the filters that are available to you.
- Write down the affects they produce, how you could use them technically and creatively and when you might use them.