How To Use Camera Filter Systems

A camera filter system allows photographers to become creative and to experiment with the effects they present. Although it is now possible to digitally manipulate images at the post-processing stage and even to mimic the effects of some types of filters, there is arguably nothing more pleasing than seeing the effects of filtered light before it hits the camera's sensor.

There are two types of camera filter systems: slot-in filters and screw-in filters. The former are square or rectangular pieces of glass, or optical resin, which slot into a filter holder that is attached to the camera lens. The latter are circular, and simply screw into the front of the lens.

Slot-In Filters

The chief reason why these filters are very popular is because the same filters and holder can be used with any lens. Adapter rings of various thread sizes fit onto the filter holder, and the holder can be released and attached with a different size ring, thus allowing the photographer to swap filters between lenses.

In fact, a holder can support two or even three filters at once, making it possible to be creative with them. These slot-in filter systems are very cost-effective, although they are not cheap.

For DSLR and Film SLR cameras there are 67 mm, 85 mm, and 100 mm slot-in filter holders. But the bigger the holder, the more expensive the holder and the filters will be, but the risk of vignetting is progressively reduced. The smaller system is not really compatible with short focal lengths.

Screw-In Filters

In order to use these filters you have to obtain them in diameters that fit your lenses. So if you have 58 mm and 77 mm lenses, say, you will have to obtain a 58 mm and a 77 mm screw-in filter. Clearly it is impracticable as well as uneconomical to acquire a set of screw-in filters for each different thread size.

So what is the solution? Well, you can use step-down rings. These rings allow a lens's thread size to accommodate larger filters to fit lenses with a smaller diameter. The downside to this is that you have to obtain a set of filters that fit the largest diameter lens in you lens system, and in the majority of cases it means investing in filters of 77 mm or 82 mm in size. Unfortunately, filters of this size are costly and heavy. Step-up rings attach smaller filters to larger diameter lenses, but are less practical.

And there is another downside in relying on screw-in filters: you are stuck with the fixed graduation zone.

It is possible to use filters on compact cameras, too, even though they have no threaded lens. You can now obtain specific filter holders that attach to any compact camera via the screw thread at the base that is used to attach the camera to a tripod. Some can hold up to four filters at any one time.

How things rapidly progress!

Chris Smith has many more photography tips and articles on his website. There you can also download complementary reports such as 'How To Master White Balance', which helps solve any white balance issues. Please visit: photography-expert.com/blog