Filters for Landscape Photography

In the days of digital photography, it is often the view that filters are old-fashioned and unnecessary, but there’s a lot to be said for still using a filter to capture the best image in-camera.

Filters can be indispensable for capturing landscapes in extremely difficult lighting conditions, they can enhance colors and reduce reflections.  Polarizing and ND filters can produce effects that are time-consuming or even impossible to replicate digitally. Don’t rely on Photoshop to add effects and rectify badly exposed image, have some fun using filters in the field to capture the best image in-camera. These are 4 of the most used filters that every serious landscape photographer should own.

UV Filters

UV filters are useful for protecting your lens from scratches, a lot of photographers choose to leave one on their lens at all times. They are essential when photographing in harsh conditions like when your lens is getting covered in sea spray and sand.

Polarizing Filters

A polarizing filter is the most important filter you will own for landscape photography for useful for removing reflections on water making skys a deeper blue. It is worth investing in a good quality one, as cheap ones often do not have the same polarizing effect.

Graduated Filters

Solid ND Filters

Solid ND filters are used to reduce exposure in landscape photography, often to capture flowing water and long exposures.

• 4 stops (ND16) – Best for long exposures in lower light at sunset
• 6 Stops (ND64) – Best for long exposures leading up to sunset & waterfalls/rivers on an overcast day
• 10 Stops (ND1000) – Best for long exposures during the day

 

Screw-in filters

• Good choice for UV and Polarizing filters that are often left on your lens
• Require no filters holder and can be screwed directly into your lens
• If using multiple filters, they can sometimes get stuck together and can also cause vignetting

Slot-in filters

• Require a filters holder, that screws onto your lens to hold the filter
• One set of filters fits all of your lenses
• Multiple filters can be used without vignetting
• Very quick to use and change filters
• Graduated filters can be positioned on the horizon line by moving them up and down in the holder

 

Types of slot in filter systems

Basic 84mm slot-in filter systems

The cheap and basic 84mm filter systems offer a good introduction to slot in filters but have some real drawbacks:

• Do not fit most wide angle lenses without vignetting
• Are often very poor optical quality leading to soft photographs
• Are often not truly neutral and create very stong colour casts that are hard to correct

Pro 100mm slot-in filter systems

Available from leading brands like Benro, these filters are well made and have excellent optical quality.

• Designed to fit wide angle lenses without vignetting
• Excellent optical quality
• Are truly neutral or create color casts that can be easliy corrected
• Top manufacturers of 100mm system also offer these filter systems in the following sizes: 75mm – designed for smaller mirrorless cameras and 150mm  – designed for use on some ultra wide lenes

 

Benro Filters

New Zealand Photography Workshop is Sponsored by Benro Filters. The Benro is one of the leading brands of filters and what we recommend.