Filters

[Reese]

I'm a total noob so please be patient. I recently purchased the A6000 with the 16-50mm and the 55-210mm lens. My primary interest is landscape phtography. I want to purchase a polarizer, some ND and graduated filters and a system that will allow me to stack filters as needed!

I have a somewhat limited budget and don't require a "pro" setup.

Which system do you recommend and which adapter rings would I need to attach it to the two lens I have?

Thanks

[Guest all8]

Lee Seven5 might be interesting for you, it works up to a 67mm filter diameter (i.e. a Batis 25), and it a lot of fun to use. They have a larger system too and sell all of the adapters you need. So at least that is one option.

 

Otherwise, there are screw on filters for all budgets. An Graduated ND Filter is useful, but you can also do that adjustment in Post Processing, so starting with a Polariser could be better (it can also double as an ND filter).

 

The diameter of you lens is written on the front of the lens. From that you can easily select the filter to fit, or adapter to use.

[Guest Jaf-Photo]

No, don't use filters unless you're shooting midday in extremely bright sunlight. Apart from that, whatever a filter does you can do in software. Just get a good exposure with a balanced histogram. After that you can do whatever you want.

[baillieswells]

Can you mimic a polarizing filter with software?

[Reese]

Jaf-Photo I appreciate that you can do a great many things in post processing but I prefer to try to capture the image in my camera.

timde- I looked into the LeeSeven5 which look to be a great option, but I read some reviews stating that they are sometimes too small on certain lens! Do you think they would be a problem on the two kit lens I have?

[Guest all8]

I don't know what filter diameter you have, so long that it is less than 67mm then the Seven5 system should be OK. That should be the case for most APS-C lenses ... but check, the filter diameter is written on the front of the lens, or included in the lens specifications.

 

I think it would work, but you need to confirm the numbers (since its your decision), OK?

[Guest Jaf-Photo]

Yes, you can. Nik has a polarising filter effect where you can set the direction and strength. But a circular polariser is one of the useful filters when you shoot in very bright sunlight. So it's ok to use it.

 

 

Can you mimic a polarizing filter with software?

[Guest Jaf-Photo]

That's not how digital photography works.

 

In analogue photography you should do everything in camera. That's because it's difficult and time-consuming to correct errors in the film frame after exposure.

 

In digital photography you should do everything in post. That leaves you a thousand options or more on what to do with the final image.

 

Therefore you should avoid using filters that leave an indelible mark on the image file. It is much better to aim for a neutral and technically perfect raw file.

 

 

Jaf-Photo I appreciate that you can do a great many things in post processing but I prefer to try to capture the image in my camera.

timde- I looked into the LeeSeven5 which look to be a great option, but I read some reviews stating that they are sometimes too small on certain lens! Do you think they would be a problem on the two kit lens I have?

[Username]

+

 

That's not how digital photography works.

In analogue photography you should do everything in camera. That's

because it's difficult and time-consuming to correct errors in the film

frame after exposure.

In digital photography you should do everything in post. That leaves

you a thousand options or more on what to do with the final image.

Therefore you should avoid using filters that leave an indelible mark

on the image file. It is much better to aim for a neutral and technically

perfect raw file.

 

   

+1 .... unless you have the time [and motivation] to shoot 

with and without the filter. Software is verrrry capable but 

if you can give it a head start on the adjustments you are 

likely to dial up, you have an even wider range of options.   

Possibly wider than you needed, but sometimes it pays. 

     

  

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But the "indelible mark" concern should be your primary 

guide when a situation allows only one shot. Exception

would be two cameras on one tripod. Bendare Dondat as 

was assigned to catch a canal tugboat against fall foliage 

and I hadda shoot from a hillside about half mile from the 

canal. Even tho I was working for the Canal Authority, I

couldn't ask the boat to back up and do multiple passes. 

   

I set up two prefocused cameras with different FL lenses. 

Lotta prep involved, but leaving almost nothing to chance 

really paid off.     

    

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What wasn't covered by all that prep ? A gaint black bird 

[a turkey buzzard ?] that kept hovering right in front of my 

lenses [about 5 yards out]. He would look me in the face 

like asking, "Are you dead ? Or planning to be dead fairly 

soon ?" He was riding the updraft of the hillside and could 

hang there endlessly. Fortunately, I was able to convince 

him I would not die soon enuf and so he was gone before 

the tugboat motored thru the scene :-)