PRO TIPS FOR BETTER RESULTS

Learn to use, maintain and control the effects of your filters for superior images

Whenever you place something in front of a camera lens, especially an item which applies an optical effect, there will be some practical challenges. Although filters generally do what they are meant to do, professional usage requires a deep understanding of how they work and how best to use their features.

Filter effects often introduce secondary impacts which may or may not be desirable, so recognising which case applies to your shooting situation is paramount. More specifically, it is important to recognise when these filtration by-products introduce effects that are too insignificant to be of concern, or whether they are too noticeable to ignore. When the latter occurs, some correction in software can provide the solution. The amount of post-shoot adjustment required can depend on the filters used and the type of construction materials.

Higher-grade filters predominantly use glass, while lower-level models are made from resin. Not only do glass filters exhibit lower impacts on sharpness, with fewer optical aberrations, but the reflective properties of each material may differ. This means that with cheaper filters, the user will have to keep an eye out for the effects of ghosting and flare.

The number of filters that can be stacked on the lens can vary too. With higher quality products, more types of filters can be used together before image quality begins to suffer. Understanding how your filters perform will provide you with more consistent quality.

The order in which you arrange your filters makes a difference too. Generally, it is better to place a polarising filter at the front of a filter stack, since this allows easier rotation. There is also an advantage to placing ND filters closest to the lens – their density helps reduce reflections between the lens and the surface of any filters before them, reducing ghosting.