Filters - a thing of the past or what?!

nigelcampbell

nigelcampbell

Suspended / Banned
Messages
428
Edit My Images
No
(here I go again!)

Back in the day filters were all the rage - you couldn't move for cameras with so many Cokin filters on the front that they resembled a greenhouse.

But are they no longer any use? I mean afterall we have photoshop now. If I want to make an image look like it had a graduated tobacco filter on it (and why on earth would I?? - but that's another topic entirely) I could do it in post processing.

So do you filter or are you finding that you use them less now?

For the record the only filters I use are UV (to protect the glass on my lenses) - though I would like a good ND filter for my Canon 10-22mm)
 
I still use a ND Grad filter when taking landscape pictures, I find that sometimes thats the only way to keep and create detail in the skys. If I didn't use it I feel either the camera would meter against the bright sky and the rest of the image would be usless, or the sky would be too over exposed and all detail would be burnt out, and once its burnt out its impossible to get back.

And of course Polorising filters can't be replicated through PS.

Just my opinion on them.
 
Photoshop can't help you when all the detail in an image has been blown out on the day. Sure you can use RAW and maybe exposure blending or HDR but having just bought an ND graduated filter I still believe they have their use. Mainly they allow you to get things right in cam and save on time sitting at your desk processing.
 
I have yet to recreate the sky detail you can retain with an ND filter in photoshop. The only sure fire way I have found is merging two exposures to get sky detail without the noise I seem to get when bringing sky back using a RAW. Maybe it is because I am using a 350D, but I enjoy using my filters and it saves me hours infront of photoshop getting bored of the image.

EDIT - Damn you pete :p stole my whole post!
 
NDs, ND Grads and Polariser. No point in colour filters with digital photography.
 
Back in the day cameras were all the rage - you couldn't move for people with so many cameras that they resembled the papperazzi on a busy day at the Becks'.

But are they no longer any use? I mean afterall we have photoshop now. If I want to make an image I could do it in google images & processing.

So do you take pics or are you finding that you take them less now?

For the record the only camera I use is my box brownie.
Click to expand...


:thumbs:
 
Yes I see what you mean - I guess it would be harder if you needed the detail in the trees - then again I guess that's one of the things you like about HDR.

I shoot Raw and find that a little post processing usually does the trick with skies - most of the time I duplicate layers and multiply - then use an eraser on the below horizon elements to bring everything back in.
 
As has already been said, the only filters that you really need these days are ND filters and a polariser. The rest can be done in post processing.

There's also no substitute for a 10stop ND filter either.
 
And a dark red one for IR.... :shrug:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top