Filters how they fit?

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tindall

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Hi guys,

new to this so wondering do I actually need some sort of fitting kit for filters or can I just buy the filters and they fit on the lens? Like when they mention screw in filter does that mean I need some sort of filter adapter or some sort of fitting kit? Really not sure how it all works to be honest :shrug:

Thanks
 
generally there is a screw thread at the front of the lens and you purchase the correct diameter filter to fit.

exception being fisheye and aspherical lenses which have rear gel filters that fit behind the rear element due to the protruding front element.
 
neil_g said:
generally there is a screw thread at the front of the lens and you purchase the correct diameter filter to fit.

exception being fisheye and aspherical lenses which have rear gel filters that fit behind the rear element due to the protruding front element.
Click to expand...

Oh okay. So basically screw in one's don't need any extra kit. Only the special one's as mentioned by the examples above. Thanks. Now I can go hunt for some filters :)
 
Thanks Neil, I've always wondered how I know what size I'd need.
 
Size is easy - it's usually on the back of the lens cap, or written around the lens, or in the handbook/manufacturer's spec - or you can always measure it. There's a set of standard sizes - 49mm, 52, 55, 58, 62, 67, 72, 77 etc.

Then what kind of filter do you want? There are round ones that simply screw in, or square system filters that fit via an adapter ring, a holder, and then the filter itself which slides up and down in the holder. System filters are particularly good if you want to use grads, eg to darken a bright sky, because you can adjust the grad line to match the scene. Downside is the holder can get in the way with super-wide lenses, and they're cumbersome (and can be expensive).

But if you just want a polariser (which is arguably the single most useful filter) then screw-in is much easier. Ditto a very dark ND for milky water effects etc.
 
And don't buy cheap ones! You've probably spent a lot of money on lenses; if the filter's not to the same quality you might as well leave the lens cap on. There's a recent thread here where someone taking a photo of the moon had a reflection from his cheapy filter and thought there was something else in the sky.......
 
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