Lens filters do not only protect your cameras expensive lens but do also help you to take extraordinary photos. If you’re like me and like to shoot a lot, then you really should invest in a couple of filters. There are so many of them, so make sure find a pair that fits your needs. 

There are filters for everything; protection filters, polarizing filters, neutral density (ND) filters and even colored filters that will give your shots a more artistic style, make them cooler or warmer. 

If you wonder why you should buy these filters, I have made a list of 8 reasons to shoot with lens filters! Enjoy!

Lens Filters protects your lens

One of the top things about using a filter is that they protect your lens from getting damaged. If you should bump your camera into something while shooting, then the lens might get damaged. It’s the last thing you want as a photographer since your lens is one of the most expensive items in your camera bag.

A lens filter attached to the front of your camera will protect the lens from getting damage from scratches, which can be visible in your shots if you’re unlucky. A lens filter does also protect your lens from sprinkles of rain or salty sea breezes while shooting in particular environments. Sure, the lens filters do not give 100% protection, but it’s a good start if you want an extra protection while shooting in these environments, or if you’re clumsy!

Lens Filters are inexpensive

There are so many lens filters on the market, and they also vary in price ranges depending on what you want. You can get filters from less than $20 up to those who cost around 40 dollars and up. 

Since the lens filter also protects your lens from scratches, it will be much more economical for you to replace one or two of these filters than repairing your expensive lens. If your lens filter would get a scratch, then you would have to pay a minimum of around $20 instead of a bill of $200 to repair your lens. It’s a great investment!

Lens Filters are easy to clean

Since it’s easy to clean your lens filters – there are no need for you always to be so careful, as you’re not touching the primary lens. Just use a microfibre cleaning cloth to wipe off the fingerprints on the filters. This way, the main lens remain protected, and you’ll still have a perfectly clean shot without being nervous of harming the primary lens!

Lens Filters make your shots more artistic

Most of the excellent pictures that you see on the internet is not made out of a single shot or a camera without lens filters. Some are created without, but most professional photographers use their cameras with together with lens filters. With lens filters, you can change the temperature in your shots. The blue and yellow filters are commonly used by photographers who either want their pictures to be cooler or warmer. To cool the image, use a blue tone filter – and to make your shots warmer, use a yellow tone filter.

Polarizing Filters – reduce reflections and glare

There are two different kinds of polarizing filters – standard and circular. If you ask me, the Circular Polarizer (CP) is the best one, just because you can adjust them without affecting the focus or the zoom of your lens. 

While shooting outdoors, mainly water, a Polarizing Filter can help you to minimize the reflections of the water. It’s easy to do, just rotate your polarizing filter and you will see when the reflections and the glare of the water gets reduced. A great thing about that this filter is when it reduce the glare and reflections, it also intensify the colors of the image, which makes your picture even more stunning. 

Graduated Neutral Density Filters controls bright skies

Bright skies can often be a BIG problem when shooting outdoors. With a Graduated Neutral Density Filter you can control the bright sky as the filter gives graduated ND, which means that the filter goes from clear in the bottom and gets gradually darker. In this way, your exposure problem will be solved. Just place the darker part of the filter where you want the image to get less exposure and the clear where the exposure is good. These filters are really great and can significantly enhance your photos. 

If you’re looking for a more dramatic graduated ND filter – they are also available in colors, which can make your images more dramatic. 

Neutral Density (ND) Filter for long exposure and a great depth-of-field

If you ask a professional photographer if they own a ND filter, they will probably say yes. The Neutral Density Filters are primarily used to reduce the amount of light that hit the sensor, which makes it possible for you to shoot pictures with long exposure during the day. An ND Filter also enables larger apertures, which can produce a shallower depth-of-field, and achieve a sharper image. 

Since the ND filter reduce the amount of light that enter the camera, it can emphasize motion, or make an otherwise tumultuous environment to appear both surreal and quiescent. 

The ND filter is easy to use and can make your pictures incredible cool – something that cannot be replicated digitally – at least not with just one shot. 

Lens Filters are the Camera’s Best Friends

Your lens filters will not only protect your lens from damage, they also take your photography skills to a whole new level. With filters you can achieve excellent control of your shots – reduction of glare & reflections, control a bright sky, long exposure shots during daytime and give your images a more artistic feel. 

I myself, always carry an ND and Polarizing Filter with me!