We explore whether photograph paradigm quality is harmed or not by using lens filters.

Lens filters are a large office of a photographer's arsenal, and although they bring a corking many uses to the table, many people wonder if they have a negative bear on on image quality.

In fact, whether lens filters affect image quality or not is arguably one of the nearly debated topics in photography. Many tests have been carried out to try to find a definitive respond to this hotly-contested question.

Well-nigh 'before' and 'later on' filter shots used for comparing testing actually bear witness that lens filters don't adversely touch paradigm quality. Some critics argue that placing an extra layer of glass in front of your lens causes problems. They suggest that it impacts on prototype clarity, sharpness and resolution, and can cause ghosting and flare. Even so, tests consistently fail to ostend these theories.

Image—@christianfregnan

QUALITY COUNTS

It'due south worth pointing out that not all lens filters are created equally, however. Using a low-course filter is more probable to impairment the quality of your images compared to a really loftier-quality 1. For example, poor quality filters accept been shown to sometimes introduce colour casts.

Epitome—@anthonyawaken

FILTER CARE

Additionally, how y'all look after your lens filter tin impact image quality. A dingy, scratched filter will do more damage to your photos compared to a cared-for, spotless filter, for example.

Marcelo Quinan ND Filter. IMAGE—Marcelo Quinan

FILTER USES

The benefits of using a lens filter far outweigh whatsoever concerns you might have over image quality, yet, and they're a must-have if you shoot outdoors or under different or challenging low-cal conditions.

A UV lens filter, for example, offers bang-up protection for your photographic camera lens and tin can reduce haze from your shots on a sunny day. A polarising filter will blackball reflections, boost image clarity and enrich colours, and is invaluable for any lensman taking images of water, sky or foliage. An ND lens filter is a real asset to anyone taking photos in bright light, as by altering light exposure, it enables the photographer to add smooth, silky effects to h2o, enhance the colour of sky, clouds or leafage, whilst blurring or distorting moving objects.

Many of these furnishings created from using lens filters heighten image quality. But they too permit the photographer to add creative and unique touches, which can't be replicated in post-production editing. Certainly, the visual improvements from using lens filters are greater than any negligible or unfounded negative impacts on image quality.

UNDERSTAND YOUR FILTERS

Of class, one way in which lens filters could harm your image quality is if yous don't use them correctly. Therefore, understand how they work properly before heading out on the field. For case, vignetting (where an image'southward edges aren't the same color as the center) can occur using certain filter scenarios. This is especially the case with a wide-bending lens. Or, when using variable ND filters, farthermost f-stop densities tin create an unwanted X mark on your paradigm. Going a bit crazy with filter stacking may too degrade the quality of your prototype, so combine filters with care.