Camera Lens Questions Help: I need your help when it comes to using multi filters on my camera. I currently have a UV and a ND filter on the camera lens now. If I want to use a cross...

bnsf

I need your help when it comes to using multi filters on my camera. I currently have a UV and a ND filter on the camera lens now. If I want to use a cross screen filter or a red filter should I remove the ND filter when I am adding extra filters to the lens?
Thank you for all your help.

Quixdraw Loc: x

In a long life in photography, I have never used more than one filter at a time. Others may have different experiences.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

quixdraw wrote:

In a long life in photography, I have never used more than one filter at a time. Others may have different experiences.

And I stopped using them all together, except on rare occasions a polarizer. I have about two shoe boxes full, some that came with a lens have never been opened. I go for extreme detail in bird feathers, insects and flowers so I don't want any extra glass to degrade the IQ.
For lens protection I have hoods for all my lenses.

Quixdraw Loc: x

robertjerl wrote:

And I stopped using them all together, except on rare occasions a polarizer. I have about two shoe boxes full, some that came with a lens have never been opened. I go for extreme detail in bird feathers, insects and flowers so I don't want any extra glass to degrade the IQ.
For lens protection I have hoods for all my lenses.

Here we go again. Different strokes. I always have a protective filter and a lens hood, or a special purpose filter and hood. I have never had any issues about image degradation, but more important, I have never had to clean the front element of a lens.

Bill_de Loc: US

quixdraw wrote:

In a long life in photography, I have never used more than one filter at a time. Others may have different experiences.

My experience is the same. I do use B+H clear filters on most of my lenses for protection against blowing sand on the beach, or my fingerprints when I get careless. They come off whenever another filter goes on.

---

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

With too many filters stacked you can get vignetting in the corners of the image.
The edge of the filter encroaches on the lens field of view. This usually happens more so with a wide angle lens than telephoto. Imagine placing a small tube in front of your lens.
I would definitely remove the UV when I put on an ND or star filter.
Do you needthe ND filter when you use the star? If not, I would remove the ND also, but definitely the UV.
I prefer one filter at a time, unless there is a special application.

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

Know that you can replace the usual current combo with just the ND. As to your question, if you still need the ND effect, substitute by removing the uv.

ELNikkor

I would definitely take off the ND filter before putting on a cross-screen filter. No need to take off the UV filter as well, a standard lens won't vignette with only 2 filters, and the cross-screen will soften the image whether a UV filter is on or not.

BebuLamar

If you need the effects then put them on. If you don't why have the ND filter on. It robs light which is very expensive as 1 stop of extra light on a lens could mean doubling the price.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

quixdraw wrote:

In a long life in photography, I have never used more than one filter at a time. Others may have different experiences.

Right! Use the minimum number of filters. Adjusting the camera can probably eliminate the need for one or more filters. I think you can safely remove the UV and ND and use just the red or cross screen.

Lucian Loc: From Wales, living in Ohio

I have not used any filters for years and been quite happy with all my photos. A polarizer does give a nice affect, for the times when I want that affect, but I remove it as soon as I am finished taking the photo that it was needed for. Properly cleaning a lens does not damage it, so if you get a finger grease smudge on a lens with a filter, you still have to clean that. Therefore, just keep filters off and be careful.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

bnsf wrote:

I need your help when it comes to using multi filters on my camera. I currently have a UV and a ND filter on the camera lens now. If I want to use a cross screen filter or a red filter should I remove the ND filter when I am adding extra filters to the lens?
Thank you for all your help.

You do not need the UV filter below 6000' altitude. Digital cameras don't need much UV filtration because the sensor has a built-in IR/UV filter.

If you insist on using some sort of filter for lens protection, it should be CLEAR GLASS below 6000' or so.

ANY filter will provide protection against splashes and flying debris. Use a lens shade to protect somewhat more against drops.

RED filters are unnecessary on digital cameras. You can record a raw file and use your post-processing software to selectively filter the colors you wish to remove.

Try to limit filter stacking to no more than two. This is usually possible with digital cameras because most filters are irrelevant unless they are ND, circular polarizers, or effects filters such as the cross-screen. Some folks prefer the look of a real soft focus filter instead of software effects (or they're old film photographers just used to a certain look they got on film).

Expect some vignetting if you stack too many filters, especially on wide angle lenses.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Do you always use an ND filter? They’re really only needed if you’re shooting long exposures. I don’t use special effect filters but if I did it would depend on whether I needed the ND filter it not. If I did want to use both and vignetting was a problem I’d remove the UV filter.

bnsf

Thank you for all you help. Trying to find this information on the internet and could not find nothing. I am using a UV to protect the front of the lens from scratches. My ND works great when shooting photos from inside a moving vehicle. No glare from the windshield. Wish the book on filters would have given the readers the information you have given as to how to use them. This is what I was looking for but could not have found it in the printed material.
Again thanks for everything.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

bnsf wrote:

Thank you for all you help. Trying to find this information on the internet and could not find nothing. I am using a UV to protect the front of the lens from scratches. My ND works great when shooting photos from inside a moving vehicle. No glare from the windshield. Wish the book on filters would have given the readers the information you have given as to how to use them. This is what I was looking for but could not have found it in the printed material.
Again thanks for everything.

Are you using a polarizer or an ND?
NDs do not remove glare (they simply reduce the amount of light entering the lens), polarizers remove glare.
(I've never tried a star filter and a polarizer.)