Most important filters

[nimo956]

For someone just starting out in LF, what are the most important filters to get? Yellow, red, polarizer, ND grad, etc.?

[Heroique]

I can’t remember which filters I purchased when I was just starting out, but I do know which ones I’ve decided to keep to address my diverse 4x5 landscape needs – b/w and color.

Perhaps my real-world filter kit below will help you prioritize your interests and determine what you can afford in the near and far term.

But first, my three lenses:

1) Schneider 150mm/9 g-claron = 52mm threads (w/ 35.5mm-52mm step-up)
2) Fuji A 240mm/9 = 52mm threads
3) Schneider XL 110mm/5.6 = 67mm threads

So ... I really have just two thread sizes, w/ one – the 52mm – very easy to manage.

By memory, these are my field filters:

• 4 Nikon 52mm b/w filters (g, y, o, r)
• Nikon 52mm polarizer
• Nikon 52mm 81c warming filter
• Nikon 52mm 2-stop + 3-stop ND filters
• B+W 52mm 10-stop ND filter (very fun, if not most important!)

• Marumi 67mm polarizer + 67mm 2-stop ND filter
• Lee 52mm + 67mm adaptor rings (w/ holder + hood)
• Lee 4x4 b/w polyester set (g, y, o, r)
• Lee 4x4 81a + 81c warming filters
• Lee 4x4 85b filter (for tungsten film outdoors)
• Lee 4x6 2-stop Graduated ND filter

I almost never carry all of these w/ me, but I do use all of them often.

[vinny]

chromes?
color neg?
b+w?
LF isn't much different than roll film but which film and how you're printing it would be helpful.

[BrianShaw]

In this order: Yellow, ND, Orange. All of my other filters are dusty and lonely from not getting used.

[BrianShaw]

Oh... and maybe one more: Softar1

[ic-racer]

Depends on what you are taking pictures of. You may not need any.

[nimo956]

I'm shooting B&W landscape and cityscape.

[BrianShaw]

Then forget the Softar.. that is only really useful for portraits of older women.

[Peter De Smidt]

I use a yellow/green filter the most. This darkens blue sky and lightens foliage a bit. If I need a darker sky, I'll use an orange filter. Finally, I use a 10 stop neutral density filter for some long exposure stuff.

[Gem Singer]

For color film-- UV and Polarizer.

For B&W film-----Yellow #8, Yellow/Orange-#15, Green #11, and Orange #21.

These are the filters that I carry. They have stood the test of time for me.

(Also see: A.Adams, "The Negative", for an description of when/how to use filters).