For someone just starting out in LF, what are the most important filters to get? Yellow, red, polarizer, ND grad, etc.?
For someone just starting out in LF, what are the most important filters to get? Yellow, red, polarizer, ND grad, etc.?
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.
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.
In this order: Yellow, ND, Orange. All of my other filters are dusty and lonely from not getting used.
Oh... and maybe one more: Softar1
Depends on what you are taking pictures of. You may not need any.
I'm shooting B&W landscape and cityscape.
Then forget the Softar.. that is only really useful for portraits of older women.
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.
“You often feel tired, not because you've done too much, but because you've done too little of what sparks a light in you.”
― Alexander Den Heijer, Nothing You Don't Already Know
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).
Bookmarks