Enhancing Filters: any use?

[Bunyip]

I've just finished reading a book on landscape photography.

The author has used (and advocates the use of) an "enhancing filter" in almost every shot -he is based in Colorado. [I must admit that the effects begin to seem a bit obtrusive after a while]

Does anyone here have personal experience of such filters and what is their opinion of the result they produces?

Are they worth having/using?

My main interest would be in the effect they would have on, say, autumn foliage, sunsets, scenery including old buildings, using film.

[heartseye]

In digital applications they really have no use......the camera will simply "Correct" the effect to suit its own preset parameters....For films, specially slides, they are quite effective....Cheers, Bob

[keepright]

I have no personal experience using the filters, but my experience of looking at them is the same as yours: they're a bit obtrusive after a while.

If you use Adobe Camera Raw 4.3 or Lightroom you can use the 'vibrance' adjustment to bring out the less saturated colours, and by balance the saturation to retain a natural look in the image.

[Will85]

ND, GND and Polirizer filters are usefull the rest of the effects can be created using photoshop imo.

[Alfred D.]

Originally Posted by Will85

ND, GND and Polirizer filters are usefull the rest of the effects can be created using photoshop imo.

Agreed. If you add UV filters to that little line-up.

[Fusion]

I use ND and polariser on camera sometimes... they have their uses.

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by Will85

ND, GND and Polirizer filters are usefull the rest of the effects can be created using photoshop imo.

I use Singh-Ray's LB Warming Polarizer on a lot of landscapes and find it "pops" the colors just a bit more than a standard polarizer. I'm happy with it.

[wookiee2cu]

I've got a Singh-Ray's blue/gold filter that I use now and then for sunset/sunrise ( Singh-Ray Filters: Gold-N-Blue Polarizer ), other wise just a CP and that's about it.

[Bunyip]

No text.

[Bunyip]

OK, since I last posted on this subject, I just couldn't resist trying the thing out for myself, especially as it is Autumn here, and the deciduous exotics are all in their autumn glory.

So, I lashed out and purchased a Hoya "Didymium" enhancing filter: the only one the store had in stock and one which just happened to have the right thread diameter for my 17-40mm lens.

Last weekend, equipped with my Elan, lens, new filter, and some Kodak Ultramax and Fuji Superia film, I ventured out into the streets and (later) among the autumn foliage in order to take some photographs (36, 24, and a further 24 exposures in all).

Overall, I must say I have quite satisfied with my decision to acquire the filter (even though it was far from cheap).

I must say I was quite struck by the way it -relatively selectively- picked out any items in the field of view with any pink or red and really made them "pop". This included clothing (my wife's wind-cheater and "scrunchy"), the red life-buoy, the beak of a black swan on the lake, the tail-lights of parked cars, red painted vehicles, signs, brick-work and red paint on buildings around the streets, and vegetation (autumn leaves, rose-hips, crab apples).

The browns look great too.

Regarding neutrals (such as clouds and weathered wood), there does appear to be a slight, overall, magenta tinge, but not unpleasant. This effect was more evident on the Fuji film but hardly noticeable on the Kodak.

Also (maybe my imagination) it appears to make green "greener" and blues "bluer".

All-in-all, I like it: its not dissimilar to turning up the colour "saturation" setting on your TV.

I was worried lest it give my wife a pink sunburned complexion. However, in all but one shot -with the full sun on her face, and then only slightly- it doesn't seem to do that.

[Alfred D.]

And now we wait with baited breath for you to post those photos, Bunyip...

Did you do any 'with' and 'without' comparison exposures?

[zero rc]

"... I have quite satisfied with my decision to acquire the filter (even though it was far from cheap)."

i think you did the right thing and it was money well spent.there are all kinds of stories about problems caused by cheap filters. circular polarizers and nutural filters are also very useful!!

[Not4wood]

I've been thinking of getting a Neutral Density Filter as well, since my camera cant go slower then ISO 100 and I dont really like the way the light looks under the extreme contrast conditions. Would the ND filter be able to handle this and smooth out the lighting or is this Not what the ND is for? Also since there geared for a few stops did you buy a set or just a single ND filter?

[Alfred D.]

If you must use optical filters - excluding UV or CP filters – consider going full manual, or you maybe fighting the camera's smart measuring and processing circuitry all the way. Because if you let it, your camera's CPU will try to 'correct' what it was programmed to judge as 'wrong' and negate the very effect you are trying to introduce.

[Alfred D.]

Originally Posted by Not4wood

I've been thinking of getting a Neutral Density Filter as well, since my camera cant go slower then ISO 100 and I dont really like the way the light looks under the extreme contrast conditions. Would the ND filter be able to handle this and smooth out the lighting or is this Not what the ND is for? Also since there geared for a few stops did you buy a set or just a single ND filter?

An ND filter reduces the amount of light reaching the sensor. It reduces the (apparent) Brightness of the scene. Contrast loss is (only) collateral damage.
So ND filters are not a very efficient way to reduce contrast. The in-camera contrast settings or PP are more suitable tools for contrast control.
In practice ND filters are used to be able to slow down shutter speed (tripod work; to get the ubiquitous glassy rapids in the brook, or the cars-on-the-highway's head and tail lights shot from the fly-over) and/or to be able to open up the aperture for shallow(er) DoF.

Have fun!

[richardpcrowe]

If you really like the effect and would want that effect on many or most of your images - get one. It would be slightly easier than accomplishing the same thing for most or all your images in photoshop - even shooting camera raw.

I use a Moose Anderson Warming CPL whenever I use a CPL on my 70-200mm f/4L IS lens (it is the only one I have in 67mm for that lens). I like the effects but, not so much that I bought one when I needed a 77mm filter for my 17-55mm f/2.8 IS lens.

[Not4wood]

thnx all. I decided to pass at the moment and see how it looks so I can get used to it.