Lens Filters

Buying Guide: Lens Filters

The right filter can save a shot the camera alone can't. The wrong size won't even fit on your lens. Here's what to think through:

Know your thread size

Every lens has a filter thread size in millimeters (typically 37mm, 49mm, 52mm, 58mm, 67mm, 72mm, 77mm, or 82mm) — printed on the inside of the front cap, on the front element ring, or in the lens specs. Filters are sold per-size, so a 77mm CPL won't fit a 67mm lens without a step-up ring.

Pick the filter type that solves a real problem

A circular polarizer (CPL) cuts reflections off water, glass, and foliage — best filter you'll ever own for landscapes. A neutral density (ND) filter darkens the scene so you can use slower shutter speeds in daylight (silky waterfalls, motion blur) or shoot wide-open in bright light for shallow depth of field. Variable ND filters give you a range in one filter — fast for video. UV filters do little optically on modern digital cameras but offer cheap front-element protection.

Glass quality matters more than you think

A cheap filter on an expensive lens is a downgrade. Look for multi-coated optical glass with low color cast. Brands like NiSi, Hoya, B+W, and K&F Concept's pro lines give you 90% of the performance of premium options at a fraction of the cost.

Screw-on vs square/drop-in systems

Screw-on filters are simple and per-lens. Square/drop-in systems (NiSi V7, Lee, etc.) use one set of filters with adapter rings for each lens — more expensive upfront but flexible if you own multiple lenses and shoot a lot of landscape. Cinema work often uses matte-box-mounted square filters.