How to...Master filters!

From dreamy seascapes to stunning sunsets, a clever combination of filters can elevate your Nikon photography to another level

- Ross Hoddinott

Just a few, brief years ago some people were proclaiming filters redundant. They argued that digital capture meant that the need of physical filters was unnecessary – the effects of filtration could be replicated using software. But this prediction has proved to be premature and incorrect. In fact, the popularity of filters has grown and grown over the past decade or two. New brands, such as Kase and NiSi, have risen up to join filter stalwarts that include Cokin, Hoya, and LEE Filters, to provide competition, innovation and variety. The filter market appears to be booming, but how can they benefit your pictures? And with so much choice, which filter system and filters do you need?

Our essential guide will help you to decide which filters to invest in, depending on your demands and budget. We will take a closer look at both circular and slot-in filters, filter sizes and systems, and the most popular and essential types, including polarizing and neutral density filters. We will also place a spotlight on a variety of less well-known, specialist filter types. We will highlight the advantages of filtering the light and getting your images ‘right’ in-camera, and how using filters will benefit and enhance your photography. If you are not already a filter user, read on and become a convert!

FILTER SYSTEMS