Filters

[Amiriqbal]

Hi I have recently bought S3is,Just wondering isit worth ine\vesting in polorizing filter and if so which one. Anyother filter that would enhance the outcome
Thanks for advice

 

[safetymom]

I suggest asking on the photography board. They will be able to help you.

 

[Caskbill]

I'll move this over to the photography board.

 

[handicap18]

There is a thread about filters for the S3. Not sure exactly where it is but it was fairly recent so you should be able to go back only a few pages and find it.

Also you'll probably want to take a look at this S3 IS thread. Lots of great info from the S3 users.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1235546

 

[ukcatfan]

For a digital camera, most filters do nothing to improve quality and can even hurt the image quality. Many people still use a UV filter to protect the lens. It depends on if you think the lower image quality is worth it to protect the lens. For a p&s camera, you might not even notice a difference. I never saw a difference on my S1 with a UV, but the same filter on my DSLR makes an obvious difference. I do suggest the extension tube if you do not mind the exra size b/c it protects the extending lens.

A circular polarizer is a different story. It will degrade the image in the same way, but there are situations where the benefits outweigh the negatives. Do not use it all of the time though. If the light is not polarized, then it does nothing to help.

Also, this is one of those areas where you get what you pay for. Do not go with a low price no name filter.

Kevin

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

I use the Lensmate adapter tube on my S3 and it's an excellent product; very high quality. According to other camera sites, it fits *much* better than the other cheaper models available. I don't think I could recommend Lensmate highly enough ... they're great!

I've taken a bunch of pics with my Hoya UV filter on and then off (I just use it for lens protection ... getting grit into the lens extension mechanism is bad for an S3, I've heard) ... I can't see any difference in picture quality. I've always gotten the same aperture/shutter speed settings (in P mode) whether it's on or off, so I don't think it's reducing the light in any appreciable way.

I also use a circular polarizer (CPL) ... it's not necessary to use a circular polarizer on an S3, but I wasn't sure that I'd never upgrade to a DSLR and they need them.

The CPL definitely knocks the light down (makes everything darker), by about 2-stops. It makes a *big* difference in some situations; where reflections are strong (like water, cars or boats in bright sunshine). It also makes the sky look more blue. I've even been able to use it to lower my shutter speed to get more of a "silky" look to some waterfalls I photographed.

I'm also planning to get a Neutral Density (ND) filter to be able to use slower shutter speeds in bright light and maybe a graduated ND filter for taking landscape pictures without blowing out the detail in the sky.