Top 5 tips on buying and using camera filters

1. Always remember the worst piece of glass in the optical path will determine the image quality of your photo. If you are using a professional lens, you may want to use better filters so that the filters will not degrade your photos.

2. A good filter size to buy is 77mm. Good filters can be very expensive and you probably not want to buy the same type of filter of different sizes. Getting a larger filter and then using a step up ring is a good compromise. Sometimes it may also help to prevent vignetting on wide angle lenses. For example, some polarizers can be rather thick and will cause vignetting on wide angle shots. Alternatively, invest in a square or rectangular filter system such as Cokin Creative Filter System. A filter holder can hold a single or multiple pieces of filters in front of the lens allowing you to swap in or swap out filters to create the desired effect. For different sizes of lenses, just purchase different adaptor rings to attach to the filter holder.

3. If there is not enough light when shooting, remove your lens protector. Any filter will absorb some light.

4. Coating on filters reduces reflection and makes the glass much easier to clean. Fingerprints can easily be wiped off on coated filters. Even though they are more expensive than normal filters, they can prove their worth if you find it a hassle to clean filters.

5. Some filter manufacturers such B+W makes both brass and aluminum mounts for the same filter. Brass is more expensive but is supposed to prevent seizing of the rings. Sometimes filters can be very difficult to unscrew especially after being attached for a long time. Brass rings supposedly are easier to unscrew but some users of brass rings have also reported seizing of their filters. If you want the best money can buy, then go for brass rings. If not aluminum rings should satisfy most filter users.