Camera Lens Filters: Types, Uses & Photography Tips
In photography, camera lens filters are essential tools that help improve the quality and creativity of your photos. Whether you’re a beginner or a hobbyist, understanding different types of lens filters can help you take stunning pictures in various situations.
Lens filters are small, usually round accessories made of glass or plastic. You attach them to the front of your camera lens. Some filters protect your lens, while others change how light enters the camera, helping you create special effects or fix tricky lighting conditions.
In this guide, we’ll explore the most popular types of camera lens filters, what they do, and how to use them with real-life examples. Let’s dive in!
1. UV Filter (Ultraviolet Filter)
What It Does:
A UV filter blocks ultraviolet light from entering your camera lens. In the past, UV light used to cause hazy or blurry images, especially when shooting outdoors. Today’s digital sensors aren’t as sensitive to UV, so this filter is mostly used for lens protection.
Main Benefits:
- Protects your lens from scratches, dust, fingerprints, and water.
- Reduces haze in outdoor scenes (mostly with film cameras).
- Can be left on your lens all the time.
Real-Life Example:
You’re hiking through a dusty trail or standing near ocean waves. A UV filter protects your lens from getting dirty or damaged, and you don’t need to remove it.
Best for: All-around protection, outdoor photography
Pro Tip: Buy a multi-coated UV filter for better image quality and less lens flare.
2. Polarizing Filter (CPL – Circular Polarizer)
What It Does:
A polarizing filter reduces reflections and glare from non-metallic surfaces like water, glass, and wet roads. It also improves color contrast, especially in the sky, making the blue deeper and clouds more defined. You rotate the front of the filter to change the intensity of the effect.
Main Benefits:
- Removes reflections from glass, water, or cars.
- Makes the sky bluer and colors richer.
- Helps reduce glare in bright sunlight.
Real-Life Example:
You’re taking a photo of a mountain lake. Without a polarizer, the water reflects the sky. With a polarizer, the reflection disappears, and you can see the rocks under the water.
Best for: Landscape photography, cityscapes, outdoor scenes
Pro Tip: The polarizing effect works best when the sun is at a 90° angle from your camera (not directly in front or behind you).
3. ND Filter (Neutral Density Filter)
What It Does:
An ND filter darkens the image without changing colors. This allows you to use slow shutter speeds or wide apertures in bright light without overexposing your photo. Think of it like sunglasses for your camera.
Main Benefits:
- Lets you use slow shutter speeds to blur motion (e.g., waterfalls, clouds, traffic).
- Allows wide aperture (f/1.8, f/2.8) in bright daylight for a shallow depth of field.
- Helps control exposure in video shooting.
Real-Life Example:
You’re shooting a waterfall during the day and want a smooth, silky water effect. Without an ND filter, the photo is too bright. With a 6-stop ND filter, you can use a slow shutter speed (like 1 second) and get the perfect effect.
Best for: Long exposure photography, video work, portraits in daylight
Pro Tip: ND filters come in different strengths, like ND2, ND8, ND1000. Higher numbers mean darker filters.
4. Graduated ND Filter (GND Filter)
What It Does:
A GND filter is half dark and half clear. It balances the exposure between a bright sky and a darker ground — ideal for sunrise or sunset shots.
There are hard-edge and soft-edge versions:
- Hard-edge: Sudden transition (good for flat horizons)
- Soft-edge: Smooth transition (good for mountains or trees)
Main Benefits:
- Prevents sky from being overexposed.
- Maintains detail in both sky and foreground.
Real-Life Example:
You’re photographing a sunset over the ocean. The sky is very bright, but the beach is dark. A GND filter darkens the sky while keeping the beach properly exposed.
Best for: Landscape photography, sunrises, and sunsets
Pro Tip: You can also use digital GND effects in editing, but using a real filter gives more control on location.
5. Color Filters
What They Do:
Color filters add specific color tones to your photos or change the way colors appear in black and white photography.
They come in red, blue, yellow, green, and many other shades.
Main Benefits:
- Add mood or artistic effects.
- Change contrast in black-and-white photography.
- Useful in film photography or creative portrait work.
Real-Life Example:
In black-and-white photography, a red filter makes the sky appear almost black, creating a dramatic contrast with white clouds.
Best for: Black-and-white photography, creative color effects.
Pro Tip: Use colored filters carefully — too strong, and your image may look unnatural.
6. Close-Up Filters (Macro Filters)
What They Do:
Close-up filters, also called macro filters or diopters, act like magnifying glasses for your lens. They let you focus very close to small objects without a dedicated macro lens.
They come in strengths like +1, +2, +4, and +10.
Main Benefits:
- Lets you take macro shots with any lens.
- Cheaper than buying a macro lens.
- Easy to carry and use.
Real-Life Example:
You want to photograph a bee on a flower. A +4 close-up filter lets you focus only a few inches away, capturing amazing detail.
Best for: Flower photography, insects, textures
Pro Tip: For best results, use a tripod and good lighting, as close-up filters reduce depth of field.
7. Infrared Filter
What It Does:
An infrared (IR) filter blocks visible light and only allows infrared light to pass through. This creates otherworldly images with glowing skies and white foliage.
Note: Your camera must be modified or sensitive to IR light.
Main Benefits:
- Unique artistic style
- Great for experimental or surreal photography
Real-Life Example:
Trees appear snowy white, and skies turn dark in an infrared landscape photo.
Best for: Artistic photography, infrared landscapes
Pro Tip: Infrared photography requires special setup and post-processing.
8. Star Filter (Cross Screen Filter)
What It Does:
A star filter adds sparkling light effects to bright points of light, like streetlights or reflections. The effect makes lights appear as stars with lines.
You can find 4-point, 6-point, or 8-point star filters.
Main Benefits:
- Adds a magical or dreamy look to night scenes
- Popular for night cityscapes or holiday lights
Real-Life Example:
You photograph a city street at night. With a star filter, each streetlight turns into a glowing starburst.
Best for: Night photography, weddings, concerts
Pro Tip: Use with a small aperture (like f/11 or f/16) to increase the effect.
9. Variable ND Filter
What It Does:
A variable ND filter lets you adjust the darkness by rotating it — from ND2 to ND400 or more. It’s like having several ND filters in one.
Main Benefits:
- Easy to use in changing light
- Great for video work or travel
Real-Life Example:
You’re filming a video outdoors. As the light changes, you rotate the filter to keep the exposure steady without changing your settings.
Best for: Filmmakers, run-and-gun photography
Pro Tip: Low-quality variable ND filters can cause dark X-patterns at wide angles. Buy good quality!
Final Thoughts
Camera lens filters are powerful tools for both beginners and pros. They help you:
- Protect your gear
- Control light and exposure
- Enhance colors
- Create beautiful effects
While editing software can fix many issues, using real filters gives you better results straight out of the camera — and saves time!
So next time you head out to shoot, consider which filter fits your scene. Start with a UV or CPL filter, and then try ND or close-up filters for creative effects.