What is a "digital" filter?

[LCG]

Hi, my first post: I have a digital mirrorless camera with "kit" zoom lens and I want to use a few filters. The usual things: polariser, UV, ND. I see "digital" filters advertised. Can someone tell me what the difference is between a "traditional" filter and a "digital" filter?

[pschlute]

Hi, my first post: I have a digital mirrorless camera with "kit" zoom lens and I want to use a few filters. The usual things: polariser, UV, ND. I see "digital" filters advertised. Can someone tell me what the difference is between a "traditional" filter and a "digital" filter?

I am no expert but I have never heard of a "digital" filter.

Many filter effects can now be produced during digital post processing, but polariser and ND will still be worth using directly on your lens

[Manfred M]

Some filter manufacturers have designed lines of filters that are aimed at digital cameras, rather than film cameras. Given that most cameras that are being sold are in fact digital, one would hope that the filter makers have all tuned their designs for this market...

I have tried some that have the "digital" designation and have concluded that it is nothing more than something come up with by the filter maker's marketing department to sell filters and possibly charge more money for them. The anti-reflective coatings and anti-water / oil repellent coatings do make a difference, but not the "digital" designation.

[DanK]

The only issues I would be concerned with are: (1) the quality of the coatings, and (2) that the polarizer is a circular rather than linear polarizer. (Linear polarizers can interfere with some AF systems.)

AFAIK, there is only one respect in which filters for digital cameras differ from those for film cameras. In the film days, many people used UV filters to serve two purposes: to protect the lens and to reduce UV. The latter function is no longer needed, so you can use simple protective filters to the same effect.

[William W]

. . . Can someone tell me what the difference is between a "traditional" filter and a "digital" filter?

All else being equal: Marketing and Price.

I suggest you follow the advice in Posts #2,3,and 4.

WW

[Manfred M]

All else being equal: Marketing and Price.

Some thirty+ years ago, when I worked for a consumer goods company as the engineering manager, one of the marketing directors approached me and said something along the lines of "if you could cut the cost of manufacturing the product in half, he could sell millions of that particular product".

My response to him was along the lines of "If I could figure out a way of cutting the cost in half, we wouldn't need a marketing department to sell the product. It would fly off the shelves all by itself...".