do I need filters?

[Colin Southern]

I might also add to Colin's last comments, that the single piece of "extra" equipment that has improved my results more than anything is a good tripod.

Glenn

I might also add to Glenn's last comments, that I consider things like a sturdy tripod - and filters - and lights - to as much a part of my "standard equipment" as my lens inventory. I seldom shoot without all of them, and couldn't achieve any of my results without them.

[muffitt]

Thanks to all of you for sharing your expertise and experience. This is all very interesting and helpful!

Tim

[rpcrowe]

He did indeed and now wouldn't be without it. It is eye-wateringly expensive for just the enthusiastic amateur like me, but is a magnificent tool.

Darn it Donald... Spending money for the WhiBal card (which I have come to love) was bad enough, now you and Colin are tempting me to get a Vari ND filter! Oh well, I cant take it with me and they say he who dies with the most toys wins but, I am not really sure about that last statement...

BTW Tim, if you don't have a lens hood buy one and use it faithfully. Most lens manufacturers supply hoods with their lenses except for Canon which only supplies lens hoods with selected lenses (usually L lenses). Don't worry about paying the big bucks for a Canon hood. I use generic third party Chinese hoods on the lenses which do not come with a hood. These Chinese knock-offs work just fine and are a fraction of the price. I am so serious about using a hood that I carry two for each lens when traveling. I was shooting through a partially open window in a Xi'an China hotel and I knocked my lens hood off my 70-200mm f/4L IS lens. I couldn't find a replacement until I reached Hong Kong. That taught me a lesson. I now always have spares with me when I travel.

[Colin Southern]

Darn it Donald... Spending money for the WhiBal card (which I have come to love) was bad enough, now you and Colin are tempting me to get a Vari ND filter! Oh well, I cant take it with me and they say he who dies with the most toys wins but, I am not really sure about that last statement...

Obviously Ali hasn't warned you about me yet

It's truly a great filter - I wouldn't want to be without it. Think of it as the "Swiss Army Knife" of ND filters.

[Andrew1]

Remco , I didn't paraphrase his text, I quoted it. Exactly like he quoted mine in reference to my comment about purchasing the Singh Ray. If you can't understand that then perhaps others can't either and I will take that as my fault for not getting the point across properly. I've deleted the post so as not to confuse others as well. If you don't mind, please delete your reference to mine as well. No sense stringing this out for a misunderstanding.

[rpcrowe]

I would guess that there is a hierarchy of equipment. A photographer "should" purchase equipment "A" before equipment "B" because equipment "A" would have a bigger impact on the images produced. I am sure that the hierarchy placings differ for most photographers but, here are mine. I have disregarded camera, lens and memory card...

1. Lens hood for each lens. I would not shoot without one; indoors or out.

2. Electronic flash unit which will allow efficient bounce flash. Flash efficiently and creatively used will enhance most indoor shots and can be quite instrumental in improving outdoor shots with flash fill.

3. A tripod sufficient to solidly support your heaviest camera/lens combination. Many photographers would be surprised at the quality imagery obtainable from an entry level camera and kit lens if shot around f/8 or f/11 and mounted on a tripod.

I would suggest the three above items before even thinking of filters, extra lenses, etc. However, after the three above items, it is "Katie Bar The Door!" Anything goes!

[Colin Southern]

Andrew,

I don't want to go another round with you, so let me just put it this way; for every complaint I've heard about the expense of Singh-Ray products, I'm sure I've heard 2 or 3 complaints about cheap filters such as Cokin & Lee brands producing uncorrectable colour casts due to their poor infra-red response or like Mark's bad experience with the Light Craft Workshop product in post #13 of this very thread (it's a Singh-Ray Vari-ND knock-off) problems not experienced on the Singh-Ray product.

You get what you pay for.