Today, I’m going to show you the three best lens filters that will take your video footage from ordinary to extraordinary. Whether you’re a professional videographer or photographer, you’re always looking for ways to take your visuals to the next level. And one of the most valuable tools that you can have in your kit are lens filters. And what’s great about lens filters is that they’re easy to use.
They just simply screw on to the front of your lens and you’re good to go. With so many options on the market, it can be a bit overwhelming to choose the best one for the job. That’s why I’m going to break down the three that I would recommend getting and how they work. The first ones you should get is a UV filter.
A UV filters main purpose is to block out ultraviolet light, which can cause haze and make your footage look washed out. Now, some may argue how effective they are. Personally, I’ve seen noticeable improvements in the quality of my footage when using one. So here’s an example of some footage taken without a UV filter. Now let’s compare it to the same footage taken with the UV filter.
As you can see, the clip is much sharper and the colors are more vibrant. Another benefit is that they provide an extra layer of protection from dust and scratches. And what I mean by this is that the front part of your lens is very vulnerable and costly to repair, especially if you drop it or bump into something. But with a UV filter in place, the filter will take the brunt of the impact, leaving your lens intact.
Also, if you’re shooting in the rain or snow, a UV filter can act as a shield, preventing water droplets or snowflakes from landing directly on your lens. Overall, a UV filter is an affordable accessory that can protect your equipment and improve the quality of your footage. So I highly recommend getting one. Another useful filter that I highly recommend is a neutral density filter or indi filter for short.
An indie filter reduces the amount of light that enters your lens, allowing you to use slower shutter speeds or wider apertures, even in bright conditions. A commonly used analogy is that they’re like a pair of sunglasses for your lens. If you do decide to get an indie filter, I suggest getting a variable indie filter, which allows you to adjust the amount of light filtering through on the spot.
Also, indie filters are an absolute must have for any outdoor aerial footage that you might be filming with a drone. When it comes to capturing great footage at all hours of the day, indie filters are truly a game changer. Next up is a simple filter. A couple filter short for a circular polarizing lens is a popular camera lens filter that can provide several benefits to videographers and especially photographers.
A simple filter can help to reduce glare and unwanted reflections from reflective surfaces like water, glass or metal. Have you ever tried to take a photo of a car only to find that the reflection on the shiny surface ruins the shot? A CPO filter is a great solution for this common issue with the ability to rotate at a specific angle.
The filter effectively reduces the polarization effect caused by sunlight and also enhances color, resulting in a noticeable reduction in haze and an increase in visual impact. A CPO filter can also enhance the color saturation in your footage by reducing the glare and reflection. It also allows colors to appear more vibrant. This is particularly useful for shooting blue skies, foliage and water as it can make the colors more intense and eye catching.
Lens filters have made a huge difference in the quality of my video and photo work. Basically, they just make everything look way more professional and are relatively inexpensive, which is why I highly recommend them. Now, I’ve also provided a link in the description of the ones that I mentioned in this video, so you can check them out for yourself.
If you have any questions, leave a comment below and I’m happy to help you out. If you enjoyed this video. Remember to smash that like button and hit the subscribe button. If you want more practical tips and tricks for creating epic cinematic footage. My name is Andrew Cooper and Andrew Cooper, Video icon. I’ll see you next time. Take care.