Best filters for landscape photography

**The Madshutter** · 08-11-2021, 02:38 AM - **5 Likes**

Hello everyone, as many of you know I have been an Ambassador for Formatt-Hitech for 5 years. I left FH last March, for reasons that I'll obviously not share, and I have been looking for new filters to replace my FH kit since.

To do so, as I always do when I have to select my gear, I took the most thorough and "scientific" approach I could - so, I set off to do the most comprehensive filter review I could, and select my filters according to the results.

I contacted the biggest eight brands on the market producing glass filters, and I ended up with six brands to test. Here are my results, which I hope you'll find interesting:

BEST FILTERS FOR LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY | Vieri Bottazzini

Enjoy the read, and if you have any questions, please feel free to ask. Best regards,

Vieri

**ProfessorBuzz** · 08-11-2021, 10:30 AM

Great write up, very thorough. Thank you for posting.

**StiffLegged** · 08-11-2021, 10:50 AM

+1. Very useful to those of us looking at a new set of filters.

biz-engineer · 08-11-2021, 11:44 AM

Good evaluation of color casts and sharpness. I'm surprised about the evaluation of sharpness for filters, as I never observed sharpness being lower when using filters , but, I did have lots of fringing added by the filters I used. Also I'm surprised that the ease of use and sturdiness of filter holders isn't reported. Personally, I use a filter holder from one brand and filters from two other brands, simply because I've found only one filter holder that is by design (concept) superior to others.

Last edited by biz-engineer; 08-11-2021 at 01:24 PM.

**clickclick** · 08-11-2021, 01:20 PM

Nice write up. Thank you.

**The Madshutter** · 08-11-2021, 11:41 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by ProfessorBuzz

Great write up, very thorough. Thank you for posting.

Thank you, happy you enjoyed the read!!

Originally posted by StiffLegged

+1. Very useful to those of us looking at a new set of filters.

Thank you very much, happy to be of help!

Originally posted by biz-engineer

Good evaluation of color casts and sharpness. I'm surprised about the evaluation of sharpness for filters, as I never observed sharpness being lower when using filters , but, I did have lots of fringing added by the filters I used. Also I'm surprised that the ease of use and sturdiness of filter holders isn't reported. Personally, I use a filter holder from one brand and filters from two other brands, simply because I've found only one filter holder that is by design (concept) superior to others.

Thank yo very much, glad you found it useful. Sharpness is a concern, when adding more glass in front of your lens. Resin filters are not particularly good at sharpness; filters that are not perfectly flat, glass or otherwise, lose sharpness; adding more glass surfaces might result in sharpness loss; and so on. Thing is, with the cameras of yesteryear it was much less evident; with today's gear, both cameras and lenses, this starts to become more of an issue.

About ease of use etc, reading the article you might notice that a second part, dedicated to holders, is coming. That will be dedicated to analysing the issues you mentioned.

Originally posted by clickclick

Nice write up. Thank you.

Thank you very much, happy to help!

Best regards,

Vieri

biz-engineer · 08-11-2021, 11:56 PM

Originally posted by The Madshutter

About ease of use etc, reading the article you might notice that a second part, dedicated to holders, is coming. That will be dedicated to analysing the issues you mentioned.

Ah, excellent. I look forward to the second part. Many thanks.

**The Madshutter** · 08-13-2021, 12:47 AM

Originally posted by biz-engineer

Ah, excellent. I look forward to the second part. Many thanks.

You are very welcome! Best regards,

Vieri

artrasa · 08-15-2021, 01:12 AM

Thanks for sharing your interesting article.
On a related note, I've often wondered about coloured filters that are used by some b&w film photographers. What are they used for? Some kind of contrast enhancement?

**The Madshutter** · 08-25-2021, 03:41 AM

Originally posted by artrasa

Thanks for sharing your interesting article.
On a related note, I've often wondered about coloured filters that are used by some b&w film photographers. What are they used for? Some kind of contrast enhancement?

A quick Google search returned this, better than I could ever say it: Using colour filters for black and white photography

Best regards,

Vieri

08-11-2021, 02:38 AM - 5 Likes	#1
The Madshutter Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Tuscany, Italy Posts: 1,255	Best filters for landscape photography Hello everyone, as many of you know I have been an Ambassador for Formatt-Hitech for 5 years. I left FH last March, for reasons that I'll obviously not share, and I have been looking for new filters to replace my FH kit since. To do so, as I always do when I have to select my gear, I took the most thorough and "scientific" approach I could - so, I set off to do the most comprehensive filter review I could, and select my filters according to the results. I contacted the biggest eight brands on the market producing glass filters, and I ended up with six brands to test. Here are my results, which I hope you'll find interesting: BEST FILTERS FOR LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY \| Vieri Bottazzini Enjoy the read, and if you have any questions, please feel free to ask. Best regards, Vieri

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08-11-2021, 10:30 AM	#2
ProfessorBuzz Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 1,903	Great write up, very thorough. Thank you for posting.

08-11-2021, 10:50 AM	#3
StiffLegged Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2018 Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,632	+1. Very useful to those of us looking at a new set of filters.

08-11-2021, 11:44 AM	#4
biz-engineer Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 12,239	Good evaluation of color casts and sharpness. I'm surprised about the evaluation of sharpness for filters, as I never observed sharpness being lower when using filters , but, I did have lots of fringing added by the filters I used. Also I'm surprised that the ease of use and sturdiness of filter holders isn't reported. Personally, I use a filter holder from one brand and filters from two other brands, simply because I've found only one filter holder that is by design (concept) superior to others. Last edited by biz-engineer; 08-11-2021 at 01:24 PM.

08-11-2021, 01:20 PM	#5
clickclick Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2016 Location: East Coast Posts: 2,903	Nice write up. Thank you.

08-11-2021, 11:41 PM - 2 Likes	#6
The Madshutter Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Tuscany, Italy Posts: 1,255 Original Poster	Originally posted by ProfessorBuzz Great write up, very thorough. Thank you for posting. Thank you, happy you enjoyed the read!! Originally posted by StiffLegged +1. Very useful to those of us looking at a new set of filters. Thank you very much, happy to be of help! Originally posted by biz-engineer Good evaluation of color casts and sharpness. I'm surprised about the evaluation of sharpness for filters, as I never observed sharpness being lower when using filters , but, I did have lots of fringing added by the filters I used. Also I'm surprised that the ease of use and sturdiness of filter holders isn't reported. Personally, I use a filter holder from one brand and filters from two other brands, simply because I've found only one filter holder that is by design (concept) superior to others. Thank yo very much, glad you found it useful. Sharpness is a concern, when adding more glass in front of your lens. Resin filters are not particularly good at sharpness; filters that are not perfectly flat, glass or otherwise, lose sharpness; adding more glass surfaces might result in sharpness loss; and so on. Thing is, with the cameras of yesteryear it was much less evident; with today's gear, both cameras and lenses, this starts to become more of an issue. About ease of use etc, reading the article you might notice that a second part, dedicated to holders, is coming. That will be dedicated to analysing the issues you mentioned. Originally posted by clickclick Nice write up. Thank you. Thank you very much, happy to help! Best regards, Vieri

08-11-2021, 11:56 PM	#7
biz-engineer Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 12,239	Originally posted by The Madshutter About ease of use etc, reading the article you might notice that a second part, dedicated to holders, is coming. That will be dedicated to analysing the issues you mentioned. Ah, excellent. I look forward to the second part. Many thanks.

08-13-2021, 12:47 AM	#8
The Madshutter Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Tuscany, Italy Posts: 1,255 Original Poster	Originally posted by biz-engineer Ah, excellent. I look forward to the second part. Many thanks. You are very welcome! Best regards, Vieri

08-15-2021, 01:12 AM	#9
artrasa Senior Member Join Date: May 2021 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 185	Thanks for sharing your interesting article. On a related note, I've often wondered about coloured filters that are used by some b&w film photographers. What are they used for? Some kind of contrast enhancement?

08-25-2021, 03:41 AM	#10
The Madshutter Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Tuscany, Italy Posts: 1,255 Original Poster	Originally posted by artrasa Thanks for sharing your interesting article. On a related note, I've often wondered about coloured filters that are used by some b&w film photographers. What are they used for? Some kind of contrast enhancement? A quick Google search returned this, better than I could ever say it: Using colour filters for black and white photography Best regards, Vieri