Gear reviews and how-to guides for on lens filters for digital cameras.
Before threaded screw-on filters, lenses used a three-piece slip-on system sized by "series" number. Here's how Series 7, 8 and 9 filters actually attach, and why you'll still meet the term on vintage manual-focus lenses.
Why buy three expensive polarizers when you only need one? Step-up rings are the secret weapon of pro photographers, allowing you to adapt a single high-quality filter to fit almost every lens in your bag. Here is how they work.
There is nothing more frustrating than a filter that refuses to unscrew, especially when the light is fading. But before you reach for the pliers (don't!), you need to understand the physics of why it's stuck. Here are the safest ways to remove a seized filter without damaging your lens — starting with a very old trick that works like magic.
Here's a quick rundown on using some of the most common types of screw-in filters and considerations when using them.
A searchable chart of filter sizes for every screw-thread Pentax lens, from 49mm to 77mm, plus the step-up ring trick pros use to buy one filter instead of five.
If you're looking to add a polarizer, UV, or ND filter to your lens, you'll need to know the lens diameter/filter size. Here's a lens filter size chart for Tamron lenses.
If you're looking to add a polarizer, UV, or ND filter to your lens, you'll need to know the lens diameter/filter size. Here's a lens filter size chart for Sigma lenses. Updated with Sigma's latest lenses.
A searchable chart of filter diameters for Olympus and OM System M.Zuiko lenses, from the 45mm f1.8 to the 12-40mm f2.8 Pro, plus a step-up ring trick pros use to avoid buying a separate filter for every lens.
Here's a lens filter size chart for Fujifilm/Fujinon lenses, including their X series and GFX series lenses. If you're looking to add a polarizer, UV, or ND filter to your lens, you'll need to know the lens diameter/filter size.
A running chart of filter thread diameters for Sony E-Mount and A-Mount lenses, updated as new glass ships, plus the step-up ring trick pros use to avoid buying a filter for every lens.
Looking for the right filter size? You don't need to guess. I've compiled a master list of lens diameters for the entire Nikon lineup — from the latest Z-mount releases (like the Plena) to vintage manual focus glass — so you can buy the right screw-in filter every time.
Look up the filter thread size for your Canon lens by mount, whether RF, EF, EF-S, or EF-M, across current zoom and prime models. Updated regularly as new Canon lenses are released, plus tips on step-up rings and polarizing filters.
Screw-in filters are convenient, but for serious landscape photography, a square filter system offers unmatched flexibility. I took the Formatt Hitech Firecrest 100mm Pro Essentials Kit into the field to see if its aluminum holder and sandwich-coated glass really deliver the color neutrality they promise — and how they stack up against big names like Lee and Cokin.
A Circular Polarizer is a landscape photographer's best friend — until you put it on a wide-angle lens. Then, it can quickly become your enemy, turning beautiful blue skies into ugly, uneven gradients and dark 'blobs.' Here is the physics behind why wide-angle lenses and polarizers often don't mix, and the specific techniques you can use to avoid ruining your shot.
I put four popular circular polarizing filters, from Hoya, Tiffen, B+W, and Nikon, through the same side-by-side test on one camera and lens to see how their strength, color, and sharpness actually compare.
In the age of AI editing, many physical filters have become obsolete. But there is one that remains essential: the Circular Polarizer. Why? Because it manipulates light physics before it hits your sensor, removing glare that software simply cannot 'see.' Here is how to use the '90-Degree Rule' to capture shots that are impossible to fake.
Confused by the numbers on your lens? You aren't alone. The most common mistake beginners make is trying to find a filter that matches their focal length (e.g., 50mm) instead of their lens diameter. Here is how to decode the 'ø' hieroglyphics on your lens barrel and why you should never buy a separate filter for every lens you own. And once you know what to look for, it's easy.
An ND filter blocks light, meaning you can use a slower shutter speed or larger aperture. The Tiffen Variable ND Filter sounds great on paper, offering flexibility and convenience. Here's how it performs in practice.
My name is David Coleman, and this is my site. I take photos for a living. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Underwater. And a bunch of places in between. I'm based in Washington, D.C.
This site is where I post practical photography help, tips, and troubleshooting.
All posts and reviews on this site are written by me. And I only review gear with which I have personal hands-on experience. By a photographer, for photographers. More about me.
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