ND, CPL, UV… Why and How to Use Photography Filters?

How Camera Filters Can Transform Your Photos and Videos.

While the digital era offers almost unlimited possibilities for editing photos and videos on computers or smartphones, the truth is that some effects simply can’t be replicated in post-processing. This is exactly where traditional photography filters still hold their important place. They help you get the most out of your photos and videos right at the moment of shooting — often enabling you to capture scenes in ways that wouldn’t be technically possible without them.

In this article, we’ll explain why it’s worth having at least a basic set of filters in your camera bag, what types exist, when and how to use them properly, and the results you can achieve with them. I’ll also share practical tips from my own experience and guide you on how to choose filters to get the best out of your gear.

If you’re interested in landscape, travel, or outdoor photography and video, this article is just for you.

At the end of each section, you’ll find recommended filters that I have personally tested. It’s important to select filters that match the exact diameter of your lens (the size in millimeters is marked on the lens cap or the lens barrel). You can also buy filters in a larger size and use step-up rings to fit them on lenses with smaller diameters.

Why Use Photography Filters for Photos and Video?

Filters fundamentally affect how light reaches the sensor and allow you to set exposure parameters that simply wouldn’t be possible without them. This gives you greater creative freedom while shooting and lets you influence the final photo right at the moment you press the shutter.

Improve photo quality directly while shooting.
Filters allow you to adjust lighting conditions before the light even reaches the sensor. This means better exposure, contrast, and colors right in the field.
Enable effects that cannot be recreated in post-processing.
For example, removing reflections from water surfaces, extending exposure times during bright daylight, or enhancing the blue sky. These effects happen physically as light passes through the filter — no editor can perfectly replicate them.
Protect the lens from damage.
Especially UV filters today mostly serve as mechanical protection against dust, scratches, or splashing water.

CPL filter (Circular Polarizer)

One of the most well-known and effective effects in photography is light polarization. Using a CPL (circular polarizing) filter, we can remove light reflections that occur in a single plane—whether vertical or horizontal. It’s especially helpful when shooting in the mountains, where it can reduce haze and improve the visibility of distant peaks. The CPL filter also has its place in portrait photography, for example, by eliminating unwanted reflections on glasses, skin, through car windows, or shop windows.

The polarizing filter is invaluable, for example, when photographing:

bodies of water, where it removes reflections and reveals the view beneath the surface,
shiny leaves of vegetation in bright daylight,
or to enhance cloud details and deepen the blue of the sky.

It is also highly effective for mountain photography, where it can reduce haze and improve visibility of distant peaks. The CPL filter also has its place in portrait photography, for example by removing unwanted reflections on glasses, skin, through car windows, or shop windows. Conclusion: The polarizing filter eliminates excess reflected light, which increases contrast, enhances detail, and delivers richer, more natural colors right at the moment of capture. The result looks cleaner and more professional, without the need for extensive post-processing. Recommended filters:

KF CPL Filter 28-layer Nano-Xcel (Super Slim)

Urth CPL 20-layer (Super Slim)

Hoya PL-CIR Fusion ONE

ND filter (Neutral Density)

ND (neutral density) filter works on a simple principle — it evenly darkens the entire scene without affecting colors or contrast. This reduces the amount of light reaching the camera sensor, allowing you to extend the exposure time or use a wider aperture even in bright daylight.

What ND filters are used for:

Extending exposure time when photographing flowing water, clouds, or moving people in the scene. The longer exposure creates beautiful, smooth blur effects that cannot be authentically replicated in post-processing.
Softening waterfalls, seas, or lakes in bright light, where without the filter the photo would be overexposed.
Using a wider aperture (e.g., f/1.4 or f/2.8) for portraits or details even in strong daylight, without the need to excessively shorten the exposure time.

Types of ND filters and their uses:

ND filters vary in density. You will most commonly encounter labels like ND8, ND64, ND1000, where the number indicates how many times the filter reduces the amount of light reaching the sensor.

Variable ND filter (ND2–400) is an ideal choice for travelers, videographers, and vloggers. It allows smooth adjustment of light intensity and exposure without changing the filter.
Fixed ND filter with a higher value (e.g., ND1000) is perfect for landscape photography, especially when shooting waterfalls, sea surfaces, or blurred cloud movement on bright days. It allows exposure times to be extended to 30 seconds or more (BULB mode), capturing smooth, milky motion effects.
Graduated ND filter (GND) has a gradual transition from clear to dark, such as ND8. It is excellent for landscape photography with a high dynamic range — typically at sunrise or sunset, when you need to balance the difference between a dark foreground and bright sky. The darker part of the filter is placed on the upper part of the image to preserve cloud details and shadow textures.

Conclusion:
ND filters are a versatile and highly practical tool for anyone who wants full control over exposure and the ability to create effects like motion blur, long exposures, or professional-looking video with cinematic background blur. It should be a staple in every photo bag.

Recommended filters:

KF ND Filter ND2-400 (1-9 Stop) Nano-Xcel Variable

KF ND Filter ND1000 (10 Stop) Nano-Xcel Fixed

KF ND Filter GND8 (3 Stop) Nano-Xcel Graduated

Black Mist filter

Black Mist filter, sometimes also called a diffusion filter, is a special type of effect filter that gently diffuses the light entering the lens, creating a softer, more pleasing image with subtly reduced contrast and a characteristic “film-like” glow.

Black Mist filters come in various strengths — most commonly in versions 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, and 1, where a higher number means a stronger effect. For typical portraits or a cinematic look, I recommend starting with the 1/4 or 1/8 version, which adds softness without excessive blurring.

What is the Black Mist filter used for:

Softens harsh transitions between light and shadow.
Diffuses lights and creates subtle “halo” effects around light sources (such as lamps, light reflections, sunsets, or street lighting in evening scenes).
Reduces digital harshness of the image, which is especially appreciated when shooting video and portrait photography.
Helps minimize the visibility of small skin imperfections and soften skin texture when photographing or filming people, without making the image look artificial or blurry.

Conclusion:
The Black Mist filter is a perfect choice for anyone who wants to add a softer, more organic, and cinematic atmosphere to their photos and videos. It is ideal for evening scenes with lighting, portraits, and landscape photography during sunset or in fog.

Used in combination with an ND filter, it is often employed when shooting music videos, short films, or vlogs to achieve a subtle, professional look without harsh digital edges.

Recommended filters:

KF Black Mist Filter 1/4 Nano-Xcel

KF Black Mist Filter 1/8 Nano-Xcel

UV filter

The UV filter was originally designed to filter out ultraviolet radiation, which caused a slight blue tint on older film materials, especially in the mountains or by the sea. Modern digital cameras now compensate for this function with sensors and software correction, yet the UV filter still holds a place in a photographer’s kit today.

Functions of the UV filter:

Mechanical protection of the front lens element – protects in challenging conditions against dust, scratches, rain, or dirt.

It’s important to invest in a high-quality UV filter with multi-layer anti-reflective coatings to avoid negatively affecting image quality (sharpness, contrast, or unwanted flares). While cheap filters — sometimes not even made from optical glass — may protect the front lens element from scratches, dust, and water, they can significantly degrade image sharpness, contrast, and overall quality. A simple rule: high-quality lens = high-quality filter.

Conclusion:
Today, UV filters primarily serve a protective purpose. If you often shoot outdoors, travel frequently, or work in harsh environments, it’s practical to have one mounted as the first line of defense for your lens. I learned this the hard way when my 24–105mm L II lens fell onto rocks and into salty water during my first visit to Iceland. Although the lens needed servicing due to oxidized switches, the UV filter definitely saved it from the junk pile — no optical elements were damaged.