Kase filters for cameras, drones and smartphones

The different types of filters and their effects at a glance

There is a wide range of different camera filters available on the market. The selection ranges from infrared filters for black-and-white photography to graduated ND filters for stunning sunsets and standard ND filters that reduce the amount of light hitting the camera sensor. The most common filters on the market are ND filters, graduated ND filters, and polarizing filters. Below, we explain in more detail what these camera filters are used for and which subjects they are best suited for.

ND filter – sunglasses for your camera

The camera’s exposure time can be artificially extended using an ND filter. You can see exactly by how much in the table below. ND filters are also called neutral density filters and are used to darken the image. It is relatively easy to explain why this can be beneficial: the exposure time depends directly on how much light reaches the camera sensor. In most cases, this is not a problem; when the sun is shining, you simply use a very short exposure time, and correspondingly longer exposure times at dusk.
However, there are also situations where a longer exposure time is advantageous. For example, if you want to capture the movement of water in a waterfall, you need a longer exposure time. If the exposure is too short, the waterfall will appear “frozen” in the image. You can use an ND filter to ensure that the image does not simply become white despite the brightness and longer exposure. We offer these filters in different strengths. The higher the strength, the darker the filter appears and the longer the exposure time becomes.

Graduated ND filter – for landscape photography

Graduated ND filters are glass filters that are clear on one half and darkened on the other half. The two areas meet in the middle of the filter and transition from dark to clear. The transition varies depending on the type of filter. GND filters are used to balance the exposure of a scene consisting of a brighter area (the sky) and a darker area (the foreground), especially in landscape photography. The human eye can perceive a wide range of light and shadow – this is also known as the scene’s dynamic range. Unfortunately, today’s camera sensors cannot reproduce dynamic range in the same way the human eye can. Using GND filters helps give the sensor a helping hand, making it possible to capture the scene’s dynamic range in a single exposure.

Circular polarizing filter – for the most beautiful contrasts

More intense colors and the avoidance of unwanted reflections – the circular polarizing filter, or CPL filter for short, is the perfect tool for photographers who want to capture landscapes or water scenes. These round filters ensure that, for example, a flower meadow appears more colorful, a blue sky becomes more contrast-rich, and a green field looks even greener. In addition, such filters prevent reflections, for example on a lake or glass surfaces. This filter is especially important when photographing fish beneath the water surface.

Another very practical feature: once the filter is mounted in front of the lens, the filter effect can already be seen while shooting and can be increased or reduced directly by rotating the filter ring on the lens. Some sunglasses also use polarized glass. When wearing them, the sky suddenly appears softer blue and the sea turns turquoise.