Lowkey GRFX Camera Filters

Camera Filters

Camera Filters post thumbnail image

Disclaimer – Explanations have mostly been provided by Google.

Black Diffusion 1/4 Filter

The Black Diffusion 1/4 Filter softens images by reducing highlights and contrast, creating a hazy, dreamy, and cinematic look. The “1/4” indicates a moderate strength, making the effect noticeable but not overly strong, and it’s popular for portrait and video work to create a flattering and stylized aesthetic.

CPL Filter – Circular Polarizing Lens

A CPL filter, or circular polarizer, is a camera lens attachment that reduces reflections and glare from surfaces like water and glass, and enhances colors in your photos. By filtering out polarized light, it can make skies appear a deeper blue, make clouds stand out more, and bring out the true colors and details of a scene.

ND Filter – Neutral Density Filter

Neutral Density (ND) filters reduce the intensity of all wavelengths, or colors, of light equally from entering the camera, in measured amounts. This allows the photographer more Control in selecting shutter speed and aperture combinations in a variety of conditions.

UV Filter – Ultra Violet Filter

UV Filter is a transparent piece of glass that screws onto the front of a camera lens to block ultraviolet light and, more commonly today, to protect the front element from scratches and dust. While the need to block UV light itself has decreased with digital cameras, which are less sensitive to it than film, the filter’s role as a protective layer is widely used. Replacing a damaged, inexpensive UV filter is preferable to repairing or replacing a more expensive lens.

FLD Filter – Florescent Light Daylight Filter

FLD Filter is a color-correcting camera lens filter that removes the greenish tint from images taken under fluorescent lighting, making the colors appear more natural. It works by absorbing excess green and blue wavelengths produced by fluorescent bulbs and compensating with a reddish-pink color cast. While essential for older film cameras, modern digital cameras with auto white balance features often make these filters unnecessary, though they can still be used for creative effects or specific situations like mixed lighting.

Macro Filter

A Macro Filter is an optical attachment that screws onto the front of a camera lens to decrease its minimum focusing distance, allowing the camera to get closer to a subject and take magnified close-up shots. It essentially turns a regular lens into a macro lens for a more affordable and portable solution. These filters have different magnification levels (e.g., (+1), (+4), (+10)), with higher numbers allowing you to get closer to the subject.