Digital cameras: Do you still need filters?

wadewade

My friends are taking their Nikon SLR Digital camera to the Antarctic. With the old 35mm colour films they would have needed filters - certainly a UV and possibly a polarising.

Do they still need any filters with a digital SLR?

EvilMonkey

I started to type out a long answer, but the short answer is yes.

Mainly the polarising filters as you can't reproduce this effect in something like photoshop (easily anyway). I also put on a protection filter (sometimes UV) on the grounds that scratching a £10 filter is better than a £300- 1500 lens...

The other filters I always take are some neutral density filters (restricts the amount of light and lets you take slow shutter speed pics in bright light situations. Might come in handy with lots of snow???)

albertross_2

you'll need a circular polariser, not linear ..

wadewade

Thank you, Albertross, can you tell me in simple terms the difference? Should someone like Jessops have the right one?

wadewade

Wonderful, Jessops explains the difference if you search polarising filters.
Thanks for the tip.

EvilMonkey

Oops forgot to mention that... the difference is about £15 more for the circ, BUT the circular polariser is normally essential for SLR camera's (a linear could render the camera's auto focus and metering functionality useless..)

For a good all round filters for digicams article (+ the answer to this question) See HERE

E.M

ManAtHome

As an aside/extra, would also consider an external battery pack - you can keep this inside your jacket to work better/longer in low temperatures than batteries in the camera.

Personally, I'd also take a film body and possibly a spare compact camera - long way to go back if your camera packs in.