Do you need a UV or IR filter when shooting film?

Asked 6/16/2011

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Digital cameras usually have strong UV/IR filtering over the sensor. What about film cameras? When shooting film, are UV or IR filters necessary, and in what situations would they actually make a difference?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

15y ago

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"Required" is probably a bit of an overstatement, but they are certainly more useful for film shooting.

The exact effects that UV have on your film photographs will depend largely on what film you're using, and the conditions under which you shoot. From the Wikipedia article UV filter:

Historically, some photographic films were sensitive to UV light, which caused haziness or fogginess, particularly with a blue hue. However, newer photographic film and digital cameras are highly insensitive to UV wavelengths.

Originally by user5606. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user5606

15y ago

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Usually, no—UV or IR filters are not required for film photography. However, UV filters can be more useful with film than with digital.

Some films, especially older emulsions, were more sensitive to ultraviolet light, which could cause haze or a bluish cast in certain conditions. Modern film is generally much less affected. Also, most camera lenses are made of glass, and glass already blocks a significant amount of UV, so under normal shooting conditions UV sensitivity is often not a big issue.

A UV filter may still help in specific situations, especially outdoors in bright sun or at high altitude, where UV levels are stronger and haze can be more noticeable. In those cases, a UV filter can slightly improve clarity.

IR filters are a different matter: they are not generally needed unless you are intentionally shooting infrared-sensitive film for a special effect.

So: for everyday film shooting, UV and IR filters are optional, not required. A UV filter can sometimes help reduce haze outdoors, while an IR filter is mainly for creative infrared photography.

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15y ago

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