Which filters should I buy for Nikon 50mm f/1.8G and 18-55mm kit lens for landscapes?
Asked 12/4/2015
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I use a Nikon D3300 with a Nikon 50mm f/1.8G and the 18-55mm kit lens. I mainly want to shoot landscapes and I’m planning to buy filters such as a UV, polarizer, and ND filter. Which of these two lenses is better suited to landscape photography, and what filter size/setup makes the most sense if I want to use filters on both lenses?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
10y ago
2 Answers
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The 50mm lens has a filter size of 58mm. The 18-55mm lens has a filter size of 52mm
You have two choices. The 18-55 is a versatile lens, so you could buy the smaller 52mm filter set for that lens, but the filters will be too small to work on the 50mm lens. But the 18-55mm covers a range of focal lengths including 50mm, so you could just use that lens for all your landscapes. For typical landscapes wider focal lengths are useful, and you can often use a tripod and don't need a fast lens or narrow depth of field that you get with the 50mm prime.
The other option is buy a 58mm filter set which will work on the 50mm lens. And then also buy a 52mm-58mm step-up ring. That would screw into the 18-55mm lens and allow you to fit the same 58mm filters onto that lens as well.
The UV filter doesn't really serve any purpose on a digital camera other than possibly protecting the lens if you drop it. The polariser is very useful and the ND filter can be useful at times. Depending on what the cost of the set of 3 filters is, you might consider just getting a good polariser, but that's up to you.
Originally by user4191. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4191
10y ago
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For landscapes, the 18-55mm is usually the better choice because wider focal lengths are often more useful than 50mm. It also covers 50mm if needed, and landscapes are commonly shot stopped down or on a tripod, so the 50mm f/1.8’s speed is less important.
Filter sizes differ: the 18-55mm uses 52mm filters, while the 50mm f/1.8G uses 58mm.
If you want one set for both lenses, a practical option is to buy 58mm filters and use a 52mm-to-58mm step-up ring on the 18-55mm. If you only plan to use filters on the kit lens, buy 52mm filters.
Of the filters you listed, a circular polarizer is likely the most useful for landscapes. It helps reduce reflections and can improve skies and foliage depending on angle. On modern cameras, choose a circular polarizer rather than a linear one.
A UV filter is generally not needed for image quality on digital cameras; it’s mainly useful only as front-element protection.
If you expect to use filters across multiple lenses, a square filter system can also be convenient because you only change adapter rings between lenses.
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