What do you think of filters?

[photographerg]

I am hoping to buy my first DSLR shortly, but I was wondering if it was worth me buying filters? There seems to be a lot of differing opinions and I don't want to buy one only to find I never use it.

[timr]

The filter/no filter debate will go on forever - it basically stems from the argument 'what's the point paying loads for a lens if you're going to stick a cheapo piece of glass over it anyway?'

Eiher way the effects of certain filters on images given the correct light conditions can be stunning. I for one am a filter user!

[tunnacliffe]

Its something you will have to decide on yourself. Why put a cheap piece of glass in front of an expensive one, it will lower the image quality. But it will mean added protection for your lens when you are out and about. But some people have said that when a filter has shattered, shards of glass have left marks on the lens so the protection was pointless!

If you want a filter for an effect then go for it, if you want it for protection then its 50/50 and your choice!

The only filters I'll be buying in the future would be ND Grad filters

[johnaalex]

I bought a CP filter for my Nikon 50mm 1.4 and another CP that fits both my Sigma 150mm and Nikon 18-200 and whereas I have found some benefits in strong sunlight I cannot say I would miss them too much if I lost them. One thing is that I sometimes forget to take them off and wonder why I cannot get a decent shutter speed, and by the time I have removed the damn thing it is too late