What lens filters do I need?

[Fernando2010X]

Hi all! I need some educated advice on lens filters. We're planning a trip to Canada = lots of mountain photos. I'd like to get some lens filters to make my photos better. I don't like how the mountains look lighter in the background, for one. I have a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT . The lenses I have are an EF 35-80mm, an EFS 18-55mm, and an EF 75-300 mm. All Canon. My husband got me a Canon 58mm UV Haze filter. It only fits on the 18-55mm and the 75-300mm. Not the 35-80mm, which seems to be the one I use the most. I think the 35-80mm is the one I took off of my Canon EOS Rebel film camera body. It's diameter is smaller than the other two because the UV Haze filter's diameter is almost the same as the 35-80mm lens'. What filters should I not be without? How do I find a filter for the 35-80mm? Thanks for your help!

[Kris Hansen]

Get a circular polarizer that fits the LARGEST lens, and then get a step up ring for the smaller lenses. A CP will help get better images, though you will lose a couple of stops.

But no filter (except a split filter) will help balance background and foreground exposure.

[ToplessToy]

Originally Posted by Fernando2010X

Hi all! I need some educated advice on lens filters. We're planning a trip to Canada = lots of mountain photos. I'd like to get some lens filters to make my photos better. I don't like how the mountains look lighter in the background, for one. I have a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT . The lenses I have are an EF 35-80mm, an EFS 18-55mm, and an EF 75-300 mm. All Canon. My husband got me a Canon 58mm UV Haze filter. It only fits on the 18-55mm and the 75-300mm. Not the 35-80mm, which seems to be the one I use the most. I think the 35-80mm is the one I took off of my Canon EOS Rebel film camera body. It's diameter is smaller than the other two because the UV Haze filter's diameter is almost the same as the 35-80mm lens'.
What filters should I not be without? How do I find a filter for the 35-80mm?
Thanks for your help!

check the front element of your 35-80mm, it will tell you the filter diameter. it is a number say, 58, following by a lower case o with a line striking thru it. wanna save money? get an step up or step down adapter for your 35-80mm so you dont have to get another filter. just reuse the same filter you have for the 18-55.

it is not the problem of the filter that makes the mountain looks light. It is your metering technique and the weather. if you meter (point the camera at the sky and then recompose) the sky during a clear day, it should give you a nice vibrant background.