I'm finally starting to take some real estate shots for my cousin's listing up in Seattle next month and I'm super hyped to use my T7. I spent all night reading up on filters and honestly I'm a bit lost. I read that a UV filter is basically mandatory just to keep the lens safe from scratches but then a bunch of guys on a different thread said cheap UV glass actually makes the photos look soft or adds weird flares.
My logic was to just grab a Hoya or Tiffen but then I saw people swearing by CPLs to get rid of window glare. I've only got about 60 bucks to spend right now so I'm trying to figure out if I should just get one really good CPL or if the kit lens even deserves fancy glass...
Honestly, welcome to the world of real estate photography! It is such a blast once you get the hang of it. Forget the UV filter for now. If you're on a tight budget, you dont want to waste cash on a piece of glass that basically just sits there for protection. Those guys are right about the cheap ones making things look soft or causing ghosting when pointed near light fixtures. If you want professional results on that T7, you absolutely need a Circular Polarizer. It is a total game-changer for interiors!! Basically, the polarizer works by filtering out light waves that are bouncing off non-metallic surfaces at specific angles. Think about it like this. You have sunlight hitting windows, polished hardwood floors, and even those shiny marble countertops. A good CPL lets you rotate the filter to literally dial out those reflections. It makes the wood grain pop and lets you see through windows instead of just seeing a white blob of glare. For 60 bucks, you should definitely grab something like the Hoya NXT Plus CIR-PL 58mm. It is fantastic quality for the price and much better than any generic kit. I have shot hundreds of houses and I never leave without a CPL on my lens. Even with the kit lens, the difference in clarity is amazing. The T7 is a solid starter, but the glass is what makes the light behave. Go for the polarizer and just be careful with your lens cap to keep the glass safe. Youll see a massive jump in your photo quality immediately! Tbh, its the best way to spend that 60 bucks for this specific job.