UV Filters (Protection Filters) Description: UV filters protect the lens from damage such as dirt, dust, and water. They can reduce overall image quality and create side effects like flares, so some photographers avoid using them.
Neutral Density Filters (ND Filters) Description: ND filters manage light conditions by reducing the amount of direct light reaching the camera sensor without altering colors or contrast. They are classified by the number of stops they reduce and can be solid, graduated, reverse graduated, or variable.
Polarizing Filters Description: Polarizing filters polarize the light reaching the sensor to saturate and contrast the final image naturally, and eliminate glare from reflective surfaces. They can be linear or circular, but circular polarizing filters are more commonly used.
Color Lens Filters Description: Color filters modify the hue, saturation, and color of an image. They were popular before digital photography, especially with black and white film, but are now rarely used due to advances in editing technology.
Night Photography Filters Description: Night filters were developed to mitigate light pollution and capture more natural night colors. Gel filters can be used with flash to obtain desired colors in night photography.
Close-Up Filters or Macro Filters Description: These circular filters work like a magnifying glass, enlarging the image and providing focus on elements that would otherwise be impossible without a macro lens.
Special Effects Photography Filters Description: Special effects filters include infrared, skylight, enhancer, star, and fog filters. Most of these have become obsolete as similar effects can be achieved in editing software like Photoshop, Nik Collection filters, or Luminar filters.