The Ultimate Guide To Lens Filters and Filter Adapters

Camera filters enable creators to manually adjust images without needing extra post-production. From CPL to UV filters, here are our favorites and how to use them.

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Why Filters?

Filters are the secret sauce to stellar videos and photos. However, learning where to begin or how to buy can be quite a tricky and time-consuming process for beginners.

When considering photography filters, it's important to recognize the practical benefits of certain types. Essential filters like circular polarizers (CPL) and strong neutral density (ND) filters offer effects that are difficult to replicate digitally and provide protection for your lens. They enhance a broad spectrum of colors, ensure accurate exposures, and significantly impact the overall quality of your photos and videos.

Check out our favorite filters below and their primary uses to better understand how, why, and when to use them. Scroll to the bottom of the page to see which filter mount or attachment system is right for you or your lens.

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1. CineBloom Diffusion Filter

Take off that digital edge.

Offered in densities of 10% and 20%, Moment CineBloom Diffusion Filters hold the key to capturing ethereal, filmic visuals. Transcend digital images' sterile, excessively sharp appearance with a specialized glass designed ot take the edge off (literally). Not only does it capture and radiate light with a gorgeous bloom-like effect, but it also shines a gentle effect on skin tones, subtly diminishing any visibility of wrinkles or blemishes.

The filter ring is made from aerospace-grade metal, ensuring the durability we demand in every shooting scenario. It's slender enough to be stacked beneath another filter without interrupting the field of view. Best art? You can also stack one of our VND filters on top of the CineBloom filter to achieve additional cinematic frame rates and capture motion blur.

The glass is produced by fusing a micro-layer of black particulates between two superior Japanese filter glass layers, preserving the full image quality. This is our #1 bestselling lens filter for a reason; everyone loves it, making it one of Moment's signature products for years.

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CineBloom Diffusion Filters - 10% / 67mm

$90

Want to make your photos and videos look more cinematic and less digital? CineBloom Diffusion Filters soften harsh details, bloom highlights, and create a dreamy, film-like glow—without messing up your image quality.

These filters are great for smoothing skin tones, softening sharp edges, and adding a subtle glow to light sources. Available in 5%, 10%, and 20% strengths, you can choose a light touch of diffusion or go all-in for a bold, vintage look.

Designed to be super easy to use, they screw onto your camera lens and can even stack underneath an ND or VND filter for more creative control. Whether you’re shooting a short film, portraits, or everyday moments, CineBloom instantly makes your footage feel more professional.

Captured by @natalieallenco
Captured by @natalieallenco
Captured by @reggiebphoto
Captured by @reggiebphoto
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2. CineClear UV Filters

Like insurance for your phone.

High-quality glass to protect your high-quality lens. The CineClear UV Protection Filter protects your lens from dust, dings, and fingerprints and reduces the negative effects of UV light on your images. This UV filter is resistant to dust, fingerprints, and reflections using our best German Schott B270 glass, with a 98.5% transmission rate and 16 layers of optical coatings. CineClear won’t degrade your image quality and is designed to be stackable with your favorite filters and lens caps.

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CineClear UV Protection Filter - 49mm

$30

High-quality UV protection lens filter to protect your high-quality lens. The CineClear UV Protection Filter protects your lens from dust, dings, and fingerprints and reduces the negative effects of UV light on your images. Using our best German Schott B270 glass, with a 98.5% transmission rate and 16 layers of optical coatings, this UV filter is resistant to dust, fingerprints, and reflections. CineClear won’t degrade your image quality and is designed to be stackable with your favorite filters and lens caps. Our signature Moment Red finish and tactile grip texture make for a sweet piece of hardware you’ll never take off your lens. If you're still not convinced you need one, read up on our CineClear UV filter review to see why. 

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3. AntiGlare CPL Filter

Clean up your outdoor images.

Moment's AntiGlare CPL Filters bring you a perfect blend of top-notch polarization and budget-friendly pricing, making your photography experience even better when shooting outdoors. These carefully designed filters are pros at handling reflections, enriching colors, and softening shadows by removing unwanted glare.

The filters have high-quality fused-silica optical glass and a cutting-edge 16-layer coating process to provide stellar clarity, true-to-life colors, and long-lasting durability. Crafted from aerospace-grade metal and enhanced with detailed machined texturing, the frame allows you to make fine adjustments to the polarization level while ensuring the filter comes off your lens smoothly and without getting stuck.

Designed with flexibility in mind, these filters work seamlessly across various camera setups. They're compatible with center pinch lens caps (like the one you already use) and can be effortlessly combined with other filters, such as fixed NDs, Cinebloom Diffusion, and UV filters.

Features:

  • Premium fused silica optical glass for supreme clarity
  • Advanced 16-layer optical coatings
  • Knurled grip texture for more control and easy removal from lenses
  • Stacks with fixed NDs, Moment Cinebloom, or UV Filters
  • Smooth rotation ring for precise polarization adjustment
  • Available for standard camera lens sizes 58mm - 82mm
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AntiGlare CPL Filters - 72mm

$90

Our AntiGlare CPL Filters offer pro-grade polarization at a fair price. These filters help control reflections, boost colors, and mitigate shadows by filtering out unwanted glare. Using premium fused-silica optical glass and our 16 layer coatings, we’re able to achieve supreme clarity, true color, and rugged durability. We also specifically designed the geometry of the filter frame to offer a more physical grip. Built from aerospace-grade metal with machined texturing, it’s easier than ever to micro-adjust the polarization level and more importantly… easy to take the filter off your lens without it getting stuck. Optimized to be universal across camera setups, these filters are compatible with center pinch lens caps (like the one you already have) and can be stacked with other filters such as fixed NDs, Cinebloom Diffusion, and UV. Cut reflections and make your shots pop with AntiGlare from Moment. 

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Without CPL Filter
Without CPL Filter
With CPL Filter
With CPL Filter
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4. Moment Variable ND Filters

Your Go-To ND filter

The camera market is flooded with Variable ND filters. They were either too expensive or the quality wasn’t there. None of them hit the sweet spot on affordability, functionality, and quality… so Moment made their own.

They feature a unique flared geometry unlike anything else on the market, allowing you to see your ND number from behind the viewfinder. This provides fast, precise control over your shots in tricky lighting without moving from behind the camera. Made to shoot on the go, the filters also feature hard stops at both ends of the range to prevent unwanted cross-polarization for the cleanest image possible. They perfectly balance everything you need at an affordable price.

  • You can stack ND filters to get different stops. (i.e., a 3-stop on top of a 6-stop is equivalent to a 9-stop filter)
  • It's lightweight and made of top-of-the-line materials.
  • It allows you to control light for better photos and videos.

Variable ND Filters - 58mm / 2-5

$140$175

Want that smooth, cinematic look in bright daylight? These Moment Variable ND filters work like sunglasses for your camera — controlling light to prevent overexposure while letting you use the right shutter speed for natural motion blur or wide apertures for dreamy backgrounds. Available in 2-5 stops for everyday shooting and 6-9 stops for extra bright conditions, these filters let you adjust light with a simple twist, no swapping needed. Built-in hard stops prevent cross-polarization, so every shot stays clean and professional.

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5. Moment CineFlare Streak Filters

Gold or Blue?

Moment CineFlare Filters are the perfect tool for adding anamorphic-like flares to your footage without using a specialty lens. Available in blue and gold options, they will help you create eye-catching cinematic flares with your chosen camera and lens. Twist on, and you're good to go. No added adapters are needed.

Crafted from precision-machined aluminum, the housing is fully rotatable, so you can adjust the flare angle however you like. We used premium Japanese optical glass to maintain a super crisp image, and you can even stack them with a CineBloom Filter for an ultra-dreamy look. It adds visual interest to any shot with total simplicity, eliminating the need for post-processing. These lenses can run a pretty penny; often, you don't need the "Anamorphic look," just those sweet, iconic flares to add a cooler vibe to your light sources.

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CineFlare Streak Filters - Blue Streak / 67mm

$25

Our CineFlare Filters are the secret sauce for adding anamorphic-like flares to your footage without using a specialty lens. Available in both blue and gold options, they will help you create eye-catching cinematic looks with the camera and glass of your choice. Made from precision machined aluminum, the housing is fully rotatable so you can adjust the flare angle however you like. We used premium Japanese optical glass to maintain a super crisp image, and you can even stack them with a CineBloom Filter for an ultra-dreamy look. Add visual interest to any shot with CineFlare from Moment. 

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6. Urth Variable ND Filters

Stellar, Clean, and Crisp

ND Filters allow you to control the light entering your camera to create stronger depth-of-field and motion blur effects. Urth's iconic ND1000 Filter Plus+, slim rim design, is made from durable aluminum and magnesium alloy and is noted for not increasing vignetting, even with wide-angle lenses. However, some users noted a slight shift in color balance depending on the camera used, which can be corrected manually by adjusting white balance settings.

The overall construction is well-regarded, with users appreciating the screw-in design for its convenience and the protective tin that comes with it, making it practical for transport and quick access. The filter is available in a wide range of sizes, which makes it versatile for various lenses, and it can also be used with step rings for smaller lenses.

Performance-wise, the filter effectively reduces exposure by the claimed 10 stops, making it ideal for long-exposure photography and controlling motion blur in bright lighting conditions.

Variable ND Filters - 62mm / 2-5

$140$175

Want that smooth, cinematic look in bright daylight? These Moment Variable ND filters work like sunglasses for your camera — controlling light to prevent overexposure while letting you use the right shutter speed for natural motion blur or wide apertures for dreamy backgrounds. Available in 2-5 stops for everyday shooting and 6-9 stops for extra bright conditions, these filters let you adjust light with a simple twist, no swapping needed. Built-in hard stops prevent cross-polarization, so every shot stays clean and professional.

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7.  Filter Mounts & Adapters

Lens filter adapters are handy tools that allow photographers and filmmakers to attach filters to lenses that would otherwise be incompatible due to differing thread sizes. These adapters are particularly useful when filters are larger than the lens diameter, enabling you to maximize your filter investments across different lenses. You can find these adapters at most photography equipment stores or online retailers like Amazon, B&H Photo, and Adorama. They come in various sizes to fit nearly any lens and filter combination.

Using a lens filter adapter is straightforward: simply screw the adapter onto your lens and then attach the filter to the adapter. This setup is ideal for creators who want to enhance their images with specialized effects — such as polarizing or ND filters — without purchasing multiple sets of the same filter for different lens sizes.

How To Attach Filters To Your Phone

If you want to attach filters to your phone, we offer two simple options. A 37mm filter covers one lens, while a 67mm filter covers all three lenses and the microphone. If you’re using Moment lenses, we also have a 67mm Lens Filter Mount.

The Moment 67mm Snap-On Filter adapter easily clicks onto your phone case, letting you use filters across all three lenses. It’s designed to avoid vignetting (dark edges) on ultra-wide shots and works with your phone’s microphone. You can also use it with other mobile accessories to build your perfect setup.

For iPhone 15 or 16, our QuickLock filter attaches directly to your case without needing extra adapters — making it the easiest way to add filters without any hassle.

67mm Universal Phone Filter Mount

$20$40

The 67mm Universal Phone Filter Mount is the simplest way to attach any 67mm filter to almost any phone (see compatibility below) with or without a case. This precise, machine aluminum mount uses a padded thumb screw to secure the mount to your phone while enabling full mobility to place the filter anywhere you want. This maximizes compatibility, so you can add a 67mm filter to cover all the lenses on your camera phone. Unlike other mobile filter solutions that block the mic hole, it allows you to use the audio from your phone’s rear-facing microphone while filming. We achieved this by machining a speaker grill into the mount and bonding a sound-permeable membrane to allow audio to pass through. Don’t worry, though; it doesn’t let any light in. The whole mount forms a tight seal to the phone, meaning no light is allowed through the cracks for the cleanest image possible.

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