Why Use a Glass Lens Filter Set for Film Cameras
By WALKENS House of Film | Published: 2026-10-24
Category: Product Reviews
Discover how a glass lens filter set can enhance your film photography with creative effects and color correction. Practical tips for using the Lomography Lomo MC-A Glass Lens Filter Set.
Quick answer
A glass lens filter set like the Lomography Lomo MC-A set lets you add color effects, reduce light, or create star bursts directly on your film camera without post-processing.
Why glass filters beat digital editing
Optical glass filters affect the light before it hits the film, preserving the analog character you chose your film camera for. Digital color grading can mimic some effects but often introduces artifacts or loses the natural grain structure. With a glass filter, what you see through the viewfinder is closer to the final result.
The trade-off is that you have to commit to the effect at capture time. If you are unsure about a look, shoot one frame with and one without the filter. The 30.5 mm thread on the Lomo MC-A makes swapping filters quick enough for side-by-side comparisons.
Creative control without guesswork
Each filter in the set has a distinct job: the 80A corrects color temperature under tungsten light, the ND reduces exposure for wide-aperture shooting, the Red increases contrast in black-and-white, the Green lightens foliage, and the Star adds four-point flares to bright points. Knowing which filter to use for a scene removes the trial-and-error of post-production.
One common mistake is forgetting to adjust your camera's exposure compensation when using the ND or color filters. The ND filter cuts light by about 2 stops, so you may need a slower shutter speed or wider aperture to keep the same exposure.
How to use a glass lens filter set with your film camera
- Attach the filter securely: Screw the 30.5 mm filter onto your Lomo MC-A lens until it is snug but not over-tightened. A loose filter can cause light leaks or fall off during shooting. Check that the filter thread matches your lens diameter before attaching.
- Choose the filter for your scene: Select the Red filter for high-contrast black-and-white, the Green filter to lighten foliage, the 80A for indoor tungsten lighting, the Star for bright highlights, or the ND to reduce exposure by about 2 stops. If you are unsure, take a test shot without the filter first to compare.
- Adjust exposure settings: The ND and color filters reduce the light reaching the film. Compensate by opening the aperture one or two stops, or by using a slower shutter speed. Your camera's built-in meter may not account for the filter, so bracket your shots. Write down the filter used for each frame so you can learn the exposure shift for future shoots.
- Shoot and review the effect: Frame your subject through the viewfinder and take the shot. Because the filter is glass, you see the effect in real time. After developing, compare filtered and unfiltered frames to understand how each filter changes the image. Keep a small notebook or use your phone to note which filter was on each frame.
Product spotlight
- Lomography Lomo MC-A Glass Lens Filter Set: Set of five 30.5 mm optical glass lens filter attachments: Star, Green, Red, ND & 80A. You get a range of creative and corrective options in one compact kit, so you can adapt to different lighting and subjects without carrying multiple single filters.
Lomography Lomo MC-A Glass Lens Filter Set
