URTH Filters: A High-Quality Alternative with an Environmental Commitment
Updated: Oct 22
The Australian brand GOBE has recently changed its name to URTH (pronounced "Earth") to signal its commitment to eco-responsible production of its products. The company successfully achieves this by offering a range of high-quality filters while also ensuring concrete actions in favor of the environment. Why have I chosen this brand? Let's take a closer look.
UV, ND, or polarizing filters will find their place in the bag of any landscape photographer who, like me, believes that photography can also be an eco-responsible activity. Indeed, when purchasing a URTH product, the brand commits to planting 5 trees as part of their reforestation program. An interesting action that deserves to be supported!
A commitment that won me over from the start. But, although essential, is this commitment alone enough to make me purchase URTH filters? That's what we're going to find out.
Article Summary:
Who are URTH?
URTH is a young company founded in 2014 by three traveling photographers. The idea to create a business committed to the ecological cause was born during a 2-year journey exploring the wild lands of the United States and Patagonia.
Based in Byron Bay, Australia, URTH thus develops a wide range of circular screw-on filters for environmentally conscious photographers. Delivered in extremely well-crafted packaging, the quality of URTH filters is impeccable.
In practice, I found no flaws. The quality of the optical glass, the neutrality of the tint, and the finish of the threading all proved to be reliable on the field. Easy to clean in cases of excessive moisture, the glass surface retains no marks. The advertised ND values are accurate.
Over time, my comparative tests with usual brands such as HOYA, COKIN, NISI, or even POLAR PRO have failed to reveal any noticeable difference in my black and white work. On the contrary, I was more than surprised by the results and I comfortably rank URTH filters among the top-quality filters. They therefore stand shoulder to shoulder with NISI or POLAR PRO without any question.
An Ambitious Reforestation Program
To say the least, when URTH commits to the environment, they do not do things by halves! As of April 2021, more than 3,867,440 trees have been planted by the company. This represents 521,484 tons of CO2 reduced and 26,074 days of employment provided to the local residents of the affected regions.
So, which regions benefit from this reforestation program?
A portion of the profits generated by URTH product sales is given back to local communities. This enables them to plant trees in areas affected by deforestation such as Madagascar, Haiti, Nepal, Mozambique, and Indonesia, while also creating jobs. To achieve this, URTH has partnered with Eden Reforestation Projects to carry out their reforestation work.
Why Have I Chosen to Work with URTH
1. A Similar Commitment and Vision
Because photographing landscapes is about capturing their beauty, richness, or diversity, but it's also about understanding their functions. Whether social, economic, or ecological, these landscape functions are part of our society and our daily lives.
Furthermore, I believe that photography can also play a role in environmental protection as a medium for communication and awareness.
My work has always been rooted in a photographic approach that respects ecosystems and landscapes, which are the very foundation of my activity.
From this perspective, I prioritize business partners who, in addition to the quality of the products they offer, are committed to eco-responsible and sustainable production.
2. Products of Excellent Quality
Obviously, sharing a common vision on environmental protection is not enough for me to promote a brand's products and recommend them to my readers. True to my principles of demanding quality, I have tested their filters under the challenging work conditions that we all encounter in the field. Lakes, mountains, and sunsets have been on the menu of my practical tests.
The surprising results I obtained encourage me to strengthen my work with URTH filters. From now on, I work almost exclusively with URTH filters. This observation alone makes me believe that these products are perfectly suited for field photography, whatever your focus may be. Consequently, I highly recommend them to the landscape photographers looking to equip themselves or renew their filters while also making a contribution to the protection of the environment they love to photograph.
3. A Comprehensive and Extensive Range
URTH now offers a complete range of filters that can equip any type of lens and thus meet all possible lighting conditions. UV, neutral, and polarizing filters come in all of today's standard diameters (see below). These filters are available in both fixed and variable densities for those who wish to travel light.
Filters are definitely essential accessories for landscape photographers. They allow you to manage light in complex situations. They also expand the realm of possibilities by reducing the amount of received light and achieving blur effects (ND filters). They offer effective protection for the front lenses while reducing the blue light spectrum (UV filters). They also allow you to intensify colors through the natural saturation of skies. And finally, they decrease the density and humidity of the air, increasing image details when using long focal lengths (polarizing filters).
Qualities of URTH Filters
1. Effective Neutralization of Reflected Light
By eliminating 99.9% of reflected light (as claimed by the brand), URTH's polarizing filters are remarkably effective and rank well above average. The contrasts (and colors) are perfectly balanced.
2. Effective in All Light Conditions
The ND filters I've tested have allowed me to achieve smooth and perfectly uniform blur effects. The depths of field are perfect and natural, regardless of the lighting conditions. From ND8 to ND1000, I observed no aberrations or distortions in the image.
3. Lens Protection and Elimination of Blue Haze
The UV filters I've tested have proven to be standard. Fully functional, they fulfill their primary roles, whether it's reducing the blue light spectrum related to UV or protecting the front lenses of the objectives. Although they are effective, I haven't noticed any significant difference compared to other brands of UV filters.
4. A Lifetime Warranty Offered
This is an uncommon selling point in the world of photographic accessories. Few brands offer lifetime warranties on their products. However, this is indeed the case with URTH filters. The brand aims to reinforce its environmental message while also reassuring photographers about the quality of their products, for which they proudly stand as guarantors.
5. Recyclable Products
URTH products are constantly evolving to minimize their environmental impact. As such, the sturdy and minimalist-designed packaging not only ensures perfect protection for your filters but is also 100% recyclable. Plastics have obviously been eliminated from their products to achieve this rate. The filters are all delivered with a metal carrying case with either a screw-on or clip-on lid, and feature a very minimalist finish.
6. Quality of Manufacturing
All URTH filters are made from high-quality optical glass sourced from Japan or Germany (depending on the range). The nano-coated glass finish ensures remarkable longevity. The filter rings are made of magnesium alloy and are designed to a calculated thickness to prevent vignetting on wide-angle lenses.
The handling of polarizing filters or variable ND filters is made easy with an ergonomic grip, allowing for precise and quick adjustments while avoiding unintended fingerprints on the glass.
The URTH's Filter Range
Some filters in the ranges below are available in two qualities, Standard and Plus+. The difference primarily lies in the multi-layer finish of the glass. The Plus+ range glass is German optical glass treated with 20 layers. By dramatically reducing glare, the Plus+ filters guarantee exceptional image definition.
The filters in the Standard range, on the other hand, come with an 8-layer nano-coating finish. Their quality is also excellent. The Standard range filters are perfectly suited for both beginner and demanding photographers and are naturally less expensive.
UV FILTERS
1. UV Standard Filters
2. UV Plus+ Filters
3. UV 1 Peak Filters (Slight increase in sharpness)
4. UV 2 Peak Filters (Moderate increase in sharpness)
5. UV 3 Peak Filters (Strong increase in sharpness)
ND FILTERS
1. ND2-400 Variable Standard Filters
2. Circular Graduated Filters Soft ND8 Plus+
3. Circular Graduated Filters Hard ND8 Plus+
4. ND4 Plus+ Filters
5. ND8 Plus+ Filters
6. ND16 Plus+ Filters
7. ND64 Plus+ Filters
8. ND64 Polarizing Plus+ Filters
9. ND1000 Plus+ Filters
POLARIZING FILTERS (CPL)
1. Standard Polarizing Filters
2. Polarizing Plus+ Filters
2.1 Polarizing 1 Peak Filters (Slight increase in sharpness)
The increase in sharpness helps to counterbalance the slight loss of definition due to the polarization of light.
2.2 Polarizing 3 Peak Filters (Strong increase in sharpness)
The increase in sharpness helps to counterbalance the slight loss of definition due to the polarization of light.
EFFECT FILTERS
1. Infrared Plus+ Filters
These filters provide striking results by blocking the entire light spectrum except for the reflected infrared light. They ensure high contrasts and an exceptional level of image detail. They are therefore perfectly suited for landscape photography and are best used outdoors.
2. Stellar Kit Filters (intensity of 4 points, 6 points, 8 points) Plus+
For enthusiasts, these filters allow you to create star-like effects in photographed light sources such as reflections on water, light fixtures, bulbs, etc. They are available in 4-star, 6-star, or 8-star configurations. For more traditional photographers (like myself), you may choose to skip these.
3. Night Light Plus+ Filters
These effective filters balance out the artificial colors present at night. The tinted glass is treated with 20 layers of Neodymium and ensures remarkable detail clarity. A must-have in your bag to guarantee precise and naturally-hued night shots (if you shoot in color, of course).
FILTER KITS
There are numerous URTH kits that include sets of filters of different types. Here are a few examples. However, this list is not exhaustive.
1. ND Plus+ Filter Kit (ND2, ND4, ND8, ND64, ND1000)
Definitely the kit that I recommend. Available in either the standard or Plus+ version, this kit is essential and covers most situations that any landscape photographer would encounter.
2. Essential Plus+ Filter Kit (1 UV, 1 CPL, 1 ND8, 1 ND1000)
3. Nature Plus+ Filter Kit (1 UV+, 1 CPL+, 1 ND64+, 1 ND8+ gradué Soft)
DISCOVER THE ENTIRE RANGE OF URTH FILTERS AND KITS HERE
The Secrets of Light and Exposition
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