Hey photographers, I’m writing this note to give a shout-out for Mr Singh. This fine gentleman, is the proprietor of THE original independent filter store, Singh-Ray Filters, and he needs our support. In these challenging times Mr. Singh finds himself caught between the hard anvil of digital photography (and it’s software tools) and the beating hammer of tariffs. And that’s not a nice place to be!
Well I’ve done a little to help Mr. Singh by purchasing another copy of his Hi-Lux™ Protective Warming UV Filter.
Now I can probably guess what you’re thinking–“UV protective filter, the camera salesperson’s perennial up-sell, give me a break will ya'”! While that thought probably has some validity to it does not in the case of Mr. Singh’s mighty Hi-Lux™ Protective Warming UV Filter. It’s a one-and-only original! And it’s more than just a ho-hum UV filter.
I’ve been a photographer for more years (decades) than I like to think about. In my mid ‘teens’, I started with film like all of us old photography codgers when the gift of a camera. That ‘box’ was a Ricoh TLR. I was thrilled with it! Later I purchased my first camera, a Pentax S1a 35mm SLR. And those two were the start of my photographic journey which continuous to this day. Even after my 80 trips around the sun, photography is still an part of my life. I shot film until the early 2000’s when I transitioned over to digital. But I’m nobody famous, I’m just a guy who likes making pictures; nowadays mostly of landscapes and skyscapes.
And Mr. Singh sells high-quality filters that help me get the kind of photographs I like–sharp and clear and with plenty of detail as well as ones giving special effects. In my film days I used ND grad filters, circular polarizing filters, color enhancing filters and the Hi-Lux™ filter of course. If you’re a film shooter of landscapes all of these can be of use to you. And even if you’re a digital photographer! Although a lot of people prefer software-based methods for some filter effects and controls of light, some effects such as from polarizers and the Hi-Lux™ can’t really be totally reproduced in software.
For my use case, the Singh-Ray Hi-Lux™ Protective Warming UV Filter falls into that category. At higher altitudes it blocks a lot of the blue light that film or sensors reproduce extraneously and it ‘cuts’ through the haze of the high altitude light’s additional UV component to both warm and emphasize the micro detail in the scene. I live at about 800 metres (approximately 2625 feet), which is not very high but I still see the filter’s effects. I know, because I did a comparison test both with and without the 77mm Hi-Lux™ Protective Warming UV Filters I have from previous years and I could see a subtle but real improvement in the micro details. My ‘cup of tea’!
My digital camera uses a very high resolution sensor which delivers loads of detail and tonality which the Hi-Lux™ enhances without noticeably sacrificing any of the sharpness of my lenses. But I needed another Hi-Lux™ in a different size for a new camera so, online, I headed over to Singh-Ray Filters to purchase one.
During that purchase, when in conversation with Mr. Singh I learned of his ‘anvil and hammer’ predicament. So I’m giving a shout-out to Singh-Ray Filters. Have a look around the Singh-Ray website. I’m almost certain, whether you’re a film or a digital shooter, you’ll find something that you can use.
Folks, these are tough times for both photographers and the businesses we depend on. So, if you can, please support Mr. Singh through a purchase at Singh-Ray Filters and maybe we can all smile again.
© Richard Crack, February 28-2026