A quick glance at a deceptively simple filter could give you the mistaken impression that one brand is as good as another. "Not so," says Buzz. He instructs videomakers to look for filters that use a threaded metal retaining ring to hold the glass inside the metal housing. The retaining ring holds the glass against a small flange on the other side of the housing. Some filters use a plastic device to hold the glass in place; Buzz doesn't like this type because the plastic often becomes loose with wear.

Avoid filters with housings made entirely of plastic; these housings may not retain their shape. Also, be careful to check the quality of filters pitched as an add-on sale to a camcorder purchase.

Shop for filter housings painted matte black; these help to reduce unwanted reflections. And look for filters that come with storage containers. Shop around--the price can vary widely on the exact same filter.

A wide range of manufacturers offer a countless variety of lens filters. There are literally too many different brands and types to mention here. A quick glance through one company's catalog revealed over 30 different filters available in 14 different sizes--and that's just the screw-in variety. Generally, the larger the filter, the higher the price.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the huge selection of lens filters, fear not. Some filter companies have selected a few of their most popular filters and assembled them in pre-packaged kits; these are worth checking out.

One filter manufacturer makes it easy to sample the world of lens filters before you buy. Tiffen makes their Hollywood/FX Demo Kit available on loan from participating dealers. The comprehensive kit has 30 different filters including center spot, polarizing, color-graduated and star filters. Also packaged in the kit is a selection of Tiffen's versatile Pro-Mist and Soft/FX filters that combine a warming filter with fog and soft focus effect. The kit comes with adapter rings to fit popular camcorders: 49, 52, 55, 58, 62, 67 and 72mm. Call to see if your dealer is participating in this program.

Cokin offers their Optilight filter kit in 37 and 46mm sizes ($32 regular kit price-$52.99 with polarizing filter). Four different configurations are available to fit your videomaking needs. All kits include a skylight filter and two other assorted filters which may include neutral density, polarizing, warm color or soft focus filters.

So far, all we've talked about are the wonders of lens filters. Is there a downside? Yes.

First off, there's an optical price you pay when using lens filters. Each additional lens distorts the image and reduces the intensity of the light that enters your camcorder. Better filters offer less chance of these ills, but even the best glass distorts the light passing through it a little bit.

While lens filters won't affect the accuracy of a camcorder's external white balance sensor, through-the- lens (TTL) white balance systems may require that you manually adjust the white balance after adding filters (if manual white balance is available). If you don't have a color viewfinder, use a color monitor so you can see the effect of the filter on your image. This is good advice no matter what filter you're using.

The matte box filter system is great, but before you buy, make sure it won't interfere with your automatic focus system. This is more likely to happen with older camcorders without inner focus lenses. You may have to resort to manual focusing.

Ideally, you should use lens accessories that directly fit your camcorder's lens threads. But when that's not possible, a myriad of threaded filters are available to solve the problem. If you must adapt, start with filters that are bigger than your lens. A smaller filter might cause undesirable darkening at the corners of the image (called "vignetting"). This effect is most noticeable when you zoom to a wide-angle setting.

There's no doubt that videomakers love their high--tech electronic toys. But don't forget there's a simple way to improve images without circuitry--lens filters.

Dave Welton is a community college instructor and freelance writer.

You may want to experiment with home-made filters before you buy. Here are a few easy-to-build ideas.

Metal window screen placed in front of the lens creates a star-type effect. The finer the screen, the better the effect. For best results, use two pieces of screen; rotate them as you watch the image. A rubber lens hood offers a handy place to tape the pieces of screen. Of course, be careful not to touch the lens.

Create your own center spot filter by applying a coating of petroleum jelly around the edge of a clear piece of glass or a skylight filter. (Whatever you do, don't apply petroleum jelly directly to your camcorder's lens.) A light coating of jelly usually works best; a monitor will help you judge just how much image diffusion is appropriate.

You can also experiment with colored gelatin sheets. Place these inexpensive sheets between pieces of glass; they're available in many colors through photo stores.

You can even mix-and-match different homemade filters for multiple effects. Have fun!