Do filters work on fixed lens cameras?

[OpticalPrime]

just took some pictures of the blue sky with the PL and it looks exactly the same as without the filter. Same with the UV indoors, it doesnt look any different. I havent tied out the ND yet, but so far Im not noticing anything with these filters...

am I expecting too much or could I possibly be doing something wrong?

[CaptainTom]

polarizing filters work best when at the correct angle to the light rays.
rotate the bezel of the PL until you see darkening in the sky. Then shoot.

Not much UV light indoors. UV is mostly from the sun.

[OpticalPrime]

lol, see i was doing something wrong. I didnt rotage the lens..

[CaptainTom]

you can also point your camera at the hood of a car in the sunlight, rotate the filter and usually watch the reflections dissapear. This is a good example of how a PL filter will help saturate the colors.

[venchka]

You really aren't supposed to see any effects from UV & ND filters. Some slight effect from the UV in the mountains, maybe. Otherwise, invisible. Practice with the polarizer. You'll get the hang of it.

BULLETIN: Only ONE filter at a time. You don't want to know what happens when you screw a filter into another filter. It isn't pretty!

[L Stegall]

And, for the polarizer, you don't necessarily want it to go full strength or the sky doesn't look natural. Experiment with adjusting it while looking at the sky and you'll see what I mean. The ND filter will help you get slower shutter speeds (ex., useful in blurring water). A graduated ND filter will help retain detail in part of your image when you have very contrasty scenes (for example, you want the detail in the rocks along a shoreline, but exposing for them blows out your sky).

[venchka]

Filters 101:

The polarizer is also an ND3, meaning it has a filter factor of (-) 1.5 stops.
Your ND4 has a filter factor of (-) 2 stops. That's almost the same as the polarizer.
If you ever buy another ND filter get something at least 2 stops darker than the polarizer. Something like an ND6 or ND8. The ND 8 is (-) 4 stops and can get you into some really long exposures. That way you will have more possibilites in your filter collection.

Maybe you can exchange the ND4 for the ND6 or ND8?

[Patti Edens]

One other tip that I don't think was mentioned. The circular polarizing filter works best when at right angles to the sun's rays. So, if the sun is directly behind the camera, you will not notice as much difference when you rotate the filter. But, if the sun is over one shoulder or to the side, you will notice more of a difference when you rotate the filter.