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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> should I buy a polarizer? the definitive answer
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Showing posts 26 - 44 of 44, (reverse)
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 07/29/2007 12:42:14 PM · #26
this is a great post- very helpful! I wonder if anyone has any before & after people shots? I'd love to see those as well :0)
 07/29/2007 12:50:13 PM · #27
Thanks, Alex, for the original post, and thanks, everyone who's added more info.

This is great!
 07/29/2007 12:58:17 PM · #28
I want to add that not all of the polarizers are created equal. If you can afford it, spring the bucks for a good or excellent quality one, and it will be money well spent.
07/30/2007 01:11:21 PM · #29
Edited the OP to add that: "Another thing to consider with polarizers is that if you're using a lens that rotates when focusing, you must rotate polarizer AFTER you have focused."
Thank you very much for the opinions.

Ãlex.
 07/30/2007 01:25:02 PM · #30
So if I should have a polarizer, is there a brand name that's better than another??? Thanks!
 07/30/2007 01:46:09 PM · #31
Originally posted by Tom:
Originally posted by biteme:
What about the thing that ALWAYS comes up when you're talking about any filter:

WHY should I put a $25 piece of glass (plastic?) in front of my superb glass?


Here's why: I was in (photography) class this past week and we all had our cameras out, and the front of my friend's $2,000 lens was smashed to bits. He obviously didn't know, because when I asked him what happened, he just laughed, and then had a heart attack when he actually saw it. Turns out that just the UV filter took the brunt of whatever smashed it, and the front of the lens didn't have a scratch on it.



And a lens hood would provide the same protection, would also inhibit the flare the filter encourages and would not be a cheap POS sheet of glass degrading your image.
 07/30/2007 01:47:04 PM · #32
Originally posted by phatphoto:
So if I should have a polarizer, is there a brand name that's better than another??? Thanks!


B+W, Heliopan, Schneider
 07/30/2007 01:57:10 PM · #33
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Originally posted by phatphoto:
So if I should have a polarizer, is there a brand name that's better than another??? Thanks!


B+W, Heliopan, Schneider


So what's the deal with the "digital" versions I've seen that can get pretty damn expensive at the 77mm size?
Also, exactly what is it that makes the more expensive brand name ones better?
 07/30/2007 02:40:43 PM · #34
Originally posted by alexgarcia:

4.- Misuses of polarizer
Sometimes you must be careful when using polarizer. Depending on the light and orientation of the scene the effect can be too extreme.




That's not "too extreme" for me. I like the effect. ;-)
 07/30/2007 02:52:15 PM · #35
Originally posted by rswank:
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Originally posted by phatphoto:
So if I should have a polarizer, is there a brand name that's better than another??? Thanks!


B+W, Heliopan, Schneider


So what's the deal with the "digital" versions I've seen that can get pretty damn expensive at the 77mm size?
Also, exactly what is it that makes the more expensive brand name ones better?


I donno about the digital versions, but brand-name, high-end filters are made with the best optical glass and machined to very exacting tolerances. This means they are flare-and-distortion free and they rotate very smoothly. Les expensive filters are more prone to flare, and they often start to bind when you are turning them.

Kind of like the difference between L glass and consumer glass, in lenses.

R.
 07/30/2007 02:58:36 PM · #36
I bought a Kenko Pro1 Circular Polarizer - 77mm for my 17-40F4L and have had a lot of fun with it, I had thought about the Rodenstock (sp?) filter that's supposed to be superior because of the glass and brass frame but it was also twice the price... Anyway I like the Kenko one and it does turn freely thankfully, otherwise I wouldn't be able to shoot at all with this darn cast that's still on my hand. I would say go for it if you like, they do provide a great effect sometimes and has become invaluable to me in a few situations but I don't use it all the time...

-dave
 07/30/2007 03:16:48 PM · #37
Wow. Thanks for the post.
You totally motivated me to buy a polarizer. ;)
 07/30/2007 08:51:43 PM · #38
I bought a used 72mm Hoya "Super Cir Pol" to use on my 18-70 zoom, and use it with a 67 to 72 step up ring. It is much better than the less expensive ones that I had been using before, and it shows in the minute details in images shot with it. The one that I was using was making the corners dark when I would shoot at 18mm, but the new one has much thinner metal rings, and does not do that.
It got salt water in it, which made it a bit sticky to turn, so I rinsed it with very warm water for about 10 minutes using dish soap to get the salt out. I then worked teflon zipper lube that we use on boat canvas nylon zippers into the rings. It was hard to get the excess lube cleaned off, but it has been a couple of months now, and I can still turn it with one finger on the front edge of the ring.
Here is a shot where I reduced water reflection and adjusted the sky with it:

Here is one where you can see the "banding" effect, the darkening in the center in this case as the sun was rising on my right when this was taken.


Message edited by author 2007-07-30 20:56:34.
 07/31/2007 10:54:52 AM · #39
Originally posted by LanceW:
That's not "too extreme" for me. I like the effect. ;-)


It's always a question of tastes, of course...

Originally posted by magenmarie:
Wow. Thanks for the post.
You totally motivated me to buy a polarizer. ;)


I'm thinking seriously to talk with B+W to negotiate a comission on the increase in polarizers sales...LOL

Thanks for the examples, melonmusketeer. I suggest everybody to do the same test as me and shot sometimes with and without polarizer to realise how useful it is. I have read many threads saying that, but while you don't see it by yourself... And of course, upload your tests for the rest of us.

Ãlex.
 07/31/2007 11:14:17 AM · #40
Originally posted by Nullix:
Here's a great tip and I came on it by accident. Buy yourself a pair of polarized sun glasses and wear them all the time. You'll really pick up on how to use them in photography.

I bought a polarizer a long time ago and didn't quite understand why to use them. I read about why online, but I never truly understood it.

Then I started wearing the polarized sunglasses and now I understand. Now, I'll have to find my polarizing filters.

It's pretty funny when I'm walking around and turning my head clockwise and counter-clockwise to view the effect/affect. I wonder if others watching think I'm crazy.


I've been using polarized sunglasses for years and always wondered why things such as water looked different after I took the picture. Once I started using the polarizer my pictures now match what I see.

And yes, I turn my head all the time too...
 07/31/2007 12:36:33 PM · #41
Recently I used an ND8 Filter and a Circular Polarizer, to slow down waterfall. It did achieve that, but sometimes it was almost too, dark to SLR, "See through the lens".

07/31/2007 06:56:38 PM · #42
A friend of mine bought a very cheap no-brand CPL filter. After a while, the coating has started to delaminate from the glass, so he has 'stain-spots' at the edges of the filter. Only a minor effect on the photos, but you don't want this sort of thing to happen at all. I've got a Fotar, which was cheaper than the Hoya, and I've had no problems after 2 years use.

Melon, I love the Florida Keys shot. I used to dream of exotic locations with water that looked like this, but then I got polarised sunnies, and realised that in the right light, some of our local beaches look just as good. :)

09/17/2007 12:31:30 PM · #43
Originally posted by alexgarcia:
4.- Misuses of polarizer
And sometimes, when using it with a extreme wide angle lens, some parts of the sky can look polarized and some others not.



So... I got a nice expensive Hoya Pro Circ Polarizer for my recent vacation and the results were hit or miss.
Some turned out great but a little more than half suffered from the "banding effect" almost exactly like the thumb above.
What causes this and how does one avoid it?
Why does supa-wide make it worse?
I was shooting it exclusively on a 10-20mm.

thanks
 09/17/2007 12:44:49 PM · #44
Originally posted by rswank:

What causes this and how does one avoid it?
Why does supa-wide make it worse?
I was shooting it exclusively on a 10-20mm.

thanks


The angle to the light source makes a big difference when using a polariser. The effect is potentially strongest at 90 degrees to the source, then fades off from there. Shooting wide angle, you are taking in a huge amount of the arc of the sky, so if you set the polariser to give a strong effect, you'll get this fall off across the sky,

The trick with polariser use, like most filters, is to use it subtly and not at the full effect. (unless of course you want that)
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