Polarized Filter
- This topic has 19 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated Jan 13, 2009 at 7:50 pm by
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I’ve never used any filters, but realize I need to pick up a polarized and red filter for my Cannon Rebel XSi.
I don’t have a lot of money to spend – can anyone help me out?
I’ve made all my recent filter purchases at http://www.2filter.com – great prices, and great service.
I stumbled across the site after reading a post on the Nikonians web forum, and all the recommendations over there helped me overcome my skepticism.
As with all things camera related, you might not need the top of the line, but don’t buy the cheapest either.
I’ve got the same camera, and I got into a polarizer for the tamron lens I’ve got on it for around 40 bucks or so.
Have a look at Hoya or B+W.
They are a bit pricier but your adding another layer of glass. Unless your using a full frame, you don’t really need the “thins”.Beyond that theres Singh Ray but those are top dollar.
I’ve been wondering, and this seems like a good spot to ask, what kind of difference is there in quality between the cheap polarizers and the high end stuff?
I know there is a huge difference in polarized sunglass lenses, so I imagine there is a similar difference in filters, but I’ve only shot with one that was in the 40-50 dollar range.
Brian, between multicoated and uncoated/single/double coated I’ve noticed a pretty big difference, usually with flare/ghosting.
Has anyone ever used Adorama?
I’ve ordered a bunch of stuff from them via their website. They always seem to have the stuff in stock and ship promptly. No problems.
I may have asked this in the past, but could someone lay out some easy rules for when we are suppose to use the Polarized filter and when we are not?
Thanks,
D.Usually they are used to remove or lessen glare from water, car windshields and other highly reflective objects.
I leave a polarized filter on my camera whenever it’s bright outside. I take it off a lot, but probably better than 60% of my shots have it in play. Here are some of the reasons I use it on the water:
(1) Obviously, it cuts glare coming off the water surface. Whether you’re trying to shoot down into the drink or just getting a grip and grin shot, this seems to add a lot of depth to the photo and frequently color as well. My cameras always meter better whenever there is a wide range of color in the frame. Since a lot of the river bottoms in areas I fish are rolled boulders and tend to be reddish, they offset the green of the trees and the primary colors on the anglers’ clothing nicely.
(2) Whenever I am trying to shoot a slow-water shot at mid-day I will throw a polarizer on there. In this sense the filter is just a set of -2.0 sunglasses for my camera, letting me eke out a “fake” ISO25 when my camera has already hit its limit of ISO100.
(3) As mentioned above, polarizers tend to make the skies ridiculously blue. They also apply their sunshade effect to bright white boat decks. Thus, polarizers are especially effective used on open water. Coupled with a nice mild fill flash, they can bring the color out in almost any angler’s face and clothes and turn what would be a blown-out contrasty mess into a very dynamic shot.
(4) Glare doesn’t just pop off the water; sometimes it comes off of gear as well. Anything shiny which will be shot outside can be held in its proper place by throwing a polarizer on, even on a macro lens.
(This was shot on an open boat deck).Personally I have a pair of Hoya circular polarizers which work just fine, and a much nicer Nikon circular polarizer for my 77mm lenses; the thinner polarizer becomes a lot more important on ultrawide angle lenses like the 12-24mm G, since at its widest setting the lens can see the edges of the polarizer hardware sticking out in front.
Zach
The red filter is a waste of money, especially if you don’t have a lot of it, as you say – unless you are shooting film.
But that money toward the best quality polarizer you can buy. For digital photography, you only need two filters – a circular polarizer and a neutral density filter.
If you want to filter or neutralize the red channel (darken greens for b&w?) drop me a line and I’ll show you how.
For what it’s worth (and believe me, coming from me it’s worth a lot less), I agree entirely with Richard.
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