Question about using Polarizer Filter

Dimy

Hi,

I bought a circular polarization filter to fit my 18-55mm and 70-300mm lens, now I'm pretty new to photography and I've never used such filter before. I noticed there's a rotating part on the filter, what's that for? I've been looking for tutorials all over the web but all they explain is the effects of the filter but not actually any practical about how to use them effectively.

Thanks,
Dimitry

peckerhead

Without getting technical — point the camera at a sunlit scene, preferably with some clouds and with the light coming from the side. Rotate the filter and you'll see that the polarising effect becomes more or less pronounced as it polarises the light (i.e. filters out rays in one direction, but not in the other). You'll see the same effect if you point it at a water surface or a window that's reflecting what's on the outside — rotate the filter to optimum polarising angle and most of the glare/reflection disappears.

Alun

You have to be quite slow and deliberate turning it as well. The 'sweet spot' where you get the optimal effect can often be quite narrow, so don't go whizzing it round like a mad thing.

Fajitas!

What they said!

Best thing to do is go out some sunny day and take photos of the sunlight in landscapes, in puddles, glare on cars etc.

Dimy

Yeah I was trying it out this afternoon and was playing around with it. Didn't take a picture worth keeping though .

ladgie353

There should be a mark on the rotating part of the filter. To cut the reflections, you should point that mark towards the sun (that's the theory anyway)...

Benster

Take it to Glendalough on a good day. I got some of my strongest colour shots there using a circ. polariser, fluffy white clouds over luscious green hillsides and slight blue reflections in the lakes.

For your next purchase, try a grey-graduated filter, it can sometimes be a good partner to a polariser.


B.

Dimy

Benster wrote:

Take it to Glendalough on a good day. I got some of my strongest colour shots there using a circ. polariser, fluffy white clouds over luscious green hillsides and slight blue reflections in the lakes.

For your next purchase, try a grey-graduated filter, it can sometimes be a good partner to a polariser.


B.

That's different from a ND Grad filter or just another name for the same? I'm asking before I haven't heard of that type of filter yet...

Valentia

It's important that the lens is at a 90 degree angle to the sun to get the most dramatic effect. Also with auto white balance on a digital slr the effect is often not as obvious as it would be on transparency film.

Try turning it when looking at a car ane watch the reflections disappear.

Benster

Dimy wrote:

That's different from a ND Grad filter or just another name for the same? I'm asking before I haven't heard of that type of filter yet...

I just call it the grey-grad, I think the full name is ND etc, but yes it's the same. Darkens the sky a tad so that it doesn't become overexposed when you're exposing for the darker foreground. It comes in a couple of different strengths, subtle and not-so-subtle.

As far as I know it only comes as a square piece of glass or plastic (glass is better) that slides into a mount fitted to the front of your lens. I don't think it comes as a circular screw-on jobbie.

B.

joolsveer

I thought that neutral density (ND) filters cutdown on all light entering the lens without having any other effect i.e. on a bright day with 400 ASA film you could have the effect of using speeds or aperatures associated with a 50 ASA film (without reducing the inherent grain).

FinoBlad

Neutral Density Filters, Graduated Neutral Density Filters and Polarizing filters are 3 different things entirely but can be used for similar purposes sometimes and can be used together.

Heres a bit of info coz I'm too lazy to type out explanations.

Lee filters and B+W filters produce fantastic mini-books on their products that are free if you email them and ask them nicely.