Polarizing Filter

[Michele]

I bought a circular polarized filter yesterday, I know it's mainly to get better sky colors and reducing reflections. I'm just wondering if this is a filter that I should just leave on the lens all the time, or do I only put in on for use outdoors. Will it have a negative effect on pictures I take indoor or in low light?

 

[mabas9395]

One of the side effects of a CP is that it reduces the amount of light entering the lens. That may not be a problem outside, but it usually is inside.

 

[ukcatfan]

I agree with mabas9395, but also let me add that the more layers of glass the light travels through, the more the light gets scattered, so it will also reduce the sharpness of the shots. It can also lead to more light flares and purple fringing showing up. You should only use it when needed.

Kevin

 

[FirstTimertoDiz]

Any recommendations on things to look for here? I wanted to get one for this weekend as I am headed to the beach for (hopefully) some good photo ops. I am not really sure what to look for, and I was looking at B&H, and I am more than a little confused as to where the different prices are coming from- there is quite a range there. I need a 67mm size if that makes any difference at all.

Any advice is helpful- thanks a bunch.

Lisa

 

[Furgus]

Get the best one you can afford. The different prices come for the different types of glass and coatings. The most expensive ones are obliviously the better ones. I think I got one from Ritz for $35, I know it is not a great one, but it works ok for me.

Good Luck

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Things you want: circular (obviously), multi-coated, good brand (B+W, Hoya). If you are using it on a lens with possible vignetting issues or plan to put it on a UV filter (don't laugh, some people do), you might also want to look for a thin one.

Some that I'd use:
B+W 67 mm Kaeseman Circular Polarizer Multi-Resistant Coating (MRC) Slim Glass Filter
B+W 67 mm Kaeseman Circular Polarizer Multi-Resistant Coating (MRC) Glass Filter

Hoya 67mm Circular Polarizing Pro 1 Digital Multi-Coated Glass Filter
Hoya 67mm Circular Polarizer (S-HMC) Super Multi-Coated Glass Filter - Thin

These are all on the higher end. You can by cheaper, but you'll risk more trouble with flare. There really isn't a right answer; it's a tradeoff between your budget and your image quality demands.

With any filter, make sure that you thread it on properly and that you don't overtighten. Getting stuck filters of can be a bear. This is especially true when you stack two filters and they jam together.

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

With any filter, make sure that you thread it on properly and that you don't overtighten. Getting stuck filters of can be a bear. This is especially true when you stack two filters and they jam together.

OMG! Isn't that the truth!

My circular polarizer got stuck on my lens (which turned out to be good because I had to switch to a lens that I never would have and got great pictures). Found out that for $4 you can buy a filter wrench. Who knew!

Good luck with your purchase. I have a Hoya and like it.

Debbie

 

[SueInBoston]

Some that I'd use:

Hoya 67mm Circular Polarizing Pro 1 Digital Multi-Coated Glass Filter

Mark,
Thanks for always taking time to answer and give links I was just looking for filters for my new Sigma 18-200mm OS. I'm going to try the Hoya Pro 1 filters.

Sue

 

[Groucho]

I just bought a Hoya multicoated CP from "slphotogear" on eBay... very fast shipping, and low prices. Check 'em out. No affiliation, just happy with the price and service.

 

[boBQuincy]

Hoya 67mm Circular Polarizing Pro 1 Digital Multi-Coated Glass Filter

Hoya makes some good products, and I have one of their multi-coated polarizers, but I would consider any filter that includes the word "digital" in the name to be more marketing hype than substance.
It still is probably a very good filter (their best) but it's a shame they have to market it like that.

Or is there really something special about a "digital" filter?

 

[SharonLowe]

Mark,
Thanks for always taking time to answer and give links I was just looking for filters for my new Sigma 18-200mm OS. I'm going to try the Hoya Pro 1 filters.

Sue

With that zoom range, you would do best with a very thin filter. But, if you don't have a full frame sensor, it won't make that much difference so spend the money on the best quality. Also, thin ones typically have their own lens caps which don't stay on very well so the attachment that connects the lens cap to your lens/camera is a good idea.

 

[Groucho]

Hoya 67mm Circular Polarizing Pro 1 Digital Multi-Coated Glass Filter

Hoya makes some good products, and I have one of their multi-coated polarizers, but I would consider any filter that includes the word "digital" in the name to be more marketing hype than substance.
It still is probably a very good filter (their best) but it's a shame they have to market it like that.

Or is there really something special about a "digital" filter?

My understanding is that a digital sensor ideally needs slightly different coatings than you'd need on a film camera. I think this was one of the things hyped by Olympus with their line of designed-for-digital 4/3rd lenses.

I doubt if you'd see much difference in the real world, but........

 

[RBennett]

Ok, so I'm looking at purchasing a circular polarizer for my K110d, and I figured I should probably get one for both of my lenses; my 18-55mm and my 50mm Prime. But then I wondered if I SHOULD get one for my prime lens. I mean isn't the biggest use for the prime lens is to be used in low light situations, (which then why would you want the filter to darken things even more?) I guess I just didn't know how much use the filter would get on my prime. Also, I've heard Hoys multicoated is a really great way to go, but are there any other brands or recommended places to get them??? Everything I've seen puts the Hoya MC at around $60+/-. TIA!!!

 

[JR6ooo4]

You are correct. If you only use the prime for low light I can not imagine much glare off of the subject. But I am sure there are some instances it may help. And as long as the subject is not moving you have all night to expose the shot properly.

I have used mine in daylight as sort of a nuetral density filter to help get a longer shutter speed without over exposing a scene. or having to change the aperture from the preferred setting.

Mikeeee

 

[JR6ooo4]

and yes, I paid about $60-85 for mine. No maybe it was closer to $100 because I got the thin version. Most reviews suggested that one so you do not get any vignetting at wide angles on the canon 28-135 IS. But the cover for that one does ont stay on so well since there are no internal threads on the front for a lens cap to clip into. Once I was tapped on the shoulder by a WDW guest. He had picked up the cap and ran it back to me. Nice!

Mikeeee

 

[jann1033]

Ok, so I'm looking at purchasing a circular polarizer for my K110d, and I figured I should probably get one for both of my lenses; my 18-55mm and my 50mm Prime. But then I wondered if I SHOULD get one for my prime lens. I mean isn't the biggest use for the prime lens is to be used in low light situations, (which then why would you want the filter to darken things even more?) I guess I just didn't know how much use the filter would get on my prime. Also, I've heard Hoys multicoated is a really great way to go, but are there any other brands or recommended places to get them??? Everything I've seen puts the Hoya MC at around $60+/-. TIA!!!

the cp also works to cut down on water glare and pump up the sky so if you ever use your prime for landscapes you might want it....i don't know how the pros would feel about this but i got the largest mm lens size i had( 72 for me) and a step up ring for my 67 mm lens( 67-72) and use the same one for both..if your lenses are close in size you could save money by doing that. i haven't noticed any problem using the larger filter with the smaller lens.

 

[Groucho]

What I did is buy a 52mm CP and then a 49mm-52mm step-up ring to mount the 52mm CP on the 50mm F1.4 lens. (Overwhelmed with "mm"s yet? )

Since I use my 50mm in all sorts of situations, it was nice to finally have a CP for it. (I just got the ring a week or so before my California trip - it was a Hoya one for $6 with shipping from eBay.)

I bought my Hoya HMC 67mm CP (for my Tamron 28-75mm F2.8) off eBay, there's a seller who specialized in Hoya filters and had good prices with cheap and very fast shipping. I'd definitely go with him again if I was buying another.

I did have my new CP actually fall apart in our hotel room, I was unscrewing it from the lens and maybe pulled too hard or something, but it lost half of the outside ring along with a wire that stays under tension inside. Fortunately the two lenses stayed together, and I was able to put it all back together, with only some grease marks (from the lube inside) on the lens as evidence, and a little eyeglass cleaner and microfiber cloth removed those. I did manage to get a very light scratch in one corner, too (before this), but it doesn't seem to affect anything.

 

[NostalgicDad]

I use a CPL on my prime lens quite often which is 72mm. Like others, I use a step-up ring to accomodate my 67mm, etc. Hoya Pro1 Digital is a very good one but will run you a bit more. B+W also makes decent ones as well as Singh-Ray($$$$). I just believe in using a filter that is of the highest quality so as not to defeat the purpose of a good lens.

 

[BeautyLLM]

I am going to buy a circular polarizer and notice that there are different qualities of those available. Anyone have any experience? Non-coated vs multi-coated vs super-multi coated? Will it make a difference to an amateur?

Appreciate your advice!

 

[boBQuincy]

Filters are very democratic, they degrade the images of amateurs and professionals alike.

To me it partly depends on the lens, there's no point in putting a $10 filter on a $1000 lens. On the other hand even the "kit" lens is multi-coated and it seems a shame to lose even more quality with an uncoated filter.

I would buy at least a multi-coated filter unless it was just too much $$$. The really inexpensive filters probably use poor quality glass along with no coating, a recipe for flare.

Interestingly, Tiffen polarizers are not coated according to Tiffen:

http://www.tiffen.com/tiffen_filters_faqs.html
Q: How many antireflective layers are there in the coatings on the Tiffen 58 CP circular polarizer and precisely what kind of layers are they?

A: The Tiffen Circular Polarizer is not multicoated at all. We used to carry TMC (Tiffen multicoated) filters but found no significant difference in their light transmission and also that the coating could be easily damaged, resulting in poorer performance. In any case, multicoating is a proprietary process, and we seriously doubt that any lens or filter manufacturer will tell you the exact nature and composition of their coating layers.