Lens Polarizer

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Boddie

With regards rotation - is the filter more filtered on one side then? By that I mean is it graduated?

assuming its a circular polarizer as opposed to a linear one then no - but you rotate them to get the optimal angle to cut the reflection

[Lancashire Lad]

Best effect using a polarizer for colour saturation is when the sun is at 90 degrees to the subject. Anything more or less, will provide less saturation. If using one to remove reflections, the optimum angle is about 35 degrees from the surface giving the reflection. Note that polarizers can also increase colour contrast by removing the glare from surface reflections that can lighten the subject.

There are two types of polarizing filter - linear and circular (This doesn't refer to the shape of the filter, but its properties). Generally, circular polarizers avoid potential auto-focussing/metering problems. It's also worth noting that polarizers will reduce the light passing through the lens by anything up to 2 stops. (A free neutral density filter with every polarizer ).

As for whether they offer anything for architectural/landscape photography, I would say yes. They will allow you to photograph through glass, avoiding (unwanted) window reflections etc., and through water - for example photographing the life in a rockpool or the bed of a stream without any distracting surface reflections. Photoshop might be able to enhance saturation & contrast, but it can't, (certainly not very easily), remove reflections caused by light when taking the original image - and it definitely wouldn't allow you to then see what was originally behind any of those reflections.

A little known fact that can prove very useful, is that two polarizers can be used together, giving the effect of a variable neutral density filter. Which, depending on the degree of rotation between the two filters, can achieve anything between 2 stops and almost total light blockage. - extremely useful for those "milky" waterfall shots etc. etc.

Regards,
Mike.

[Boddie]

Originally Posted by eeyore

assuming its a circular polarizer as opposed to a linear one then no - but you rotate them to get the optimal angle to cut the reflection

Its circular. Thanks for the explanation

[Boddie]

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

Best effect using a polarizer for colour saturation is when the sun is at 90 degrees to the subject. Anything more or less, will provide less saturation. If using one to remove reflections, the optimum angle is about 35 degrees from the surface giving the reflection. Note that polarizers can also increase colour contrast by removing the glare from surface reflections that can lighten the subject.

There are two types of polarizing filter - linear and circular (This doesn't refer to the shape of the filter, but its properties). Generally, circular polarizers avoid potential auto-focussing/metering problems. It's also worth noting that polarizers will reduce the light passing through the lens by anything up to 2 stops. (A free neutral density filter with every polarizer ).

As for whether they offer anything for architectural/landscape photography, I would say yes. They will allow you to photograph through glass, avoiding (unwanted) window reflections etc., and through water - for example photographing the life in a rockpool or the bed of a stream without any distracting surface reflections. Photoshop might be able to enhance saturation & contrast, but it can't, (certainly not very easily), remove reflections caused by light when taking the original image - and it definitely wouldn't allow you to then see what was originally behind any of those reflections.

A little known fact that can prove very useful, is that two polarizers can be used together, giving the effect of a variable neutral density filter. Which, depending on the degree of rotation between the two filters, can achieve anything between 2 stops and almost total light blockage. - extremely useful for those "milky" waterfall shots etc. etc.

Regards,
Mike.

As you are so local I may very well book you for a few Masterclasses. Thanks for this Mike

I went for a Hoya 46mm Circular Polarizing Filter. Its for use on my D Lux 4. My favourire camera of the moment