Would a CPL filter improve these shots?

[RichardS]

I used to have a polarizing filter many years ago, but never quite got the hang of it. Would this first shot be improved by one? This was taken just about straight into the sun with a DA* 50-135 with a Marumi DHG Lens Protect filter on it. It was a bright, sunny day with a few scattered clouds. About 3:30pm.



What about this one? Same lens and roughly the same time. The sun is at about 45 degrees to the right. I'd like to be able to reduce the haze. This is a major crop of the original.



Thanks,
Richard.

[Ash]

Hi Richard. My short answer is yes. They both would have come out more saturated in the blues and the distracting glare would have been largely eliminated. There's more to it, though. Typically the CPL doesn't magically deepen all blue in the sky and cannot cut out all reflections - depends a lot on the incident light and the CPL orientation, much of which is above my head in the technicalities.

Hope this helps.

[dadipentak]

Yes--the first one especially.

[RichardS]

Thanks, guys. I think I'll have to get one and experiment.

[Damn Brit]

Don't get a cheap one, do some research and get a good one.

[RichardS]

Thanks, Gary. There was a link here somewhere to Polarizing filters test - Introduction - Lenstip.com where the Marumi DHG Super Circular P.L.D 72 mm and the B+W Slim KSM C-POL MRC 72 mm were equal #1. I've gone for the Marumi DHG Super Circular P.L.D (67mm of course for the DA* 50-135). I pulled the trigger on one this afternoon Marumi DHG SUPER Circular Polarizing CPL Filter 67mm US - eBay (item 400080203449 end time Nov-18-09 23:24:04 PST) for USD63.99 including delivery. It seems like a good price.

Regards,
Richard.

[Ash]

It should do you well Richard.
I have one of those for my 12-24, and it has proven to be quite a virtue for my landscape shots.

[newarts]

Light from the sky is polarized only in directions perpendicular to the sun; therefore, the cpl would not change the relative sky brightness significantly in either case.

Light reflecting from water at shallow angles is polarized so some of the specular reflections from the water would be reduced in the first photo.

Some of the haze you refer to in the photos might be a result of strong UV light, in which case the polarizer might help and might not - it would depend on the UV transmission characteristics of the particular polarizer....many polarizers transmit fairly well in the UV as evidenced by a bluish tinge when crossed....in which case they wouldn't help much.

Dave in Iowa

[RichardS]

Thanks, Ash. I'll try it out on the 50-135 first. If it improves things, I'll start equipping my other lenses.

Thanks, Dave. It's going to be fun experimenting.

Regards,
Richard.

[xixco]

step-up (or step-down?) rings are your friends, or at least they are mine --- one filter adapted to many lenses, versus a filter for each

[Jonson PL]

Originally Posted by RichardS

Thanks, Gary. There was a link here somewhere to Polarizing filters test - Introduction - Lenstip.com where the Marumi DHG Super Circular P.L.D 72 mm and the B+W Slim KSM C-POL MRC 72 mm were equal #1. I've gone for the Marumi DHG Super Circular P.L.D (67mm of course for the DA* 50-135). I pulled the trigger on one this afternoon Marumi DHG SUPER Circular Polarizing CPL Filter 67mm US - eBay (item 400080203449 end time Nov-18-09 23:24:04 PST) for USD63.99 including delivery. It seems like a good price.

Regards,
Richard.

Thanks for the link

[Ccat]

This thread reminds me of a question I have been meaning to ask... how do you measure a lens for a filter? I have never seen a filter in action nor ever had one.. Sounds like a good thing to get though, probably a CPL

[forensicscientist]

Easiest way it to look at the end of the lens...generally around the trim ring there will be a measurement....something that says: 49mm, or 52mm etc. Thats the size of the filter you need to buy. It screws right into the threads at the end of the lens.

mark

[res3567]

Originally Posted by forensicscientist

Easiest way it to look at the end of the lens...generally around the trim ring there will be a measurement....something that says: 49mm, or 52mm etc. Thats the size of the filter you need to buy. It screws right into the threads at the end of the lens.

mark

And sometimes, depending on the lens, there is a circle with a line going through it diaganally before the size of the filter (49mm ,52mm etc).

[Maffer]

Remember, do not purchase a cheap CL-pol filter. Such thing would kill the fine rendering of your 50-135. BW Käsemann filters are of super quality. Hoya digital pro1 is okay as well.