Circular Polarizer Filter usage

AchimT

AchimT

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I've never used one before, and would appreciate general usage advice. How do you guys use your CPL?

Should I just always use the darkest setting? Or should I rotate it every time before taking the picture to see which setting gives the best result in terms of colours? Or should I rather look which setting eliminates which reflections or brings out colours better in a certain area of the image? Or certain colours everywhere in the image?

I can't yet try it myself because the lens I bought it for is currently being serviced, but I'm curious and want to prepare myself a bit for when it comes back.

Thanks for all advice!
 
It depends on what I am using it for (eg cut reflections off water, perk foliage up, add contrast to a blue sky, see through windows etc) but generally I compose, add the filter and rotate it all around to see which angle gives the best results.

A couple of things, in landscapes the maximum effect will be when you're shooting at 90 degrees to the sun, rather than into it or with it behind you. Also be wary on ultra wide lenses, if you're not careful you can end up with a dark curve in the middle of the sky which is a pig to bring back in PP.
 
As above, I tend to rotate only if I change the direction in which the camera is pointing but every once in a while I do check to make sure it is having its greatest effect.
 
Once I've got the effect I want by rotating it fully, I recheck each shot by brief clockwise - anticlockwise twists.
 
Thanks!

When I was still using analog SLR's, CPLs were just at the brink of becoming popular, so I never used one. I used what they called UV filters. Then came the Skylight, but I never tried one, because I was ok with what the UV filter did for me.

So I never tried a CPL. Nowadays they say you don't need UV filters anymore as the lenses do that themselves, but you can still get washed out skies etc. - something I always thought the UV filtering cures. But apparently I was wrong.

So I am still a bit confused, and curious to see what the CPL will actually do to my pictures.

Thanks for all the tips guys. Once I get my lens back, I'll try to put your advice to good use!
 
Polarisers are all about angles.

With blue skies (polarisers do nothing on overcast sky) the optimum angle is 90 degrees to the sun. Make a 'gun' with your forefinger and thumb at right angles, then point at the sun and rotate your hand. Your thumb will point to an arc in the sky which is the max polarisation zone. From this you will find that when shooting straight into the sun, eg sunset, the polarised zone will be out of sight above and behind you, ie zero effect. Rotate the filter for best result.

For reflections, the angle is 30-40 degrees to the surface. At that angle, reflections will disappear completely with reducing effect at angles either side. Polarisers generally work well on shiny leaves/grass/foliage because at least some reflections will randomly fall at the right angle. Reflections from metal surfaces are not polarised, so no effect on those.
 
Thanks a lot for this additional advice.

All of the advice I'm getting here is extremely helpful. I'm beginning to understand and the questions I have been pondering on are answered. Thanks to all of you!
 
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