question about polarizers

[hawk232]

since most of my shots will be on the water I think a GOOD polarizer will be beneficial. I assume they will be much like sunglasses. When you buy "box store" polarized glasses you can see say 3" into the water, and when you buy good glasses (ie costa del mar) you can see seemingly endlessly.

That being said, I dont think costa makes filters, so who is the next best??

 

[sobolik]

The issue is the elimination of polarized light. The question is if polarized light remains when using the cheapest filter.

I say it does not matter. Light is either polarized or it is not. All one has to do is spin the filter to see if it is or not.

An issue that remains is the thickness of the ring for stacking and interference in the photo. Vignetting.

Another issue is the choice of linear or circular.

For the optical quality and image degradation argument read this: Dirty lens article

Of course all this is from a practical standpoint. Glass engineering may argue blah. blah etc.

Polarizing filter (photography) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[djacobox372]

When buying filters I use the following formula:

Made in china = crap, never use these

Made in japan = okay, better then nothing

Made in Germany = ideal

 

[Boomn4x4]

I say it does not matter. Light is either polarized or it is not.

+1. When spending the money on a polarizer, you aren't spending money on the level of polarization. Its either polarized or not.

 

[PASM]

so who is the next best??

B+W (Schneider Kreuznach) are top quality.

Polarizers polarize but they still form an interface between a lens and the world, should be of the best quality you can afford.

High-quality filters feel good and heavy in the hand compared to cheap ones.

 

[hawk232]

so who is the next best??

B+W (Schneider Kreuznach) are top quality.

Polarizers polarize but they still act as an interface between a lens and the world, should be of the best quality you can afford.

High-quality filters feel good and heavy in the hand compared to cheap ones.

perhaps the question needs to be rephrased to "what is a good brand of glass" I know that B&W are pretty regularly mentioned, but if there is better i dont mind coughing up the coin since so many of my pics may benefit from it!

As far as level of polarization, I am unsure of the science or terminology behind it. All I know is that my costa del mars are almost inconceivably better than wally world polarized glasses. both in actual clarity and depth i could see into the water. Whatever makes the costas better is what I am after!!

 

[hawk232]

The issue is the elimination of polarized light. The question is if polarized light remains when using the cheapest filter.

I say it does not matter. Light is either polarized or it is not. All one has to do is spin the filter to see if it is or not.

An issue that remains is the thickness of the ring for stacking and interference in the photo. Vignetting.

Another issue is the choice of linear or circular.

For the optical quality and image degradation argument read this: Dirty lens article

Of course all this is from a practical standpoint. Glass engineering may argue blah. blah etc.

Polarizing filter (photography) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

wow that dirty lens article is quite interesting! kinda makes me feel like a fool for constantly checking my lens to make sure its clean!

 

[tirediron]

B+W, Lee, Singh-Ray, Heliopan and Lee are the top names in filters. I don't know that one is much better than the other; you can't go wrong with any of them.

 

[Shiva_42]

There are some related threads that ask this same general question, let me put in my 2 cents worth:

I don't use filters anymore with my DSLR, except for ND and circular polarizers, since you really can't duplicate these effects in PS or related software. That being said, the glass and surface coating technology can make profound differences in the image quality (IMHO). Therefore, B+W, Singh-Ray, and others in this quality/price range are certainly superior products. But I opted for Hoya, and bought their slimmest, multi-coated UV, CPL, and ND filters, paid MUCH less than for the German glass, and have been VERY happy so far with the build and glass quality in these products. Don't think TOO cheap, since EVERYTHING will pass through the filter before the lens/camera quality becomes a factor.