BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Troubleshooting Other Photo Equipment

Photography Question 

Sharon Cook
 

Vignetting Problems with Polarizer Filter


Hi, I am using a polarizer with my Pentax P30T SLR and am experiencing vignetting problems. Which end of the zoom lens is this most likely to happen? Many of my pictures are spoiled by the dark edges around the photograph. Thanks for your help,


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September 06, 2001

 

Hermann Graf
  Sharon,

The vignetting problem is more serious at lower focal lengths. If you only use the polarizer filter (no other filters in combination with it or a lens hood) and you observe vignetting, then the frame of the filter is too long, and you should use another with a shorter framing. By the way, with very short focal lengths, polarizers are not very effective, since then the effect covers only a part of the picture.


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September 06, 2001

 

Sharon Cook
  Thanks, Hermann.

I am still a bit confused though! Do you mean that at the 30mm end of my zoom lens the polarizer isn't very effective and would you say that I would get better results if I used it at 50mm and above? Thanks again, Sharon


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September 07, 2001

 

Hermann Graf
  Sharon,
Just have a look into the viewfinder of your camera with your filter on and shift the focal length of your zoom from long to short focal lengths. You will see vignetting more at short lengths, since then, the viewing angle is larger, and thus, also the margins are included. The polarizing filter is most effective in a direction perpendicular to the incident sunlight, and ineffective when parallel. When the view given by the wide angle position of the zoom (no idea what range your zoom has) covers significantly more than this region, parts of your picture will not show the polarizing effect (try it with large water surfaces). Regards,


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September 10, 2001

 
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