BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: New Answers

polarizing filter

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June 21, 2002

When used right a polarizer prevents stray reflected light from comming through the lens. For example on a bright sunny day with a hazy light blue sky will be a saturated rich darker blue when a polarizer is used.

You have to be at a 90 degree angle to the sunlight for the polarizer to work right, any other angle will only effect part of the photograph (half a dark sky).

When you use a polarizer you need to either decrease the shutter speed or increase the apature (usually about 1-2 stops). If your using an AF camera and a circular polarizer and the camera is in auto mode the camera should make the correction. For a manual camera you should be using a linear polarizer. A linear polarizer will not work on a modern AF camera (it will cut off most/all light going into the camera's meter). If you weren't making the correction you could have under exposed film.

A high quality polarizer is very close to neutral (doesn't actually change any of the colors). Using a higher qaulity filter will show a dramitic difference in your photographs.

Nikon is by far the best polarizer made (prices start at about $100). Heliopan, B&W, and Hoya are also very good (about $50-60). Large camera stores also have used "filter bins," sometimes you can find a good deal.
I would stay away from Promaster (and Kodak)optics.

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June 22, 2002