Polarized filters

[Photography~girl~]

My birthday is coming up here(8th of may. yippie) And mom asked me want i reallllly want(cause my photography list is long. heh.) I would really like a polarized filter. But. I'm not sure what brand or even if there is more then one kind.
I thought i'd ask you guys what type you use and whatnot(and about how much they cost???). So I can tell the parents the name and stuff(IF they get me a polarizor) so they don't go into the camera shop and go "we want a polarized filter" and the guy asks "what kind?" hahaha. Yeah, don't want that.
So yeah. that's about it! Thanks a lot!
~a.k

[Edd]

Hi AK,

I've just bought a Polarizer ready for my trip to Scotland that starts on your birthday !!!!

You will need a circular polarizer not a linear polarizer. Linear polarizers "may not" work with digital cameras. I think they can affect the auto focus.

I have a Cokin P system (bob_r uses Cokin filters I believe) that will attach a filter holder onto the front of the lense. You can then add your polarizer and/or other Cokin filters to this holder by just slotting them into the groves in the holder. Easy.

I chose this for two reasons:

1. Cost - less expensive than some other makes that are out there.

2. My lenses, with my 28 - 80mm Tamron and 100 - 300mm Canon lense, the end of the lense rotates when focusing, so after focusing I can just rotate the filter round to where I want the filter to be.

I also use some Graduated Neutral Density filters as well and I think the advantage with the Cokin system is that the filter can be moved around in the holder (up and down as well as rotating it left and right) so you can position it where you want it. Screw on filters I don't think offer this.

Cokin do offer different sizes of filter, which one you will need will depend on the diameter of your lense. My filters will fit on a lense up to 82mm in diameter. The diameter of your lense should be marked on it, the symbol for diameter is a "0" with a line running through it.

Try looking at http://www.cokin.co.uk/pages/main.htm

I'm sure others can advise you on other makes.

Hope this was useful.

Ed

[Tusker]

PHOTO GIRL~ HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! A lot of choices here for sure. Cost will depend on brand name, and size, at least as far as Nikon goes. I stay with my camera brand, which is Nikon. If was was using something else, I would go with that. It is too late for me to change my system, but if there is something that will fit several lenses, as noted above, it could very well be worthy of your consideration. It would sure cost less. GOOD LUCK, and have a GREAT DAY!!!!

[Photography~girl~]

Ed,

Thank you!!! Those sounds super good! I hope our local camera shop has them. i hope. Thank you for reccomending them! I wanna say though, that circle lens do rotate...i think. Least the one the guy at the camera shop showed me(like...8months ago. lol.) lol.

Tusker,

Thank you for the birthday wish!!! This past week and next week are pretty exciting. I just finished my 12th year of homeschooling(that would be inclueding grade "K". so i still have one more year to go. haha) and my birthday(ahh. growing up. lol.) thank you for sharring with me what you use!

[bob_r]

Happy Birthday, A.K.!

I do use Cokin for most of my filter needs, but I don't use their polarizers. There's no specific reason that I don't use them, but I've always preferred the ones that attach directly to the lens. When I was buying lenses, I tried to be aware of their filter sizes. My lenses take 3 different size filters so I have polarizers for each size. This is definitely more expensive than going the Cokin route but I already had 2 polarizers before I decided to go with Cokin for my other filters and had gotten used to the screw ons. The Cokin system will take up less room in your bag and If I were just starting to get polarizers, I'd probably go with Cokin.

I think you chose wisely for your birthday gift, A.K. With your proximity to Lake Michigan, you'll probably get a lot of use from the polarizers. I'm looking forward to seeing some of the sunsets you capture with the new filter. When I lived in Michigan, we used to spend a lot of time camping on the lake in your area and just North of you. My wife was never the outdoors type, but she loved camping there.

[donquixote]

AK;
I use screw-on filters on my lenses, going with Tiffin or Hoya. The reason is that I leave the polarizer on all the time so to protect the front element from getting scratched; it's a lot cheaper to replace a $50 filter rather than a $700 lens.

I think you may have miss-undertood what Ed mentioned about the circular polarizer: There are two different types of polarizers; circular and linear, the difference is how they refract light. Both turn in a "circle" causing the refraction.

As for other filters, look into getting both a Neutral Density and Graduated Neutral Density filters. With those - as well as other filters I have -- I have the size that fits my largest diameter lens and use a step-up ring on my smaller lenses.

For example: My longest lens is a 400mm f5.6 lens, with a thread diameter of 70mm. I have two other lenses, one with a thread of 58mm and the other 55mm. I have two step-up rings; one 58/70mm and the other 55/70mm. This way, I only have one filter that can fit on three lenses.

As for cost, You should be able to pick up a Tiffen 55mm polarizer for around $70.

I hope this information helps you, and have a very nice birthday.

Don

[bob_r]

I use screw-on filters on my lenses, going with Tiffin or Hoya. The reason is that I leave the polarizer on all the time so to protect the front element from getting scratched; it's a lot cheaper to replace a $50 filter rather than a $700 lens.
Don

Don,

Are you leaving polarizers on your lenses or UV filters? A polarizer reduces the light 1 1/2 to 2 stops. That's quite a penalty to pay for protecting your lens. That's like paying for an f/2.8 lens and only shooting at f/4 or f/5.6.

[jmbradd]

I use a Marumi circular polarizer, you can find them cheap from west coast camera.

The build quality is great, many coatings and the results are fantastic. Many people would consider them on-par with hoya's top line filters.

I'd really recommend a circular polarizer as a required filter, skies are just so much nicer and there are some other image quality gains especially from wet/waxy surfaces.

[Bonish Photo]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY A.K.!!!

Hope you get the filters you were asking for.

[Photography~girl~]

thanks for the birthday wish, pat! I haven't gotten my gift from mom and dad yet. Due to the fact that i'm still unsure which filter i want. But i really don't mind waiting a little longer.

[donquixote]

AK:
Going back through some of my old issues of "OP" I saw an article in the July '08 on polarizing filters that you might find informative.
Go to the OP home page and type in "polarizer" in search; there are 21 articles that come up: check the first one. Hope that helps.

Don

[Pokie]

I use screw-in UV filters and polarizers, and Cokin neutral density and split/graduated neutral density filters.
I like the Cokin for the split ND, because I'm able to move the split by moving the square filter in the holder.
With a screw-in split neutral density, you're limited to placing the split in the middle.
I have some other Cokin filters I used for film (red, yellow, warming, etc.) but I've not found much use for them with digital.

I keep a UV on the lenses at 'almost' all times.
Th exception - I've found that If I stack the UV + Polarizer I get vignetting on my wide angle at the widest settings, so I'll take the UV off when I use the polarizer.

My newest lens is a 67mm, the rest are 58mm. My old Cokin A filters were fine for 58mm lenses, but too small for 67mm.
Last week I picked up the Cokin P filter holder and mounting ring, but they were out of the filters themselves, so I need to pick some P sized ND and split ND filters.

You can follow link and see the Cokin product. Others make square/rectangular filters that will fit in the Cokin style holder.
Cokin Link > http://www.cokin.com/ico1-p1.html

[Photography~girl~]

Thanks, Don, for the searching tip. sorry i didn't see it sooner. heh.

And thanks Pokie for letting me know what you use. I have a screw-on UV filter...which is on my camera alll the time. And i have decided to go with the Cokin system(i had one heck of a time trying to figure out what i needed though.) It sounded like the best thing for me at the time...and in the near future.
At the moment i'm looking at where to buy the things i need, and then soon i shall be ordering! Yay! I'm excited about getting it!
thanks for all the help guys!

[MMX]

Many people here have recommended the Cokin system, but I think that it has a few unpleasant disadvantages:
First, you can´t use lens hood with it, so that your photos can suffer from the sun glare (I expect using polarizer especially when it´s sunny). Second, you can´t put the lens cap on it so when you finish, you always have to remove both the filter and the holder. And third it´s bigger than a screw on filter so that you can damage it more easily.
You didn´t write any price limit so I can recommend B+W filters (I have their 77mm polarizer), it´s a high-end brand but I think their filters are worth the money (there´s no reason to get rid of the filter unless you scratch or break it, so if you buy a good filter now, you will be able to use it forever). But with my standard zoom I use 72mm Canon polarizer and it´s also not bad.