*need help with polarizer (>>>diameter)

[amoergosum]

Hello,
I would like to buy a polarizer for the following lenses:
24-105L, 16-35L II, 70-200/2.8 IS .
It seems that many recommend a Käsemann polarizer.
Since the lenses vary in diameter, would you recommend buying a
82mm polarizer (>>>16-35L II) and stepup rings so that there's no need
for more than one polarizer?
best,
Ben

[SkipD]

I would not choose to use the stepup ring. The reason is simple. I still use my lens hoods with my polarizing filter and the stepup ring would prevent that.

I would suggest that you get a good 77mm filter and see how much you use it. Then, if you really use it a lot, get one for the 16-35. I find that I use my polarizing filter once in a while, but not very often.

There's one thing that you may not know. If you are using a "full-frame" camera with the 16-35, it is truly an ultra-wide lens. When using a polarizing filter on it you may get a very uneven darkening of the sky due to the widely changing angle to the sun across the image. You may elect to avoid using a polarizer with that lens - again, if you are using a 35mm film camera or a "full-frame" DSLR behind the lens.

Another option - sell the 16-35 and get an "original" 16-35 f/2.8L with the 77mm filter thread. I have one, and it's an absolutely fine lens on my 20D.

[argyle]

TBH, you probably don't need the Kaesemann version. Its one of those things that's nice to have but not an absolute necessity. The only reason that I recommend one is because the price differential at hvstar between the KSM and non-KSM versions is pretty minor (~$10). With other dealers, the differential is much higher.

Step rings...what Skip said. Luckily for me, most of my lenses are 77mm diameter, so they share a common polarizer. If I happen to pick up a lens with a different diameter, I'll pick up a separate CPL as well. I just view a step ring as something else that I'll have to fumble with out on the trail and prefer to have a dedicated CPL for the lens diameters that I'll be using.

[amoergosum]

Another option - sell the 16-35 and get an "original" 16-35 f/2.8L with the 77mm filter thread.

I'm not going to do that...:cool:

[amoergosum]

If you are using a "full-frame" camera with the 16-35, it is truly an ultra-wide lens. When using a polarizing filter on it you may get a very uneven darkening of the sky due to the widely changing angle to the sun across the image.

Mhhh...that doesn't sound good.

[Bob_A]

I went the step-up ring approach mainly because I infrequently use my circ pol on my 70-200 f/4L so felt it would be a waste to buy one specifically for that lens. The disadvantage as Skip said is with the lens cap, but for how I use it this isn't an issue.

I use the standard B+W MRC circ pol, as I saw no advantage for me to go with the Kasemann circ pol.