Flower Garden With CP and Without

[mrclark321]

I just got my CP in the mail today and it is the first time I ever used one. Trying to see the dif with and without. I know I need to get more shots with the sky or water but here is a couple.

with CP 70-200
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y200/mrclark321/IMG_2093_2.jpg

without CP 70-200
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y200/mrclark321/IMG_2120_1.jpg

[foxbat]

If you want a demo and there's no blue sky or water handy then point it at the glass windscreen of a car and turn the dial...

[SkipD]

Do you realize that you have to rotate the filter to get the level of effect that you want? It's not just a filter that you screw onto the lens and shoot. You have to align the filter with the polarization of the light in the scene to make it do something.

Like Foxbat said, you'll typically get the most effect when there is a blue sky or reflections on water or glass in your scene. About the only thing I would expect it to do in the scene(s) that you shot might to deepen the green of the grass a little by eliminating some reflections in the grass.

[felix21685]

please mr clark show us more before and after pics..i would love to see more!

[mrclark321]

OK how does turning the dial work? There is an arrow on the filter, which way should it be turned? I know the old saying if all else fails read instructions but there wasn't any.....lol

Dan

Do you realize that you have to rotate the filter to get the level of effect that you want? It's not just a filter that you screw onto the lens and shoot. You have to align the filter with the polarization of the light in the scene to make it do something.

Like Foxbat said, you'll typically get the most effect when there is a blue sky or reflections on water or glass in your scene. About the only thing I would expect it to do in the scene(s) that you shot might to deepen the green of the grass a little by eliminating some reflections in the grass.

[sparker1]

One thing to remember: The CP will reduce light coming to the lense, therefore requiring a larger aperture and resulting in less DOF. Your pictures show this difference very well. Note the sharp lines of the house without the CP, soft with the CP. Or did you change the settings?

[MTalley]

Here's a good test for you. Find a tree with normally reddish colored leaves. Plums and Japanese Maples are the best. Try a before and after in sunlight with one of those trees. It'll usually change from a deep purplish-red to a really bright red. At least our Jap Maple does. Maybe I'll go out and do some before/afters tomorrow.

[SkipD]

OK how does turning the dial work? There is an arrow on the filter, which way should it be turned? I know the old saying if all else fails read instructions but there wasn't any.....lolWhat you do, Dan, is rotate the filter in its mount while looking through the viewfinder to see resulting effect. Make sure the mount is screwed into the lens snugly enough so that the threads won't loosen while you're rotating the filter.

You can experiment with the filter off the lens, too. Just hold the filter up between you and whatever subject you want to look at. Make sure, though, that the male threads of the filter frame are on the same side of the filter as your eyes. If you hold the filter backwards it will have no apparent effect.

What you're looking for while experimenting with the filter is one or more of the following things to happen: 1. Blue sky darkens/lightens as you rotate the filter., 2. Reflections in a non-metallic surface (water, glass, paint, dew-covered grass, etc.) change as you rotate the filter., or 3) Contrast of various subjects changes a bit as you rotate the filter.

Once you see what the filter can do for you, then you need to rotate the filter on the lens until the effect is what you want for the particular photo.

One real-life example of use for a polarizing filter is to see fish in a pond which are normally hidden by reflections on the water surface. Another is to be able to see a store front display which is normally partially hidden by reflections in the glass.

[mrclark321]

Both pictures were taken with Portrait mode, without Cp AV-4, TV- 1/800 and ISO-100. With CP AV-4, TV- 1/200 and ISO- 200

Can someone give me an example on how to use the arrow on the CP

Thanks
Dan

[mrclark321]

Thanks everyone, I was typing my last post while you already submitted my answer.....LOL

Dan

[mrclark321]

I snapped about 60 pic at the beach today not even knowing about how to use the filter ( boy do I feel dumb ) Anyway I will know next time. Am I to guess that for a familly outing the CP is better left at home and a good UV filter would be better if any filter at all?

Dan

This pic came straight from the camera with no changes except for a border.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y200/mrclark321/IMG_2144.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y200/mrclark321/IMG_2173_1.jpg

[robertwgross]

The polarizer effect will be most noticeable when the camera is aimed perpendicular to the sun direction. In other words, it tends to work the least when you aim directly at the sun or directly away from the sun. But you still need to rotate the filter to see the degree of effect that you want.

---Bob Gross---

[mrclark321]

Thanks Bob, These are not good pics bud really show the dif. Alls I did was rotate the CP to attain the different results.

Dan

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y200/mrclark321/IMG_2191.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y200/mrclark321/IMG_2190.jpg

[sparker1]

I think a CP is good in any situation where bright sun and reflected light exist. A family outing in the woods, no need probably. However, at the beach with lots of sun and reflected light off water and white sand, use the CP.

[mrclark321]

Thanks Stan, as of right now that is the only filter I have for that lense. I am going to order a Hoya pro 1 multi as soon as there in. My plan is to order the Tamron 28-75 and this way I should be able to interchange filters between lenses. I love my 70-200f/4 but I seem to lose some of the sharpness using the CP.
Yet another learning curve!!

Dan