Polarizer ruins clouds in landscape

I notice that when using polarized sun glasses there are parts of the clouds that wash out. This is the same for my pictures. I am afraid that its the CPL quality. In other words I'm asking if you have this problem. I'm hoping someone can confirm that they got a replacement CPL that did not exhibit this problem after first having the problem with another CPL. See the example here.

I've always found that my circular polarizer emphasizes clouds in my photos and brings out the definition making them look better. I have a Hoya G CP filter, which is middle of the road quality and price, and I've been happy with it.

Judging by the shadows in your photo it looks like you're shooting mid day, so you're taking pictures in really harsh lighting; obviously you can't always avoid that when you're at the right place, but bad time for lighting. If you shoot raw, the blown highlights could easily be fixed in lightroom to bring the definition back to the clouds.

At least in this image, all the haze/heat/humidity is a major culprit in the loss of definition. You are shooting through a whole lot of gunk. Not your fault nor the camera's. It just happens that way sometimes.

David,
A few questions:

1) What brand CP filter?
2) Shooting in RAW or JPG?
3) What SW are you using for post-processing?

Observations:
Looking at the EXIF information, your aperture at f/5 is a bit wide open for this type of shot IMO, given the time of day. Additionally, while I am not familiar with your camera & lens combo, I think your f-stop should have been more towards the middle of the line (f/13 - f/16).

Your ISO at 160 is also something that I noticed as a bit out of the norm. ISO100 is what I would have expected.

Rotate the polarizing filter around until you get the look you want. I find it enhances cloud detail by darkening sky and improving contrast once it is adjusted right. If you are shooting at the sun, or an angle close to the sun, the affect is much less from the CP.

^^^ This ^^^ So many new users to a CPL have no idea they need to adjust it by turning the ring.

rotate the ring
shoot at 90 degrees to the sun
use an ND grad to equalise the exposure

bsmotril wrote in post #16952658
Rotate the polarizing filter around until you get the look you want. I find it enhances cloud detail by darkening sky and improving contrast once it is adjusted right. If you are shooting at the sun, or an angle close to the sun, the affect is much less from the CP.

Took me a bit to find that out. And I'd never complain about a few clouds. I mean you did get to visit Kauai!

Btw. I use Marumi super CPL's and I bought my 77mm filter for $67 on an amazon sale. They are amazing and super slim

KoalaCowboy wrote in post #16952297
David,
1) What brand CP filter?

Vivitar, guess thats the main problem.

KoalaCowboy wrote in post #16952297
David,
2) Shooting in RAW or JPG?

JPG, but if you look close the highlight clouds are whiter than the ruined clouds. Also this was done on vacation during a rode trip so time of day was hard to control. My family does not like to sit around for hours.

KoalaCowboy wrote in post #16952297
David,
3) What SW are you using for post-processing?

None what so ever. I wanted to show the out of camera effect.

KoalaCowboy wrote in post #16952297
David,
Your ISO at 160 is also something that I noticed as a bit out of the norm. ISO100 is what I would have expected.

That's because I'm using a Panasonic G6, it only goes down to 160!

I printed this picture as a 20x30 from costco and it looks pretty good. The cloud issue is less noticeable. But if I printed on metal it would be glaring.

snerd wrote in post #16952721
^^^ This ^^^ So many new users to a CPL have no idea they need to adjust it by turning the ring.

Actually I did adjust it. Both left and right up to 100 degrees. Trying to get a clear and saturated shoot. What I was trying to show was the effect so others could say "hey its the crappy CPL" or "Its the lighting, wait a couple of hours".

Sure seems I need to get a new CPL.

bowtie wrote in post #16952287
=bowtie`;16952287]At least in this image, all the haze/heat/humidity is a major culprit in the loss of definition. You are shooting through a whole lot of gunk. Not your fault nor the camera's. It just happens that way sometimes.

Yes I drove by this spot at least four times during my trip. This was the first time you could actually see through the valley. I think I would have to live in Kauai to get the complete clean shot which most likely happens in January!

davidfig wrote in post #16953552
Vivitar, guess thats the main problem.


JPG, but if you look close the highlight clouds are whiter than the ruined clouds. Also this was done on vacation during a rode trip so time of day was hard to control. My family does not like to sit around for hours.


None what so ever. I wanted to show the out of camera effect.


That's because I'm using a Panasonic G6, it only goes down to 160!

I printed this picture as a 20x30 from costco and it looks pretty good. The cloud issue is less noticeable. But if I printed on metal it would be glaring.

Interesting that the camera only goes to ISO160. In any case, I'd have thought the f-stop would be more mid-range of the lens and appropriate shutter speed based on f-stop.

Shooting in JPG will lose some detail, IMO, but I get the gist of what you were doing.

Hopefully future results are better, should you acquire a different CPL filter.

Where was that picture taken? Looks nice.

When shooting JPEGS, if you can adjust the contrast up some, that would help in shots like the example you posted.

El Duderino wrote in post #16954529
Where was that picture taken? Looks nice.

Kauai, Hi. This is in princeville. Follow link for street view and turn to right.

Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge (actually the refuge is in the second valley on the left)

https://www.google.com …9eb047:0xf6321a​f5a12d378a