300D + Circ. Polarizer = Dark images!

Hi Guys;

HELP please...

Using a Circular Polarizer with my 300D, White Balance set to "Sunny", all my images are VERY dark, and require processing in Adobe to lighten them up.

This then takes away a great deal of the "benefit" of the polarizer; I.e. the image loses the "punch" that the polarizer should provide...

Should I use the automatic white balance (AWB) or even "Shade" settings to off-set the reduced light from the polarizer? Will it produce a better result?

Anybody have similar problems or experiences?

Thanks in anticipation...

White balance deals with colour temperature. If you are having issues with exposure, check your metering and try bumping EC (exposure compensation) depending on what mode you are using.

Hello KevC;

Many thanks for the tip...

I'll give it a whirl - if we ever see the sun again in the UK!

I didn't even know they sold circular Polarizers in the UK, since they only work in sunlight . . . .

They do - but we only use them to protect the lens
David

I used the circ polarizer recently - and the snaps have turned out quite good. But I set the white balance on auto and I shot raw.

what mode are you using t oexpose? there is a 1-2 stop light loss from the lens, so that has to be taken into account. the filter reduces glare, intencifies colors, and lowers the scenes overall contrast a bit. some thing may turn out darker than originally scene, but you can also adjust eh polarizer to your own taste by rotating it on the lens

As KevC says.. The white balance has nothing to do with exposure.. Adding a bit of exposure compensation should help..... However, you shouldn't have to do this. There is a small light loss when using a polarizer, but the camera should compensate for that and provide the correct exposure.

One quick thought.. Are you sure you have a circular polarizer... If by chance you somehow got a linear polarizer, then you definitely would have exposure problems..... A circular polarizer has two plates of glass.. The outside one turns and the inside one remains stationary. A linear polarizer only has on plate of glass that turns.... (You probably do have a circular polarizer .. They're the most common..)..

Hi Guys;

Thanks for the pointers...

As Davinor says - generally we only use Polarizers in the UK for lens protection - but they come in handy on vacation...

Polarizer is definately a circ. I've used them on film bodies for years w/out any problems. The "dark image" problem only manifests itself now I've gone digital - finally.

Typically I shoot in Av mode, so the camera body should already compensate for the loss of light through the polarizer. I'll clearly need to try a bit of experimentation with exposure compensation to see if I can improve things...