Circular Polarizer Filter - Before & After Pics

I'm new to the world of DSLR's and I'm reading and learning everyday on POTN about different items that I should consider having in my bag. Recently, I was reading about Circular Polarizer Filters (CPL Filters) and figured I should get one to see the effects for myself. Well, I must say that reading about it and seeing it with my own eyes is a world apart! I snapped a few shots of my wife's car's windows and a couple of shots of the sky with the CPL filter on my lens and I must say that I'm impressed at the difference this filter makes by simply turning the front ring. Here are the before and after pics, for your viewing pleasure...


This is the front windshield of the car with full glare.

With a quick turn of the front ring on the filter, the glare goes away almost completely.

These are the side windows of the car with full glare.

Again, with a quick turn of the front ring on the filter, the glare goes away almost completely.

This is a shot of the sky with the clouds. The filter is in the position that least affects what is seen with the naked eye.

This is the same shot of the sky with the clouds, but now the filter is in the position that adds the maximum amount of contrast.

what brand of CPL were you using?

https://photography-on-the.net …p?p=2903512&pos​tcount=515

PZengel wrote in post #2952984
what brand of CPL were you using?

Oops, I apologize! I should have mentioned that this one happens to be a B+W Multi-Coated Circular Polarizer filter.

speedracersong wrote in post #2953033
https://photography-on-the.net …p?p=2903512&pos​tcount=515

Thanks for pointing it out!

Good examples here - thanks for sharing.

Everyone should have a Circular Polarizer in their bags, its one of those few filters that you cannot simulate in Photoshop - you don't need to get one for every size of lens you have, get one for your largest lens diameter and then invest in some cheap metal step down rings.

wow, nice examples. I'm going to pick one of these up on my next purchase.

77mm one's (high quality) are so expensive (hoya pro1 77= about $120 on ebay). I'll get one some day.

I buy the low end Japanese glass filters in the purple package (green is made in the Phillapines) I stay away from the super-high end ones. No image degradation that I can tell whatsoever. In most situations a cheap polarizer is much better than none at all.

dirt lover wrote in post #2959326
77mm one's (high quality) are so expensive (hoya pro1 77= about $120 on ebay). I'll get one some day.

Not true... I did some research when I had to re-purchased another 77mm Hoya Pro1 S-HMC and came across Maxsaver.net... I posted a thread to make see if anyone had dealt with them and any feedback regarding the website retailer... 90% of the responses came back positive... With that, I ordered the CPL from them... $102 + shipping... The only drawback was the delivery time of over a week (they're based in British Columbia)... I wouldn't have any issues ordering from them in the future... Check them out... BTW, the CPL is exactly the same as my original one (niece broke it by accident), but without the $190 price tag....

- airbutchie

PS. Thanks picsniper for the informative CPL pictures... Much appreciated!!!

An excellent choice - huzzah!

CP's are great. I've had good things happen because of them.

I've got a really dumb newbie question on CP filters - what does turning the outer ring do? I looked at some quantaray filters @ Ritz today (they say the pro line is made by Hoya) & there's a triangle on the outer ring but nothing else.

What's the utility of turning the ring, can you see the effect through the viewfinder, is it as simple as just putting the filter on & taking pictures, do you leave it on all of the time - I'm basically new to the whole topic.

TIA

Yes you will see a difference. The mark reflects the orientation of the plane of polarization. Turning the ring actually rotates teh whole filter. Good brands are Hoya (S-HMC or better), B+W (MRC) or Heliopan (SH-PMC) multicoated filters. Quantaray aren't among the better brands of much of anything.

airbutchie wrote in post #2965668
Not true... I did some research when I had to re-purchased another 77mm Hoya Pro1 S-HMC and came across Maxsaver.net... I posted a thread to make see if anyone had dealt with them and any feedback regarding the website retailer... 90% of the responses came back positive... With that, I ordered the CPL from them... $102 + shipping... The only drawback was the delivery time of over a week (they're based in British Columbia)... I wouldn't have any issues ordering from them in the future... Check them out... BTW, the CPL is exactly the same as my original one (niece broke it by accident), but without the $190 price tag....

- airbutchie

PS. Thanks picsniper for the informative CPL pictures... Much appreciated!!!

The price at Maxsaver.net for B+W 67mm Kaesemann MRC Circular Polarizer Filter is $112.00 including shipping as compared to $169.30 at www.2filter.com, where I have been buying at good prices. They're actually in Hong Kong and go by Besteastern on ebay. They get good reviews - I'll have to consider buying from them. Anyone else have experience with them?

Dave

Sparks.... Here's the thread I did on Maxsaver.net... I hope it helps in your decision making... I, for one, will do business with them in the future if I need a filter of any sort...

Linky: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=288398

- airbutchie