fourlocks Loc: Londonderry, NH

My friend has a Nikon D7200 and I have a D5500; both purchased at the same time and we both have the exact same (18 - 55mm) Nikon lens. At extreme magnification, it seems his photos of the same subject have slightly more sharpness of detail than mine. Both cameras also have the same 24 megapixel sensor, too. The only difference between our setups, is the fact that I have a polarizing filter on the end of my lens and he has nothing. Could the addition of the filter be causing a slight loss of detail or sharpness?

jackpi Loc: Southwest Ohio

Photograph the same subject using a tripod with and without the filter. Then you will know if the problem is the filter or you.

tdekany Loc: Oregon

Of course. Take it off unless you really need it. Btw, is it a quality one or a cheap one?

tdekany Loc: Oregon

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

Polarizer's are only needed in certain circumstances and only work at a 90 degree angle to the sun. As someone else mentioned a cheap polarizer could be a problem as well adding some distortion to the lens overall.

Spider223

Check your other settings also, ISO,shutter speed, aperture, Vivid/Standard/Sharpness/etc...

As a note, my D5500 seems to shoot softer images, less sharp, than I would sometimes like.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Rather than comparing your camera and lens to his, if your question is about possible degradation from the polarizing filter, start by putting your camera on a solid tripod and take pics with and without the filter.

If you see an improvement without the filter, you have an answer to your question.

If not, then borrow his lens and test it with your camera, comparing it to your lens, without the filter of course. If you see a difference, then you know it's a lens issue.

Then put your lens on his camera and compare to his lens to confirm. But make sure that you have both cameras set up as closely as possible with all of the AF parameters.

If your lens and his lens are equal on your body, the focusing system on your camera may be in need of adjustment, in which case I would take it to Nikon, with your lens, and ask them to test and adjust the body. They can adjust the lens, or both, but if you are seeing a problem with two different lenses, there's a good chance that adjusting the body and bringing it up to spec will clear up any AF issues.

Another easy test to see if your camera is at fault is to take a series of shots (on a tripod, static subject) using the viewfinder, then repeat using live view focusing. Compare the best two shots. If there is a different the body needs adjusting.

Do not attempt to fix this with AF Tune, which the Nikon manual will tell you is not a long term solution. Better to have a tech properly adjust it.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

I don't know about the D5500 vs the D7200, but I have seen a comparison between a D5500 vs a D7100, both without a polarizing filter. And the IQ was about equal. I do own a cheap Tiffen polarizing filter, and use it rarely for dull skies. Very good polarizing filters can be costly.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

If you are comparing shots that were taken hand-held, you shouldn't rule out the possibility that your friend simply possesses slightly better camera holding technique than you.

breck Loc: Derbyshire UK

Added to all the variables above are you both shooting Jpeg or raw? If both Jpeg is the adount of sharpening in camera the same or if RAw are you both PPthe same?

Haydon

As others have mentioned, a more controlled experiment is needed to ascertain a definitive conclusion.

therwol Loc: USA

Possible, but not two identical lenses are really identical. There are tolerances in manufacturing. The cameras may not be focusing identically, and being slightly off can affect sharpness. Put the camera on a tripod and take test shots both ways, with and without the filter.

Leitz Loc: Solms

This is the UHH - how dare you advocate using common sense?!?

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

If, after you have tried everything else and nothing changes, get a D5500.

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

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You ought to clarify your statement about the 90° angle to the sun. That is OK for darkening skies to bring out cloud detail. But what about trying to kill reflections from shop windows, water surfaces, painted metal surfaces etc. etc. Then 90° degrees to the sun...means diddly-squat. For open information, approx. 30° to the surface will be the best angle when using a Polar' filter.