Polarizing Filters: I have a new Zfc with a 24-200 full frame zoom. I have been keeping the polarizing filter on, however I wonder if there are times when it is better to not utilizie...

jimpitt

I have a new Zfc with a 24-200 full frame zoom. I have been keeping the polarizing filter on, however I wonder if there are times when it is better to not utilizie the polarizer. Pardon if this is a basic question; I am a serious amateur and still learning about mirrorless. My main topics are dinner parties, sunsets, and landscapes. Thanks.

Bill_de Loc: US

jimpitt wrote:

I have a new Zfc with a 24-200 full frame zoom. I have been keeping the polarizing filter on, however I wonder if there are times when it is better to not utilizie the polarizer. Pardon if this is a basic question; I am a serious amateur and still learning about mirrorless. My main topics are dinner parties, sunsets, and landscapes. Thanks.

Polarizers do cause a bit of light loss, roughly about one to two stops depending on the polarization intensity.

Also, you may need to remember to rotate the filter based on light direction

https://fstoppers.com/originals/why-you-absolutely-need-circular-polarizer-280083#:

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Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I only use my polarizer outdoors (so far).
I'd never keep it on the camera full time because of the light reduction, but that's me.
I only use it when I want to eliminate reflections (water, windows, ...) or enhance the sky.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

jimpitt wrote:

I have a new Zfc with a 24-200 full frame zoom. I have been keeping the polarizing filter on, however I wonder if there are times when it is better to not utilizie the polarizer. Pardon if this is a basic question; I am a serious amateur and still learning about mirrorless. My main topics are dinner parties, sunsets, and landscapes. Thanks.

Why have a polarizing filter at all? And at all times? I find mine virtually worthless, and rarely ever use, even though I do have clear or UV filters on my lenses at all times.

Other than some landscape situations, none of your other intended uses really suggest a benefit of a CPL.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I use the polarizer only when I want to

(1) darken the sky (away from the sun)

(2) reduce reflections (at or near the Brewster angle)

Otherwise I leave filters off my lenses.

(I do use a clear filter occasionally when environmental conditions require it, e.g. salt spray, blowing sand, freezing mud, working around the manure spreader, etc).

User ID

CHG_CANON wrote:

Why have a polarizing filter at all? And at all times? I find mine virtually worthless, and rarely ever use, even though I do have clear or UV filters on my lenses at all times.

Same here. Main use was product photos or catalog pages. Thaz all tripod stuff, so light loss is not a problem.

For everything else I found the cost-benefit balance rules out PLs. The cost is about two stops of light, while the benefits are at best negligible. I am averse to "paying out" two stops for nearly no return on "investment".

mr spock Loc: Fairfield CT

DirtFarmer wrote:

I use the polarizer only when I want to

(1) darken the sky (away from the sun)

(2) reduce reflections (at or near the Brewster angle)

Otherwise I leave filters off my lenses.

(I do use a clear filter occasionally when environmental conditions require it, e.g. salt spray, blowing sand, freezing mud, working around the manure spreader, etc).

May be a dumb question but what is the Brewster angle?

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

mr spock wrote:

May be a dumb question but what is the Brewster angle?

When light falls on the surface of an item, the reflected light can be partially polarized depending on the material. The Brewster angle is the angle of incidence at which the reflected light is completely polarized. That light can be cut out by a polarizer on your lens. Named after the scientist who quantified the effect (1815).

rbmcdill Loc: St. Louis, MO

I don't use mine very often but have them when I want a longer shutter speed for moving water for example. I haven't tried using one when shooting through glass, but that would be another common use.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

DirtFarmer wrote:

When light falls on the surface of an item, the reflected light can be partially polarized depending on the material. The Brewster angle is the angle of incidence at which the reflected light is completely polarized. That light can be cut out by a polarizer on your lens. Named after the scientist who quantified the effect (1815).

Hmmmmm.
I wonder how many people measure the angle of incidence to see if they should use a polarizer.

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

jimpitt wrote:

I have a new Zfc with a 24-200 full frame zoom. I have been keeping the polarizing filter on, however I wonder if there are times when it is better to not utilizie the polarizer. Pardon if this is a basic question; I am a serious amateur and still learning about mirrorless. My main topics are dinner parties, sunsets, and landscapes. Thanks.

In my opinion you should leave the CPL off unless you specifically have a reason for it. Youve got a great camera and a pretty good lens so I wouldn't add any more glass to the combo unless it was necessary for a particular reason. Dinner parties it is more hassle than its worth and not necessary. Sunsets you will be near to shooting at the sun so a CPL isn't going to have much affect, leave it off. Landscapes it a genre where it can give you a number of reasons to use it.
Rather than going into the effects and reasons for use here, I suggest you do a google search 'how to use a CPL filter' and you will get a lot of stuff to study and said much better than I could phrase. Also a search on YouTube with just CPL filter, will give you some very helpful results.
I subscribe to this guys channel. He's a so called 'pro' landscape photographer and I think gives excellent advice in an easy way to follow. Here's one on what he thinks of a CPL filter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E1nwQgmIAk

Enjoy the journey

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

jimpitt wrote:

I have a new Zfc with a 24-200 full frame zoom. I have been keeping the polarizing filter on, however I wonder if there are times when it is better to not utilizie the polarizer. Pardon if this is a basic question; I am a serious amateur and still learning about mirrorless. My main topics are dinner parties, sunsets, and landscapes. Thanks.

I agree with CG_Canon

User ID

Longshadow wrote:

Hmmmmm.
I wonder how many people measure the angle of incidence to see if they should use a polarizer.

Dont know but poll the forum cuz pretty much any who woud bother with it are all right here.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

User ID wrote:

Don't know but poll the forum cuz pretty much any who would bother with it are all right here.

I won't.
If I see reflections in a shot and I don't want them there I'll use a polarizer.
Otherwise, I'll not.

BebuLamar

Longshadow wrote:

I won't.
If I see reflections in a shot and I don't want them there I'll use a polarizer.
Otherwise, I'll not.

You can use the polarizer to emphasize the reflections too.