Mike Holmes Loc: The Villages Fl

Is it alright to add a circular Polaroid filter to a UV filter?

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

I wouldn't do it, it's usually not a good idea to stack filters.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Especially on a wide angle lens.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Mac is correct. Two immediate reasons, 1, more glass surfaces to bounce light around and cause flare. 2, possible vignette caused by the extension of the filter frames.
--Bob

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

With digital there is no need for a UV filter, unless you are using it for protection. So if you use a polarizer, there is no need to also use the UV.

Mike Holmes Loc: The Villages Fl

I have the uv filter on all of my lenses for protection. I us the polaroid filter when needed. The reason for the question is it would be easier to put on the Polaroid filter if I did not have to remove the UV filter

louparker Loc: Scottsdale, AZ

It's a "polarizer" filter, not a "Polaroid" filter. Polaroid is a camera brand. And, no you don't need a UV filter with a polarizer -- the polarizing effect does the same thing that a UV filter does and besides adding yet another layer of glass in front of any lens is never a good idea because it degrades the image quality of your lens to say nothing about possibly causing vignetting. Another thought is that if you use a good PP program, you may not even need either a polarizer or UV filters because you can achieve much of the same in PP (like increasing blue saturation like a polarizer does and eliminating haze like both a polarizer and UV do). I have a top of the line B+W ultra thin circular nano polarizer (cost over $100) that I carry with me but hardly ever use anymore because of how good my ACDSee Pro editing program works so I don't lose the extra 2 f-stops from using my polarizer.

IR Jim Loc: St. Louis

I see your dilemma, I had the same one long ago. I had tried stacking filters and, as others have said, it would cause vignetting if shot too wide and ghosting or flares if there were bright areas or light sources in the frame.
For some situations where you're shooting long and there's no light sources in the frame, you can probably get away with stacking filters. I did this before but now I just swap them out. Sure it's a pain at times but double stacking filters causes issues more often than not. Eventually as my kit grew I keep CPL's on the lenses i use mostly for landscapes and quality UV filters for protection.
Even with 1 filter, given the right conditions it is possible they could cause flares or ghosting. I've seen it with sunrise / sunset shots, in those cases I remove the filter entirely. Most of the time, if it's a good UV filter, you wouldn't ever know it was on.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Mike, like yourself, I use UV filters for the same reason. However, once attached, the CP filter provides the same protection as the UV. There are times when I do remove the UV filter because it will cause issues. Similarly, I won't use a CP, due to the same reasons.

That stated, The additional surfaces of glass due to the addition of filters can cause issues, those being flare/reflections or vignette of the corners of the image. If either of those possible problems don't bother you, then by all means go ahead and just add the CP to the UV and fire away.
--Bob

traderjohn Loc: New York City

I believe he misspoke. Don't you? No reason to get your panties in an uproar.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

It is not a circular Polaroid but a polarizer filter. Yes, you can use both BUT you will be better off not doing it.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Easier how? You unscrew the UV filter and screw the circular polarizer filter onto the lens instead. When you are done with the CPL you simply take it off and screw on the UV filter again. Maybe I am missing something but that seems pretty easy to me.

Dennis

rjriggins11 Loc: Colorado Springs, CO

It's never a good idea to stack filters. Especially polarizers. They get stuck. I've had to remove and separate many of them over the years and sometimes, they can't be separated and both will need to be replaced.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

KIS- Keep it simple!

The original function of a UV filter was to block excessive ultraviolet light that caused a blueish cast with many color FILMS. Many currently manufactured films no longer exhibit as much blue sensitivity and of course, digital equipment is not affected by ultraviolet light. Since UV filters do not add density or shift color, they are traditionally used for lens protection.

Even the finest filters can cause problematic issues such as increasing the potential for flare and thereby reducing contrast or by simply adding additional surfaces in the light path, they can somewhat affect image sharpness. Protection filters should be used where there or where is potential for lens damage due to airborne dust,at industrial sites where abrasive particles may be present, on sandy beaches, where salt spray, any kind of splatter or other out of doors hazards exist. In studio conditions, I seldom use theses filters.

When a polarizing filter is required, do not stack it with another filter for all of the reasons that others have alluded to. The polarizing filter will protect the lens and provide the required effects.

A polarizing filter is indeed a POLAROID filter. They are basically the same technology originally invented by Dr. Edwin Land, the founder of the Polaroid corporation. I suppose "polarizing filter" or "CPL", etc. sounds more high tech but who cares!

agillot

Modern lenses dont need a UV filter , so remove it and use the polarizer . for lens protection , the lens shade does it .