OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

I just got a cheap polarizer ($17 for a Tiffen 52mm), and I'm honestly disappointed. Most advertising, including Tiffen, show reflections in windows completely disappearing, but that's far from my experience.

Google searches have gotten me a lot of over-my-head tech talk which generally boils down to optic qualities of the glass, multicoating, scratch resistance, percentage of light transmission, and color shift, none of which really matter to me.

I just want to know are different polarizers better or worse at eliminating (or significantly reducing) glare and reflections than others?? What's your experience?

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

CP filter take some learning - got to have the angle with the sun or they don't work - another thing is that is why they are split ring - turn them while composing the shot - if it doesn't help you gott'a move your location.
Long & short of it is - sometimes they work & sometimes they don't.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Yeah, Harvey, I found that out.

I just read in the superfine print, "Due to variations in printing, packaging may not accurately represent filter effects." I guess they're just showing the best possible effect, as I probably would, too. Or, as the commodities brokers express it, "Past performance is no guarantee of future results." :roll:

steve40 Loc: Asheville/Canton, NC, USA

Polarizers only work at 90 degree angles to the sun, and at varying degrees with non metal reflections. Mine will polarize at times, under daylight fluorescent lighting. The angle that the light strikes the object, depends on whether the polarizer has any effect or not.

It doesn't matter to some extent about the price, of course better glass provides cleaner images. Mine is
a B+W (Schneider optics), it cost about $80, and that is a good average price. Some are well over a hundred.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Make sure you are using an IF (internal focus) lens. On an external focus lens, the front element turns as the lens focuses, ruining a CP adjustment. If your lens is external focus, focus, lock the focus (or convert to manual focus) and adjust the polarizer after the lens stops turning to focus.

renomike Loc: Reno, Nevada

You got what you paid for at $17.00, don't expect much. A good multi coated variable polarizer would run anywhere from $75.00 to $300.00 dollars. Tiffen makes some great filters but they are not cheap.

Mike

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

To be effect at stopping reflections off windows / water shiny surfaces,etc. an angle of approximately 30 degrees to the camera will give the best results. For sky improvements in landscapes, the sun should be approximately 90 degrees to the angle of view. Rotating front element lenses are a pain in the butt when using a Polar-Filter.

Mudshark Loc: Illinois

If you are a good pool player you will get a lot more from your polarizer...it's all in the angles....

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

My camera is not back from the repair shop yet so I can't test my recollection, which is:
...90degrees to the sun to reduce/eliminate sun glare
...The relation to sun is immaterial when reducing object glare, i.e: glare/reflections from water, glass or anything reflective. For this, its a matter of testing the angle and filter in relation to the object.
????

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Again, thanks for all the supportive answers. And I appreciate your honesty, Mike. I do like that Tiffens are made in the USA and have a ten year warranty.

I should add that my interest in polarizers is primarily because I have a couple of dogs who like to watch the world go by from the back of a couch in front of a window, and I'm trying for some "doggie in the window" shots, probably just for my own album.

Some other things I've learned while experimenting:

(1) Reflections off glass are decreased as the subject moves farther from the glass and the reflections are more out of focus. Not much help with doggie in window.

(2) Using flash (as long as I'm at an angle to the glass) overpowers the reflection, virtually eliminating it.

(3) Perhaps the most significant "doh" moment: as long as it's my own house, not that much trouble to temporarily tack up a tarp to block the reflection source!!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go clean some noseprints off a window. :D

Mudshark Loc: Illinois

It would appear, judging from your avatar, those nose prints will be small...but very cute.

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

First, I don't want to be condescending or make you angry but we don't know your experience level. You are aware that you must rotate the outer ring to cause a variety of polarizing effects to occur aren't you? There have been posters on here who didn't know.

Second, what a polarizer achieves is mostly determined by the time of day, angle of the sunlight compared to you and your lens, the amount of glare you're trying to get rid of, etc.

Sometimes a CP will give deep blue skies where the sky was originally pale when you dial it up and sometimes it won't. Sometimes it will take the sparkles off of rippling water on a lake when you dial it up and sometimes it won't. Sometimes it will completely eliminate an obnoxious glare and sometimes just partially or not at all.

To be blunt, a CP can be very effective or not very effective at all in each individual situation. I'm not saying you have to always fight it to get results, but just get the hang of it without expecting a miracle to happen and try different things to learn what works and what doesn't. When it does help, it's fabulous, when it doesn't help, you just go on and do your best anyway.

I'm sure somebody on here can and will give you a fully technical definition of ultraviolet spectral refraction or something related to polarization but I've always used a CP with seat-of-pants trial and error technique.

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

My experience with a CP filter? I was on a boardwalk and took a photo of the village where I was--beautiful, deep blue sky, puffy white clouds. Tremendous improvement on the photo! I turned 90 degrees and took a photo of kayakers nearby, everything in the photo was spot on--except the kayakers! They looked like multi-colored tootsie rolls. The kayaks were not recognizable. Showed the photos to some knowledgeable friends who said, "That's the way it goes!"

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Taking pictures with a CPL through the windows in a plane can produce the same rainbow effects. I also see that effect when I wear polarized sunglasses in the car. The plastic over the gauges will often have rainbows.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Take a look at this comparison of CPLs. http://www.lenstip.com/115.4-article-Polarizing_filters_test_Results_and_summary.html

I just got a pair of the Marumis.