Royce Moss Loc: Irvine, CA

Gonna take a road trip along the coast from Los Angeles to Oregon soon. I plan on taking my new Sigma 150-600, Tokina 11-16 and Nikon 18-140. I know I will be taking a lot of day time shots along water and some landscapes. I have been researching for awhile. Your thoughts on their use and which ones are good.Thanks

Robyn H Loc: MainLine PA

I don't know about the Sigma, that would be an expensive filter. You should definitely get one for your 18-140.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

I have a whole bunch of CPL filters of various sizes. I use them when there's glare or I want to enhance the sky. The larger the filter, the more expensive. Don't get a cheap one and quite frankly, there's no reason to buy the most expensive, unless you have money to waste.

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

For me good polarizer filters are the only ones I always carry in my bag. It is like seat belts in your car - not always needed but so glad you have it when you do need. And, what I like about it, don't even have to screw onto lens to test - just hold my eye to it, rotate it within my fingers to see if it will improve the photo.

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

In my opinion the Polarizing filter is the most important filter to have. You shouldn't keep it on the lens all the time, but keep it with you so you have it when you need it.
Also keep in mind that on a wide angle lens a polarizer will result in an uneven sky~~~darker in some areas and lighter in others.

Haydon

There's no better way to cut reflections off of water than with a polarizer. Besides, it offers the possibility of much deeper blue skies when used correctly.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

That some areas of an image react differently to a polarizing filter derive from the variable degree of light polarization from the scene. Size and kind of lens plays no bearing on the polarization of the incoming light. Interaction of polarized light and polarizing filter is all about angles.

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

I use Hoya slim frame CIR-PL polarizers. They are great at darkening a bright sky and reducing some unwanted reflections off of chrome or glass or taming reflections off of water. My 72mm was $79, 82mm $135, and I don't remember what I paid for the 95mm for the Tamron 150-600mm G2, but it wasn't cheap, but they are worth it.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

One of my fun uses of a CPL filter is for flowers with leaves. It is surprizing how much leaf and petal detail can be seen and photoed.

LarryFB Loc: Depends where our RV is parked

I won't comment on the CPL; However I will comment on your planned trip. Be prepared for some fantastic scener, also be prepared for some hair raising roads. Although the trip from Santa Barbara is very scenic (lots of photo opportunities}, the road from San Francisco to Fort Bragg can be hair raising; especially the first part. Drive slow and watch the road, not the scenery, use a pull out when appropriate. Gualala is very beautiful, Point Arena is very intersting, Elk is close to fantastic, and so on. Highway 1 from Fort Bragg at first seems to be an easy drive, but can soon turn into a nightmare.

I have driven many of those roads in my Toyota Tacoma, and some of those in a 40 foot motor home, so I have some experience. After Fort Bragg, and after you get back to US 101, you still have some great scenery.
You are taking a fantastic trip with wonderful views along the way. Just make sure you take you time and enjoy the sights. Also make sure you are always watching the road.

If you want to stop for a night about 30 miles north of Gualala, consider the Manchester Beach KOA, a fantastic KOA. We were work campers there for several years and, frankly it is kind of a second home for us. If you see Yolanda (the manager) or Tarey (the owner) say hello for us.

Good Luck and take care!

hawleyrw Loc: Dayton, OH

Yes. Definitely get one. I use mine all the time. SO many times I find its useful to remove unwanted glare.

Photocraig

The CPL does more than turn the sky deep blue, if only on both sides of a 90 degree angle from teh sun. It eliminates reflections and haze and fog and smog are reflections off particulate matter in the sky. So, think of it like a fog cutter, or sunglasses for your lens. Any time you have yours on consider mounting one up on your lens. The CPL on your Ultra wide will yield uneven skies, but the detail shots might benefit from the reduced reflections.

In bright sunlight it is an alternative for every shot. And on the beach it can help tame the reflected light from the sand and water. Have a great trip.
C

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

waegwan Loc: Mae Won Li

I shoot Canon so I'm not familiar with you lenses. Do they all use the same size filter? In my bag I have some lenses with 67mm filter size and some with 77mm filter size. I carry one 77mm CPL filter with a 67 to 77 adapter so I can use the 77mm filter on the 67mm lenses. Just a thought if your lenses have different filter sizes.

BTW, how much of the old coast road is still in tact? I heard some years ago that sections of it were gone. 50 years ago I used to hitchhike up and down there. It was pretty awesome. Don't know how far you are going into Oregon but the fall river road from Portland to Mosier used to be pretty great.

Largobob

CPL are very useful, as has been mentioned. If you decide to purchase one, you may want to check B+W and other quality name brands. Also remember that you will "lose light" with a polarizer.....perhaps 2 stops depending on the degree of polarization.