bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

Which one you should use depends on the angle between the sun and your subject. Polarizers are the gold standard for darkening the sky when the angle between the sun and subject are properly aligned. Otherwise I would use a graduated ND filter. The rectangular ND filters are are better when you cannot use a polarizer efficiently because by sliding them up and down in their adaptor you can easily position them for the best result.

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

That's GREAT advice!

Bill P

Yup! often forgotten are the things that film camera users had to know that still apply. Even with with longer focal length lenses, polarizers, circular of linear, sometimes work well, sometimes just a bit, and sometimes not at all. A grad ND produces the same results with any lens under any conditions. It's just a bit more complicated to use.

Bill P

Yup! often forgotten are the things that film camera users had to know that still apply. Even with with longer focal length lenses, polarizers, circular or linear, sometimes work well, sometimes just a bit, and sometimes not at all. A grad ND produces the same results with any lens under any conditions. It's just a bit more complicated to use.

bnsf

Can or should you combine the UV and Polarizer filters together or should they be used separately?

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

UV filters have no real purpose with digital photography. People use them for protection, but if you are using a polarizer, the UV filter is superfluous and just adds another piece of glass to degrade the image.

bnsf

Thanks, did not know. I was using UV on 35mm film lenses and kepted them on for the digital camera. If l do not need them now, l can just take them off store them or sell them on eBay.

Imagemine Loc: St. Louis USA

I would an suggest a polarizer the reason you can use the graduated filter in post processing. I use Light Room and have had good success with it. On the other hand Lee filter system is good if you wan to use both and & polarizer sometimes you have good results with a filter system

waegwan Loc: Mae Won Li

You might want to double check you equipment requirements first. Some "weather sealed" lenses like the Canon 24-105 require a filter to complete the weather seal process. Just a thought.

catchlight.. Loc: Wisconsin USA- Halden Norway

According to the information provided by Canon, the 25-105mm F/4L is 100% weather-sealed, that is why they use the umbrella icon in its specification page. Some Canon lenses require a screw-on filter to complete the seal but this is not one of them.

Quote: from Canon

Bipod

Like most bare assertions, this is partially correct, but misleading in numerous ways.

The photocells used in digital sensors are senstiive to UV (and IR).
All digital sensors have an integral IR filter, but not all have a UV filter built in.
The opitcal cement used in some modern lenses absorbs UV. But some
other lenses transmit UV.
A big problem with all lenses (but especially zooms) is flare. Flare can
be visibile or insidious. Either way it reduces contrast.
Anything you add to the front of a lens reduces flare. The worst surface that
the sun can strike is the objective (front) element of the lens, because it is
convex and thick.
So, in the absence of a good lens hood, screwing a piece of multi-coated plain
glass to the front of a lens often reduces flares and improves contrast.
To be good, a lens hood for a zoom lens must be adjustable. Few are.

So as usual, "the devil is in the details". There is no simple, categorical answer
that fits all lens, all cameras, and photographers. One needs to test one's
camera and lens(es) or at leaset study them.

In a discussion made up of "sound bites" and slogans, there will be very little truth.

waegwan Loc: Mae Won Li

I think you are right. I should have said 16-35 just as an example. The manual on my 16-35 recommends a Canon PROTECT filter to ensure dust and water resistance performance. :-)

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

I wait until late evening and let nature darken the sky.

Actually a polarizer does well.
Here is a very dark sky as I played with the CPL. I was fortunate the sun was at the right angle to get maximum effect as the CPL was rotated.

(Download)

User ID

Yes.

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

Grad ND do reduce only part of the incoming light.