Circular polarizer: Hi gang, When casually shooting with my 17 - 40mm 4.0L Canon lens outfitted with a B+W circular polarizer, I find it awkward to have to keep changing it whenever I...

sandyegg Loc: San Francisco Bay Area

Hi gang,
When casually shooting with my 17 - 40mm 4.0L Canon lens outfitted with a B+W circular polarizer, I find it awkward to have to keep changing it whenever I change the orientation of the camera 90 degrees from landscape to portrait and back to keep the proper alignment, especially with the lens hood on. Any ideas about how to simplify the process to easily ensure the correct polarizer alignment each time?
Thanks!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Other than turning the polarizer? No.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

sandyegg wrote:

Hi gang,
When casually shooting with my 17 - 40mm 4.0L Canon lens outfitted with a B+W circular polarizer, I find it awkward to have to keep changing it whenever I change the orientation of the camera 90 degrees from landscape to portrait and back to keep the proper alignment, especially with the lens hood on. Any ideas about how to simplify the process to easily ensure the correct polarizer alignment each time?
Thanks!

Nope.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

sandyegg wrote:

Hi gang,
When casually shooting with my 17 - 40mm 4.0L Canon lens outfitted with a B+W circular polarizer, I find it awkward to have to keep changing it whenever I change the orientation of the camera 90 degrees from landscape to portrait and back to keep the proper alignment, especially with the lens hood on. Any ideas about how to simplify the process to easily ensure the correct polarizer alignment each time?
Thanks!

At one time I believe Tiffen made a polarizer that had a post on the outside of the ring. When you got ready to go vertical from horizontal (or vice versa), you would locate that post's position, change the camera position, and relocate that post back to its former position. You might try two colored nail polish dots, 180° apart, on your polarizing filter's movable front ring and use the same technique. Just remember that you will still probably have to fine tune the polarization after the relocation. But it should end up fairly close.

ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA

Get a rubber lens hood that screws onto the filter - then it’s quick and easy to turn the filter.

CO

I had a lens follow focus shifter once. It has stops that can be adjusted to allow just the right amount of rotation. Maybe that could be adapted to turn the filter.

(Download)

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Practice! The more you practice the procedure, the easier, faster and more precise you will be able adjust the polarizer as needed.

I also agree with ecobin - a screw-on rubber lens hood will facilitate turning the filter ring. A basic rubber lens hood isn't all that expensive either.

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

I had this problem pre digital, with a Nikon lens (28~85)? Bought a Sigma 24~70 (That didn't rotate during focus/zoom. Problem solved. Still use the Sigma lens on FF and crop digital bodies.

ClarkG Loc: Southern Indiana USA

I don’t use a lens hood when shooting with a CPL.

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

With a nice smooth running filter like I'd expect a B&W to be it's just a matter of practise to drop a finger on the knurled front edge and spin to required position. I don't find this to be a problem with specific lens hoods or rubber cones.

repleo Loc: Boston

Breakthrough Photography's CPL's have a deeply knurled edge which makes it easier to turn with a single finger tip even with a lens hood on. They are best quality filters a well.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

sandyegg wrote:

Hi gang,
When casually shooting with my 17 - 40mm 4.0L Canon lens outfitted with a B+W circular polarizer, I find it awkward to have to keep changing it whenever I change the orientation of the camera 90 degrees from landscape to portrait and back to keep the proper alignment, especially with the lens hood on. Any ideas about how to simplify the process to easily ensure the correct polarizer alignment each time?
Thanks!

You can dremel cut a finger hole like the 100-400mm has in the hood?

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

sandyegg wrote:

Hi gang,
When casually shooting with my 17 - 40mm 4.0L Canon lens outfitted with a B+W circular polarizer, I find it awkward to have to keep changing it whenever I change the orientation of the camera 90 degrees from landscape to portrait and back to keep the proper alignment, especially with the lens hood on. Any ideas about how to simplify the process to easily ensure the correct polarizer alignment each time?
Thanks!

A screw-in rubber lens hood will work unless you have a very wide angle lens in which case you may find vignetting on your pictures. If that is the case, I would dispense with the lens hood when shooting with the CPL if that will not introduce other issues.

BruceS

This is a first world problem.

markinvictoria Loc: Victoria TX

Architect1776 wrote:

You can dremel cut a finger hole like the 100-400mm has in the hood?

I've been using the 'dremel' to cut slots on the lower side of the hood for years...works great.