Is polarization really worth it?

[frnak]

Hi all, I've just bought a Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6 for China and have been using it frequently. Now that the trip has ended, I would like to use the lens for landscape photography in Canada as sort of a post-trip experiment.

I have a 58mm polarizing lens for my 18-55mm but was disappointed at the results. Either from my lack of experience, or yeah...just that.

My primary objective is to take photos of sunsets and water based scenes.

So I was wondering if you guys think its ABSOLUTELY necessary to buy a polarizing lens for the sigma (77mm)? If not, I'm only going to use ND filters.


Thanks

[dakwegmo]

I find my circular polarizer indispensable when photographing water. A lot of times when you're shooting water you don't really want to see the reflections on the surface, you want to see what's in the water. Without a CP you just have to hope the conditions are right to get any detail below the surface. Also, there are usually millions of droplets and puddles around water that can create glare. A CP will help you eliminate a lot of that, which will make the image much richer than it would be without.

Oh, and rather than buying a bunch of different polarizers, you can get one that will fit your largest size lens, or the largest you expect to buy, then buy step up rings for all of your smaller sized lenses.

[IABoomer]

You might have odd skies using a polarizer on an ultra-wide lens, though, since the light is coming in at varying angles, leading to different levels of polarization.

Luminous Landscape has a pretty good writeup on the pros and cons: Polarizers

[Krusty79]

Just keep in mind that a polarizer is most effective at a 90 degree angle relative to the sun. If you are shooting water and are aimed at the setting sun or with the sun at your back, the polarizer won't do much.

[T O P L E S S]

Yes, it's definitely a filter you want and should to have in your arsenal. Look to purchase a linear polarizer instead of a circular as the cost difference is 2x. I have two linear polarizers for a lens I use the most because when stacked you can cross polarize them which the acts as ND's, controlling the light to none. It cant be done with a circular polarizer. If you have a facebook account you can see this short video

[navcom]

Most of us approach filters from the perspective of....I want to do this or that so which filter should I use. It might make it easier if you approach the question by asking what a polarizer is used for and then determine if it's needed for your photography. For instance, I've often heard that a UV filter is good for protecting your lens. This is true, but it can also degrade all your images. So is the return on investment (the hundreds you spent on the lens for great pictures) really there if you immediately degrade it with a cheap UV filter? Personally I think UV filters work great as coasters for my drink....but I digress!

A polarizer works great for reducing reflections such as on water (as mentioned by Krusty and dakwegmo) and for darkening a blue sky depending on the angle you are from the sun (as mentioned by Krusty as well). I use several different types of polarizers in my photography and I'm pretty much a landscape photographer exclusively. If you want to control reflections and thus reduce some glare, they work great. For water shots they can really make a shot pop.

I do tons of sunsets/sunrises but polarizers are usually not very good when pointed directly at the sun and can have some bizarre results. For sunsets, a good set of graduated neutral density filters are indispensible and are made to control the high dynamic range which is present in sunrises/sunsets.

Hope that helps!

[navcom]

Originally Posted by T O P L E S S

Yes, it's definitely a filter you want and should to have in your arsenal. Look to purchase a linear polarizer instead of a circular as the cost difference is 2x. I have two linear polarizers for a lens I use the most because when stacked you can cross polarize them which the acts as ND's, controlling the light to none. It cant be done with a circular polarizer. If you have a facebook account you can see this short video

I might disagree on this point. Filters are one of those things you really do get what you pay for. I've had dirt cheap and very expensive filters. I can tell you from experience that the expensive ones are much better for image quality. The manufacturing process to make a good polarizer cannot be had by getting $20 for the product.

I'm not saying there isn't a place for low-cost filters...especially when you are just starting out. Most of us cannot afford to spend hundreds of dollars/pounds on filters and justify the expense. But it needs to be said that if you are serious about photography, you might want to consider the ROI up front. I know from my own personal experience that I became very frustrated with cheap polarizers and could not understand why I couldn't get the results I expected...until someone let me use their high-quality version.

Just my two cents. You are right though!...polarizers are a good filter to have!

[T O P L E S S]

Originally Posted by navcom

I might disagree on this point. Filters are one of those things you really do get what you pay for. I've had dirt cheap and very expensive filters. I can tell you from experience that the expensive ones are much better for image quality. The manufacturing process to make a good polarizer cannot be had by getting $20 for the product.

I'm not saying there isn't a place for low-cost filters...especially when you are just starting out. Most of us cannot afford to spend hundreds of dollars/pounds on filters and justify the expense. But it needs to be said that if you are serious about photography, you might want to consider the ROI up front. I know from my own personal experience that I became very frustrated with cheap polarizers and could not understand why I couldn't get the results I expected...until someone let me use their high-quality version.

Just my two cents. You are right though!...polarizers are a good filter to have!

I didn't say anywhere in my post to buy a cheap filter, unless your suggesting that a linear type is cheap? I can only say that the polarizer is used to remove glare and if you can see a difference between a $30 from a $150 polarizer, that's great, but I don't think the majority will. Although in a sense your correct because not all polarizers are created equal, some aren't 100%=cheap $$, but that doesn't mean you can't get the same results from a $20 one from a $150. BTW, the one that isn't a 100% is a popular brand that starts with a T and ends with and N.

Happy Shooting

[Krusty79]

Originally Posted by T O P L E S S

Yes, it's definitely a filter you want and should to have in your arsenal. Look to purchase a linear polarizer instead of a circular as the cost difference is 2x. I have two linear polarizers for a lens I use the most because when stacked you can cross polarize them which the acts as ND's, controlling the light to none. It cant be done with a circular polarizer. If you have a facebook account you can see this short video

Topless - I've read that linear polarizers don't work well with autofocus and circular polarizers do work well with autofocus. Do you autofocus? Have you had any focusing issues?

[navcom]

Originally Posted by T O P L E S S

BTW, the one that isn't a 100% is a popular brand that starts with a T and ends with and N.

LOL!! That's great!