This may be a real newbie question, but how do you know when you've turned a polarizing filter enough when taking photos. I just picked up a circular polarizer and am not sure if I have it positioned right. Granted it is raining today, so I can't see any difference in the sky and there are no idication on the filter itself. The lcd automatically adjusts for exposure so I see no difference there and I'm not getting any difference the the shutter speed indicator as I turn it. The only thing I noticed is that when I look directly at it on the camera, turning it a certain ammount will remove the glare from the lense. Is that On or OFF? Any help/tips are welcome, thanks.

Look through the viewfinder and turn it..... you will see a lightening and darkening in the blue of the sky..... of course the sun does have to be out and the sky has to be blue not grey.... It's like wearing polarizing sunglasses.... if the sun's not out it's not going to do anything.

But even though it's not sunny you may be able to see the difference now on the light glare off the leaves of a plant, or water reflections.....

Message edited on: 05/31/2005 13:30

I really could not see a difference. I will have to try it again when it is sunny out. The only thing I could see for sure was turning the camera around and seeing the glare dimish on the lense itself. I'll have to mark it when I finally figure it out. I guess it is the wrong day to be trying out a new polarizing filter. :)

Message edited on: 05/31/2005 13:33

You might try aiming the camera glare coming off some glass like a windshield. Then rotate the filter and see if it reduces it. Sorry I can't remember if you have a SLR, but there should be a visible difference looking through the viewfinder. Just a thought hope it helps:}

Yes, it is a DSLR. I'll give it a go. Does anyone know why I paid more for a circular polarizer as opposed to a standard one? The salesmen said I need it so that it work properly with my autofocus system. Anyone know the truth of that?

I'm not sure if I dare slightly disagree with Michelles excellent explanation, Michelles expertise in far greater than mine. However using a polarized filter agenised a grey sky will change the depth of the grey detail in the clouds, this will, be more apparent if there are a range or grey in a detailed cloudy sky, agenised a flat grey sky it will be more difficult to see. That said I have only ever used a polarized filter with an SLR camera and it is much easier to see a difference when you turn the filter. Agenised a blue sky it is much easier to see the colour saturation change. This should also be apparent in the light metering of the camera with the exposure (f stop and or shutter speed depending on what shooting mode is set) changing.

Linier polarized filters can affect the auto focus of some modern cameras and circular polarized filters should not affect the auto focus Some linier filters will work with some auto focus cameras. (Matter of opinion)

Here is a site that can explain circular vs. linear polarizers much better than I can. http://dpfwiw.com/polarizer.htm#circular

Thanks guys, appreciate the help.

When taking photos with the polarizer on a sunny day- you'll get the best effect on the sky shooting at a 90-degree angle from the sun. Often taking teh photo with the sun at your back will not yield as good of an effect. And like Michelle said, the sky has to be blue as opposed to grey.

The amount you rotate the filter gives different effects, on different reflections. So, it won't always be "marked" in the same place. [There once was a really nice tutorial in the Resource Area on this.]

Attached Link: http://market.renderosity.com/~photo/newweb/index.htm

Message edited on: 05/31/2005 19:58

I know I'm not mistaken when I say a polarizer wont work under grey skies. I didn't make it up, it's true! :~) A clear blue sky has lots of polarized light.... as DeviousMoose has pointed out you must be at a 90 degree angle from the sun to obtain the maximum effect from a polarizer. A gray over cast sky polarizes virtually no light, and so it will be hardly affected by a polarizer... notice I said hardly! So I'm not saying that Simon is completely off base... if there is some polarized light coming through it may be possible to see some darkening of clouds... Also when shooting glass, water, glossy things..... 30 degree is the right angle for maximum elimination of reflections. A polarizer does not work on metals.......

Cindy I think it was put there by starshuffler because it was written more like an article than a step by step tutorial.... but one place is as good as the other as far as I'm concerned. If it's easier for people to find it in tuts.... by all means move it. :~)

Message edited on: 05/31/2005 20:22

i see, ok... TY Michelle :]

Of course as Michelle has stated (and explained it better than I did) I may have been slightly miss-understood. Agenised a heavily overcast sky it is unlikely that there will be a noticeable difference. The case here in Scotland, probably the UK in general and anywhere with similar climate and weather conditions, there is often situations where there is sky that has breaks in the cloud as well as dark and very light patches (this maybe why there is a difference in opinion) This can be noticeably visible using a polorizer. The effect that I have noticed is that it has a tendency to add contrast to some areas of sky detail. I totally agree that a visible difference is much more noticeable with brightly lit blue sky. Michelle, it was not my intention to undermine your superior knowledge. You know that I have the greatest respect for your photography and depth of knowledge, and apologise if I have offended you.

Oh Simon....!! Stop it....!! :~)) You certainly didn't offend I just wanted to clarify it..... But I agree that skies in different places can be very very different.... I've noticed it just in going from New England to Florida.... the skies down in the south east are very different compared to the north east.... so I can see what you're getting at.... And please there is no superior knowledge.... there are things I know well, but there's still plenty I don't.......

Bout time you came to Scotland then lol The sky changes here every 20 minuets or so, trust me on that. FWIW superior knowledge Yes. And I aint gonna budge on that one. Which reminds me I have a question, I will mail you.

Got the message and I am working on making an easier page for these kind of things. Am making it so that it can be a section that does not require a ton of links and constant updating.

Thanks again for all the info gang. It does help. I came out after work and the sun was finally out. I angled my camera at the windshield of my car and turned the polarizer. Viola! I could noticeably see a difference. The maximum effect was right where the T in Tiffen is, so I have my answer. Of course, I come back today to find all this additional stuff I now have to remember! I bow to EVERYONE'S superior knowledge. ;]