Polarizing lens

[Chipper]

Just purchased a polarizing lens.

Should I adjust it so that the view is darker or lighter?

Should I take the polarizer off when shooting indoors?

Does anyone ever just leave it on all the time?

[OwlsEye]

Just purchased a polarizing lens.

Should I adjust it so that the view is darker or lighter?

Should I take the polarizer off when shooting indoors?

Does anyone ever just leave it on all the time?
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Hello,
Polarizers are good for blocking reflections, ghosting and enhancing the deep blue color of the sky. You should rotate your polarizer until the colors are most pleasing to you or alter (prevent or enhance) the reflection off leaves, water, windows, etc... there is no hard fast rule. Remember you are the photographer/artist the polarizer just helps you meet your desired vision.

Personally, I would not recommend leaving a polarizer on a lens. First, it will reduce the light striking your film/sensor by 1 to 3 stops and make focus and composition challenging as the light in your environment diminishes. Furthermore, there will be many times in which a polarizer will not change the nature of  your image... acting more like an ND filter. The additional glass will just serve as one more thing to reduce the overall sharpness of your final picture.

Have fun, experiment, and don't worry about the rules.
cheers,
bruce

[MikeMike]

hey there, the polarizer is in its full "power" when the image is at its darkest. when its at its lightest its barely in effect. if you shoot in extremely bright places all the time then leave it on but it does take off about 1-2 stops of light. also it just doesnt do anything sometimes. also be carefull with snow because it turns is blue sometimes.

Mike

[francois]

Just purchased a polarizing lens.

Should I adjust it so that the view is darker or lighter?

Should I take the polarizer off when shooting indoors?

Does anyone ever just leave it on all the time?
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Check out Michael's article [a href=\"http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/polarizers.shtml]Understanding Polarizers: Care, Feeding & Proper Use[/url].
You should take your filter off when shooting inside and when it adds nothing to the photos.

[fx3 fz30]

Hi everyone,I'm new on here and reletively new to digital photography (though do have a 35mm kit)I have a circular polarizer for my 35mm slr,the question is will that same filter work on my Lumix FZ30? I would have thought it would but to be sure thought I'd ask!

[Goodlistener]

Just purchased a polarizing lens.

Should I adjust it so that the view is darker or lighter?

Should I take the polarizer off when shooting indoors?

Does anyone ever just leave it on all the time?
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=100160\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I got off the phone with Tiffen Technical Support today about circular polarizers. Their point was that the polarizer has no effect and should not be used with flash.  They also suggested that I should twist it around to suit, and the effect could vary from none to a lot.  But, if you move, even a few feet, then the effect is changes because the angle of the light has changed.

I shot took a LOT of shots this past weekend on a boat and on a beach in suny Florida.  I didn't relaize it at the time, but the earlier discussion here that the polarizer acts like a neutral density filter and adds a few stops is absolutely correct. Imagine my surprise to see shots on a sunny beach come out generally dark and underexposed - ish.

Leaving it on all the time is not a good idea, and you also need to keep it clean.  The Tiffen rep also sugested that I buy the biggest size needed to fit my lenses (i.e. 72mm for instance) and then buy adapter rings for smaller lenses. This is less expensive than buying 52, 55, 64, 72mm fiters, etc.  I would have never thought of that.  Anyway, as of now I have 2 circular polarizers and am starting to get a wee bit "brighter"  (ha ha on the pun...) about using them.