Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Cameras, Lenses and Shooting gear => Topic started by: hovis on December 17, 2009, 03:22:49 pm

Title: circular polarizing filter question
Post by: hovis on December 17, 2009, 03:22:49 pm
Hello

I've just bought my first circular polarizing filter and have a question. When I hold it up to the light at an angle I can see an uneven fogging (not sure how else to describe it), is this normal? It doesn't seem to be visible seen directly through the glass so I was just wondering if it's supposed to be like that?

Thanks
Title: circular polarizing filter question
Post by: bradleygibson on December 17, 2009, 03:26:26 pm
Quote from: hovis
Hello

I've just bought my first circular polarizing filter and have a question. When I hold it up to the light at an angle I can see an uneven fogging (not sure how else to describe it), is this normal? It doesn't seem to be visible seen directly through the glass so I was just wondering if it's supposed to be like that?

Thanks

Hmmm..  Doesn't sound right...   Can you post a photo of what you're seeing?
Title: circular polarizing filter question
Post by: Ken Bennett on December 17, 2009, 03:48:28 pm
It's likely to be crud from outgassing in the packaging materials. Try cleaning it carefully with lens tissue and lens cleaner.
Title: circular polarizing filter question
Post by: hovis on December 17, 2009, 03:54:55 pm
Hi Bradley

I've attached a photo, hope it's visible, I'm not sure if I've done it right or where the image will appear.
Title: circular polarizing filter question
Post by: hovis on December 17, 2009, 03:57:28 pm
seems to have uploaded ok.
Title: circular polarizing filter question
Post by: PeterAit on December 17, 2009, 05:48:20 pm
Quote from: hovis
Hi Bradley

I've attached a photo, hope it's visible, I'm not sure if I've done it right or where the image will appear.

That does not look right to me. Did you buy a good brand (expensive!)? Or, maybe it was damaged. CPs are difficult to make well and I have heard that they are one place you do not want to save a little money.
Title: circular polarizing filter question
Post by: hovis on December 17, 2009, 05:53:47 pm
It's a Hoya, one of their 'super quality' range. I'd heard the same thing so I went for one that I thought was going to be good. I'll have to get in touch with the shop.

Thanks
Title: circular polarizing filter question
Post by: fike on December 17, 2009, 07:21:53 pm
not to restate the obvious, but did you try cleaning it with a proper lens cleaning kit? perhaps a lens pen?  that doesn't look right.  What do the pictures you take with it look like?
Title: circular polarizing filter question
Post by: Ken Bennett on December 17, 2009, 08:20:11 pm
It looks dirty. Clean it. Seriously.
Title: circular polarizing filter question
Post by: hovis on December 18, 2009, 04:12:50 am
Hi Everyone

I had considered that it's just dirt so I will try cleaning it, I just wanted to know what I was looking at and whether it was supposed to be like that.

Kind regards
Title: circular polarizing filter question
Post by: Jack Varney on December 20, 2009, 10:58:55 pm
I purchased one of Hoya's best thin circular polarizers two years ago and shortly later found its surface to have a finely pebbled appearance. No amount of cleaning nor various solvents would remove it.

I replaced it with a Kaesmann.
Title: circular polarizing filter question
Post by: DarkPenguin on December 21, 2009, 12:56:36 am
Quote from: Beachconnection
I purchased one of Hoya's best thin circular polarizers two years ago and shortly later found its surface to have a finely pebbled appearance. No amount of cleaning nor various solvents would remove it.

I replaced it with a Kaesmann.

The S-HMC coatings seemed to be pretty fragile.
Title: circular polarizing filter question
Post by: hovis on December 21, 2009, 06:46:49 am
I gave it a clean and there was something on the surface but whatever was there has marked the filter permanently, there is a very faint pattern identical to that of the dirt. I'm waiting to hear back from the supplier.
Title: circular polarizing filter question
Post by: Misirlou on December 21, 2009, 07:45:55 pm
Obviously I have no idea how you stored that, but dirt that leaves an etching in the glass surface sounds a lot like fungus. If it was ever stored in a dark humid environment, fungus is possible.
Title: circular polarizing filter question
Post by: Jack Varney on December 21, 2009, 08:05:42 pm
"The S-HMC coatings seemed to be pretty fragile. "

Yes, real fragile, as I only used it twice and it stayed in a protected case the rest of the time!
Title: circular polarizing filter question
Post by: DarkPenguin on December 22, 2009, 12:11:59 am
Quote from: Jack Varney
"The S-HMC coatings seemed to be pretty fragile. "

Yes, real fragile, as I only used it twice and it stayed in a protected case the rest of the time!

I was shooting some photos of Minneopa falls and the spray (clearly polluted) ate through the coatings.