Circular polariser degrades image

[brian1208]

I have just come back from Avon Beach where I was shooting windsurfers playing in the gale (what else ) where I thought I would try out my circular polariser on the 75-300 mk2 to take out some of the glare.

I had the feeling that something wasn't right, although I have used this polariser without problems on my canon kit without problem so I changed to my UV filter (to keep the sand and salt-spray out)

Looking at the images now I'm back every single shot with the polariser is soft and grainy (useless) but with the UV filter they shots are fine

I checked every thing was clean before using the polariser and UV filters and afterwards to double check

Has anyone else run up against this problem? (it was a Hoya Pro circular polariser)

[Zuiko]

Re: Circular polariser degrades image

Could the extra grain be the result of higher ISO (A polariser loses about 2 stops of light)? Also, if you was shootng at 300mm f6.3, the additional light loss from the filter may have compromised the focusing.

[brian1208]

Re: Circular polariser degrades image

That seems to be the problem John, although I must say I wasn't expecting it

[Zuiko]

Re: Circular polariser degrades image

The 300mm f4, when it comes, may solve this problem - but at a price, of course!

[DavidB]

Re: Circular polariser degrades image

The 300mm f4, when it comes, may solve this problem - but at a price, of course!

Although an old thread, it was the most relevant I could find, especially now the 300mm f4 has been around for a while now and I'm wondering whether to get a 77mm polariser for it, mainly to reduce water glare.


Googling suggests it should be of the highest quality for a long telephoto lens, so do I need to go for a Hoya 77mm Ultra-Pro Circular Polarising Ultra-Slim Filter, or will a Pro-1 suffice, or will something better/even more expensive be required?


I'm thinking mainly of frogs, newts, fish near surface, maybe dragonflies laying eggs?, etc.


https://www.photo.net/discuss/thread...lephoto.71769/

[timboo]

I purchased Hoya pro 1 UV filter for my 100-400 and it was awful. I tried my older Pro 1 filter on the lens and it was much better.
The newer pro 1 filter was a different design, not sure if I was unlucky, the quality has reduced or at that focal range like others have said spend a few quid on the best. I ordered the genuine olympus filter and had no issue.
I know my experience is with a UV filter but wondering if the same has been experienced with polarisers of late.

What I did notice was the images losing sharpness and a negative effect on bokeh.
I cannot spot the difference between my olympus filter being on the camera to off it.

[Phill D]

Considering what you want to do I'd go for the best quality you can afford as I'm sure you will be looking quite closely at the images.

[Paul Graber]

I’m a keen LEE filters man, and the owner of a 300mm f4 - but I’d never thought of using filters with this lens. I’d be anxious about the impact of two stops less light with a polariser on an f4 lens (though I am being a bit of a hypocrite as I do use the 2x converter).

[drmarkf]

The only filter I’ve got for the 300 is a 4-stop ND, which I used occasionally to help with dragged shutter images of things like running wildebeest and whirling flocks of knot.
Now I’ve got the M1iii, I’ve got 5 electronic stops available via Live ND, so I suppose I should sell it (PM me if anyone’s interested)
I never saw any problems with the 77mm Hoya Pro ND, but since the aim was to get blurred images, I wouldn’t anyway...

[Mark_R2]

A polariser shouldn’t give two stops less light. A perfect one would be exactly one stop (half the light) so a real world polariser will be a bit over one stop. Filters on long focal length lenses can give a noticeable drop in sharpness, so you need to get a high quality one.

[DavidB]

I’m a keen LEE filters man, and the owner of a 300mm f4 - but I’d never thought of using filters with this lens. I’d be anxious about the impact of two stops less light with a polariser on an f4 lens (though I am being a bit of a hypocrite as I do use the 2x converter).

Me too, but I have their seven5 system and the largest adapter ring is 72mm, so that system is too small for the 77mm thread on the 300mm.

Just out of interest, as I'm not going to spend silly money on a 100mm LEE filter holder, polariser and 77mm ring, will a LEE 100mm system fit on the end of a 300mm f4, or does the lens hood foul it?

[Paul Graber]

David, I’ve sold my Seven5 system and replaced it with their new 85 system. This cost me some money but I no longer get vignetting with my 12-100. But they’re not doing a 77mm thread for the 85. Doesn’t bother me, as I don’t want filters with my 300mm.

[DavidB]

David, I’ve sold my Seven5 system and replaced it with their new 85 system. This cost me some money but I no longer get vignetting with my 12-100. But they’re not doing a 77mm thread for the 85. Doesn’t bother me, as I don’t want filters with my 300mm.

Not had a problem with my 12-40mm 62mm filter thread size (12-100 is 72mm dia filter thread).