mattias wrote:you don't get saturated blues per se by using a polarizer. the sky will get darker and more saturated because the sky reflects the sun at certain angles and that reflection is reduced, but a blue jacket won't.
That is basically what he said, just in different words, as in the polarizer doesn't add any color or effect color temperature but cuts down reflections... or suppresses them just as that second indent says. If you do get a polarizer you have to consider which one you want, a linear or circular. If you have a video camera you can hold the filter up (or buy a step down/up ring) to start experimenting. 35mm still photography filters are just the same. How much are you paying, you might be able to get it cheaper and more filters off of ebay or somewhere else online. I agree with Evan with the ND's though so you can get a lower f-stop and a shallower depth of field.
Polarisers work at a certain angle to the sun - I recall the rule of thumb is to make a gun shape with your hand - ie index finger outstretched, thumb pointing up. If you point your finger at the sun, the polariser will show most effect if the lens is aligned along the direction of your thumb (at 90 degrees to the sun)... (hope that makes sense :lol: ). Don't know if there are any beam splitter issues etc with a R16 - you may wish to get a circular rather than linear polariser.
(edit - Big beaner - you beat me to it... )
I would certainly say that a polariser is one of the basic filters to have to hand (particularly in the sunny caribbean..) and my experience is that it does make a big difference - pointed in the right direction, it reduces haze and reflections, deepens blue skies, increases definition of clouds..
If you are going to shoot black & white you may wish to consider a yellow or orange filter of some sort - again can bring out definition on sunny days etc. I almost always use an orange filter with B&W film unless it is pointless (ie heavily overcast or dark). But then that is probably my aesthetic preference... 8)
mattias wrote:you don't get saturated blues per se by using a polarizer. the sky will get darker and more saturated because the sky reflects the sun at certain angles and that reflection is reduced, but a blue jacket won't.
Hummmm that’s not what Schneider Optics says.
what are they not saying again? i read it and thought we were in complete agreement.
But are you always guaranteed to have heavily saturated skies when you use a polarizer? Anyone here have any experience?
if i have experience? did you think i was talking out of my ass? :-) no, you're not guaranteed. it depends on the angle of the sun and the angle of the filter. and it only works with a blue sky.
If you're doing work that involves a lot of reflections then certainly go for it. If not then just use your NLE and some color correction or get your hands on After Effects so you can get exactly what your want and not be really disappointed. http://forums.creativecow.net/cgi-bin/n ... index.html
BigBeaner wrote:If not then just use your NLE and some color correction or get your hands on After Effects so you can get exactly what your want and not be really disappointed.
Wow! My polarizer is SO kool with a k. I even bought a debatably cheap one ($44.00 USD) and it works like a charm. The blue sky is ridiculously cool. I think I'm gonna use it with some Fuji 64D.
But I do have one more question. When I adjust it the white colors seem to shift to more of a yellow. From what I understand this shouldn't really affect anything? Am I right?
