newbie polarizer question

Hi Folks,

This should probably be obvious, but wondering if there's much use for polarizers in these days of post-processing? Are there some unique effects best obtained with an old/fashioned polarizer (a circular one presumably)?
Thanks!

Polarization cannot be duplicated by any software.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polarizer

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StephenG

sjgcit said:

Polarization cannot be duplicated by any software.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polarizer

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StephenG

Click to expand...

I will expand a bit: No post-processing will remove reflections on glass/water.
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Everyone can do it - some do it well.

If you only use a polarizer when it's appropriate and effective, it will have an effect that is not able to be mimicked later in post-processing. However, if you use it indiscriminately and routinely just to deepen colors and skies... well, don't bother. Learn when to use it and what it actually does. If you want to simply deepen skies, you can do this in post-processing.

bugzie said:

If you only use a polarizer when it's appropriate and effective, it will have an effect that is not able to be mimicked later in post-processing. However, if you use it indiscriminately and routinely just to deepen colors and skies... well, don't bother. Learn when to use it and what it actually does. If you want to simply deepen skies, you can do this in post-processing.

Click to expand...

Please note that for some people, their hobby is photography...not computer art. For those people, the joy is in making things happen in the lens.

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Thanks everyone! Very helpful and confirmed my suspicions!

Point taken. But the OP specifically asked about any effects that could be achieved in post-processing.

bugzie said:

Point taken. But the OP specifically asked about any effects that could be achieved in post-processing.

Click to expand...

And your point taken as well

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Yeah, while you can achieve amazing effects and tweaks with post processing (I use the full-on Photoshop CS6), a quality cross polarizer is uniquely effective in some circumstances.

For instance, a CP can help cut haze, saturate foliage, cut reflections off glass and, of course, darken a blue sky. It is also handy to add an extra 1-1/3 stops of density for longer exposures--using it as a mild neutral density filter.

But don't cheap out. My 77mm CP filter cost almost $150. It is an useful optical device.

Beautiful shots! I'm glad I no longer have 77mm lenses! B&W is pricey enough for 49mm and smaller.
Thanks all.

Thanks! And a typo correction--I posted "cross polarizer." I meant "circular polarizer." D'oah!

Hinewbie from Durban South Africa,
If any one tells you that you dont need a C\polerized filter, dont listen.
its unfortunate that you cannot obtain a C\P for smaller cameras.
When you do buy buy the best, there is a difference in polerizing.

I live in a country that has the best lighting in the world, if i didnt use my C\P i would have less effective pictures.
go get i Newbie

hotdog321 said:

Thanks! And a typo correction--I posted "cross polarizer." I meant "circular polarizer." D'oah!

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Gosh! Everybody IS being nice to each other on this thread. What has caused this sudden outbreak of courteousness, I wonder....?

..... Good Humor freezing plant broken down? Ice cream being given away.... ? ;-)

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Regards,
Baz

"Ahh... But the thing is, they were not just ORDINARY time travellers!"

robinh said:

Hinewbie from Durban South Africa,
If any one tells you that you dont need a C\polerized filter, dont listen.
its unfortunate that you cannot obtain a C\P for smaller cameras.
When you do buy buy the best, there is a difference in polerizing.

I live in a country that has the best lighting in the world, if i didnt use my C\P i would have less effective pictures.
go get i Newbie

Click to expand...

I'm in Australia. We have very harsh sunlight here and the deepest blue skies. I often find myself making skies lighter in post so it doesn't have that polarized look even though I haven't used one! Looking at hotdog's examples, the last one would come out very nicely here without a polarizer. What I try to avoid is the blue-black sky look. I'd rather risk a slightly insipid sky, than to have to salvage a blue-black sky.

It depends on what you're shooting. It depends on the look you want. Here's an example where using a polarizer made an already difficult situation so much worse:



Here's the final version. I was really battling to get the sky somewhere about right with this shot. It was coming out way too dark even without a polarizer:



If you use a polarizer to deepen colors and skies... whatever works for you. I'm just saying it's not always necessary, and it can even really mess things up for you. I only use one when I specifically need the polarizing effect.