New CPL with 2/3 stop less light loss.

Aw, for gosh sakes, just click here and then click on the transmission curve. That's excellent transmission. 90% transmission is essentially perfect, and you can't do significantly better.

There's no need for a long discussion.

ThrillaMozilla said:

Aw, for gosh sakes, just click here and then click on the transmission curve. That's excellent transmission. 90% transmission is essentially perfect, and you can't do significantly better.

There's no need for a long discussion.

Click to expand...

But was that available 9 years ago when the OP asked the question?

ThrillaMozilla said:

Aw, for gosh sakes, just click here and then click on the transmission curve. That's excellent transmission. 90% transmission is essentially perfect, and you can't do significantly better.

There's no need for a long discussion.

Click to expand...

Well, the graph you linked to inspires a lot of discussion. It's just a graph of transmission vs. wavelength and, as you note, it stays around 90% through the visible spectrum. But what's it for? I can guess that it's for light that's linearly polarized in the filter's direction of polarization. But then, what's the transmission for light that's polarized at 90 degrees to that? It could be 90% too, meaning the filter doesn't do anything. More likely, it's less than 90 and more than nothing; how does the transmission ratio compare to other filters?

I could well prefer a filter with less transmission of light in the polarization direction if it blocked cross-polarized light better.

Labe said:

ThrillaMozilla said:

Aw, for gosh sakes, just click here and then click on the transmission curve. That's excellent transmission. 90% transmission is essentially perfect, and you can't do significantly better.

There's no need for a long discussion.

Click to expand...

But was that available 9 years ago when the OP asked the question?

Click to expand...

:-D Good question. I didn't notice the original date, and didn't read all umpteen pages of discussion. But I do note that there has been a recent trend by Hoya and others to increase transmission of polarizers.

Leonard Migliore said:

...It's just a graph of transmission vs. wavelength and, as you note, it stays around 90% through the visible spectrum. But what's it for? I can guess that it's for light that's linearly polarized in the filter's direction of polarization.

Click to expand...

That's exactly what it is.

Leonard Migliore said:

But then, what's the transmission for light that's polarized at 90 degrees to that? It could be 90% too...

Click to expand...

No, it's virtually zero, as it is for all polarizers. Any polarizer you can buy -- even the cheapest -- is virtually 100% effective.

Some people think there is a big difference in effectiveness of polarizing filters. What they don't realize is that's a function of the subject, not the filter. 100% polarization of the subject is an exception, not the rule.

A few years ago I posted some explanations on DPR, with example photos. Click here and read my posts, especially the ones with pictures on the second page, and later.

Also click here and read my comments if you want.

ThrillaMozilla said:

Leonard Migliore said:

...It's just a graph of transmission vs. wavelength and, as you note, it stays around 90% through the visible spectrum. But what's it for? I can guess that it's for light that's linearly polarized in the filter's direction of polarization.

Click to expand...

That's exactly what it is.

ThrillaMozilla said:

But then, what's the transmission for light that's polarized at 90 degrees to that? It could be 90% too...

Click to expand...

No, it's virtually zero, as it is for all polarizers. Any polarizer you can buy -- even the cheapest -- is virtually 100% effective.

Some people think there is a big difference in effectiveness of polarizing filters. What they don't realize is that's a function of the subject, not the filter. 100% polarization of the subject is an exception, not the rule.

A few years ago I posted some explanations on DPR, with example photos. Click here and read my posts, especially the ones with pictures on the second page, and later.

Also click here and read my comments if you want.

Click to expand...

The LensRentals tests provide the information I need to compare polarizers: all polarizers effectively block light at 90 degrees to the high-transmission direction. The single 90% transmission curve you originally linked to was not highly informative without Roger's information.