Polarizing Filters

Polarizing filters are a really important part of your camera kit! They are the one filter that you can’t be applied or simulated using affects or filters in Photoshop alone. In this video Karl shows you a selection of filter types including screw lens filters and adapter ring filters and let’s you know his preferred filter and why. Then take a look at why you may want to use polarizing filters and for what type of photography. Karl tells you what these filters can do for your photographs and explain why he doesn’t go anywhere without them in my camera bag!

Comments

  1. Sorry if I’m missing something obvious, but if you’re using your right hand to block out lens flare, how do you actually hit the shutter release to take the shot at the same time?

  2. Candez Photography

    Hi Karl and everyone,

    I bought this week the new Lee 100 polariser that mounts on to the Lee 100 holder that can screw on to the Lee adaptors for different lenses . This system allows for 3 slots so you could therefore have the polariser + nd regular filter + nd grad filter combination that Karl likes so much to use. As a matter of fact I think Lee don’t do the square polariser anymore as I haven’t seen it on their website.

    Correct me if I am wrong Karl.

    As usual have a wonderful day everyone and once again this course is such a blessing for photographers just starting out. Makes everything so much easier. I have already started to spread the word around me : )

  3. This is very helpful thank you so much. Would a polarizing filter would be so powerful to get rid of the reflections of Christmas lights on a shop-window? Or would I rather use a blackout drape to stop the reflections?

    1. Hi, you’d be better with blackout drape. How effective a polariser will be will depend on the angle you are shooting and the lens focal length. The simplest thing to do is test it.

  4. I’ve been using Tiffen filters but they’re not that good. Will be getting the Lee brand. Thanks Karl!

  5. Hello Karl, I started buying circular polarizing as I just had 2 different sizes of lenses, but now I have been trying some new lenses and it’s crazy the number of different sizes I would need, of course now I know I have not to buy circular filters any more.

    Now, could you please suggest us your preferred brand for the slide in filter system?, and a cheaper option too?, so we can choose the best way depending our budget without waste our money trying to find out one brand with a good quality and worthy…..

    Thanks for sharing your experience Mate, that’s Payless

    1. Hi Abraham, I use LEE filters. A cheaper option of slide in filters used to be Cokin but they are not as good. There are other brands but I’m not familiar with them.

  6. Hello Karl, I started buying circular polarizing as I just had 2 different sizes of lenses, but now I have been trying some new lenses and it’s crazy the number of different sizes I would need, of course now I know I have not to buy circular filters any more.

    Now, could you please suggest us your preferred brand for the slide in filter system?, and a cheaper option too?, so we can choose the best way depending our budget without waste our money trying to find out one brand with a good quality and worthy…..

    Thanks for sharing your experience Mate, that’s Payless.

  7. I have 2 different slide in systems, both of which have circular polarising filters I can rotate independently of any grads I might be using. With your system what happens if your polariser ends up at a 45 degree angle and you want to use a grad down to a straight horizon such as the sea?

Leave a Comment