CPL or not CPL

Michael J.

Michael J.

Senior Member
Today I used my CPL on the Nikon 16-85mm. I am so convinced when I look to the result. I am going to post photos later.

MY CPL Filters. Today I used the HD 67 mm

cpl-filter.jpg


Here just 3 photos SOOC



CPL full used - And almost 100% I saw the water in its color

cpl-1.jpg


CPL half

cpl-2.jpg


CPL the lowest, I think as same as no CPL

cpl-3.jpg
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
I rarely, if ever, shoot outdoors without a CPL attached to my lens. It's not just water that reflects light; there's a LOT of reflective light bouncing off all sorts of things all the time, we just don't notice it. I love the clarity and color pop you get from using a CPL and its effect can't be accurately duplicated using Photoshop. I set them to about 75% on my lenses and just leave it there. Some are actually held in place using using gaffers tape because I don't want them rotating by accident. I'm not saying YOU need to do this, that's just how I work with them. I mount them on the lens, set them and then leave them there. I rarely rotate them.

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Scott Murray

Scott Murray

Senior Member
Horoscope Fish said:
I rarely, if ever, shoot outdoors without a CPL attached to my lens. It's not just water that reflects light; there's a LOT of reflective light bouncing off all sorts of things all the time, we just don't notice it. I love the clarity and color pop you get from using a CPL and its effect can't be accurately duplicated using Photoshop. I set them to about 75% on my lenses and just leave it there. Some are actually held in place using using gaffers tape because I don't want them rotating by accident. I'm not saying YOU need to do this, that's just how I work with them. I mount them on the lens, set them and then leave them there. I rarely rotate them.

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I always am playing and rotating mine as when you change from landscape to portrait orientation it does not work the same if it is still set to landscape shooting.
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Scott Murray said:
I always am playing and rotating mine as when you change from landscape to portrait orientation it does not work the same if it is still set to landscape shooting.
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While I've never noticed the difference between orientations make me want to adjust the filter, your point is a good one.

EDIT: Having gotten curious I decided to check just how much of difference there is going from landscape to portrait in the same shot... And I have to admit it's more significant than I would have thought.

Kudos to you, [MENTION=9753]Scott Murray[/MENTION], kudos indeed.

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Scott Murray

Scott Murray

Senior Member
Horoscope Fish said:
While I've never noticed the difference between orientations make me want to adjust the filter, your point is a good one.

EDIT: Having gotten curious I decided to check just how much of difference there is going from landscape to portrait in the same shot... And I have to admit it's more significant than I would have thought.

Kudos to you, @Scott Murray, kudos indeed.

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Cheers mate :) sometimes I get it right ;)
 
cwgrizz

cwgrizz

Senior Member
Challenge Team
Am I missing something on using the CPL? I have one for each of my lenses and use them quite a bit, however, I am not understanding setting at 50%, 75%... When I use them, as I turn to shoot in different positions/directions, I rotate to get the pop that I am looking for. Is it 50%, 75%...who knows. And then of course the problem I have is I shoot 90° from the sun, then maybe 180° or 100°. Different CPL rotation for each if I remember to change. Ha!

Please explain the % settings.
 
cwgrizz

cwgrizz

Senior Member
Challenge Team
Oh, I have also discovered using a CPL with a wide lens setting ie 18mm that sky shots can have a section that is much bluer than other parts of the sky. Just something to watch for as I guess that is characteristic of the CPL on a Wide lens.
 
Vixen

Vixen

Senior Member
Horoscope Fish said:
While I've never noticed the difference between orientations make me want to adjust the filter, your point is a good one.

EDIT: Having gotten curious I decided to check just how much of difference there is going from landscape to portrait in the same shot... And I have to admit it's more significant than I would have thought.

Kudos to you, @Scott Murray, kudos indeed.

,,,,
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Well it makes perfect sense that it would change if you rotate your lens thru 90deg to go from landscape to portrait HF, and that you would need to adjust the CPL accordingly :D Is it just that we get soooooooo much sunshine in Oz that we buy a CPL with every lens/camera? From my very first SLR back in 1980 I have ALWAYS had a CPL :D

LOL....theres that pesky swagman again :D
 
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J

J-see

Senior Member
cwgrizz said:
Oh, I have also discovered using a CPL with a wide lens setting ie 18mm that sky shots can have a section that is much bluer than other parts of the sky. Just something to watch for as I guess that is characteristic of the CPL on a Wide lens.
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I read that too but I used them on my 18-35mm and have to say it's pretty ok. If I see it in the view, I try to rotate it to a part where it is less obvious like the clouds. On a cloudless blue sky it might be more of a problem but those are rare here and usually not make a good shot anyways.
 
F

FastGlass

Senior Member
Vixen said:
That one is easy. Just leave it on and only take it off when you need to ;)
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The problem is the filters I have for my 77mm lens's is the Lee system and the filters are 4x4. Leaving them on isn't an option. Been thinking on getting just a screw on CPL.
 
R

Rick M

Senior Member
FastGlass said:
The problem is the filters I have for my 77mm lens's is the Lee system and the filters are 4x4. Leaving them on isn't an option. Been thinking on getting just a screw on CPL.
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Definitely worth the investment. I don't buy many "accessories", but I always splurge on a good CPL and 6 stop ND.
 
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