Junk Polarizing Filter

nickt

Senior Member
I just found out that I got hosed for about $12 several years ago, lol. I don't use a polarizer filters as much as I should. With that in mind, I bought a very cheap one for use on a particular lens several years back. It is labeled 'OEC' brand, CPL, 67mm. I tried it quickly at the time and took a few distant shots over water. I stuffed it in my bag and never used it.

Fast forward to a rainy day today. I grabbed the filter and took a few shots out the back door. Ugh. Terrible autofocus and underexposed. I wondered if it was not really a circular filter.

I never really learned what the difference was between a circular and linear polarizer filter so I did some googling. I found that a circular polarizer has an additional layer (on the camera side). In overly simplified terms, it re-scrambles the light so our meters and autofocus don't get confused. So the first two layers do the polarizing job, the final layer mixes things up a bit for the camera sensors.

I found this test to see if a filter is really a circular polarizer:

Find a mirror. Close one eye and hold the filter in front of your other eye, looking into the front of the filter. (male threads pointing at mirror). Look through the filter and observe it's reflection in the mirror. If the reflection of the filter glass looks black, it is a circular. If its looks clear, it is a linear filter. The direction you look through the filter is important, male threads point to the mirror. My OEC filter fails the test. I have a Hoya PL_CIR filter of a different size. It passes. Also no focus or exposure problems with the Hoya.

Don't buy a cheap filter, or at least test it out in front of a mirror.
 
Don't buy a cheap filter,

You should have just stopped at this. A $12 filter on a $1500 len and camera. Do we see a problem here? LOL I did the same thing early on and learned my lesson. You really don't have to go to the top line $300 CPL filter but a $100-$150 CPL will work just fine.
 

nickt

Senior Member
I guess I could say it was worth the $12 for some rainy day science fun today, lol. Not sure when I bought this, probably d3100 days. I think I knew better back then too, so no excuse haha.
 

RON_RIP

Senior Member
I just upgraded my cpl. I use one almost constantly and felt I needed more quality and better construction. Also bought it in the 77mm size so it will fit on in future pro lenses I might buy.
 

RON_RIP

Senior Member
Well lets sum up. You only get what you pay for and you are going to pay for what you get. Sounds like a country music song title to me. Just a question of who are we going to get to record it. Willie?
 
Well lets sum up. You only get what you pay for and you are going to pay for what you get. Sounds like a country music song title to me. Just a question of who are we going to get to record it. Willie?

You have to lose your girl and pickup truck first for it to be a good country song
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
I found this test to see if a filter is really a circular polarizer:

Find a mirror. Close one eye and hold the filter in front of your other eye, looking into the front of the filter. (male threads pointing at mirror). Look through the filter and observe it's reflection in the mirror. If the reflection of the filter glass looks black, it is a circular. If its looks clear, it is a linear filter. The direction you look through the filter is important, male threads point to the mirror. My OEC filter fails the test. I have a Hoya PL_CIR filter of a different size. It passes. Also no focus or exposure problems with the Hoya.

Don't buy a cheap filter, or at least test it out in front of a mirror.

I didn't know how to determine whether a filter was a CPL or a linear one. Thanks for the info on how to test it and sorry to hear you didn't receive the real deal.
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
You should have just stopped at this. A $12 filter on a $1500 len and camera. Do we see a problem here? LOL I did the same thing early on and learned my lesson. You really don't have to go to the top line $300 CPL filter but a $100-$150 CPL will work just fine.

I have 2 ND filters I want to compare. One is the $30 ICE ND filter and the other is a much more expensive HOYA ND filter. I just need to find some flowing water. The reviews of the ICE brand are quite favorable--it might be the only exception to not using a cheap filter on an expensive body/lens combo. ;)
 

nickt

Senior Member
I didn't know how to determine whether a filter was a CPL or a linear one. Thanks for the info on how to test it and sorry to hear you didn't receive the real deal.
That was really my only point here, I thought that was a useful tip. I probably should have titled my thread "how to tell a circular from a linear polarizer" so as not to start a cheap filter debate:). I enjoy the technical side of things and a big part of the hobby is learning and testing the hardware. So I'm willing to buy some cheap stuff here and there just to play with it and test it. (As long as I don't risk harming my 'good' stuff)

I did order a 77mm Nikon Circular Polarizer II last night for $129. Nikon 77mm Circular Polarizer II Thin Ring Glass Filter 2260
It had good reviews and was in my price range. I was getting bogged down in the various Hoya models I was chasing down and when the Nikon popped up, I figured I'd give it a try. Maybe the Hoya HD3 would have been better, but that was $200. I figure it can't be too bad if Nikon put their name on it.
 

gizmo285

Senior Member
I use a B+W XS-Pro that seems to work well. I don't use it often enough but when I do I have confidence in its' quality. Like the others said. " You get what you pay for."
 

gizmo285

Senior Member
I don't like stacking filters and I always keep a UV haze on my 24-70. If it's a bright sunny day I might just use the Polarizing filter..
 

RON_RIP

Senior Member
Mine stays on my camera whenever I am outside except on the darkest of days or in deep twilight. My newest one allows for more light to reach the sensor and slightly improves color saturation. I purchased a 77mm size and then the step down ring so that it would fit my 18-140. If it helps to protect the front element so much the better.


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