08Jun CPL Filters – Circular Polarizers for Photo and Video
The above images look very different. This has nothing to do with ‘Picture Styles’, ‘Shutter Speed’, ‘Aperture’, or ISO settings. There is no photoshop or post processing involved. The difference is from a cheap Circular Polarizing filter that you place in front of your lens on a bright day to deal with ‘Polarized Light’. A CPL can produce better imagery that cannot be mimicked with any post processing work. It’s a very important tool for both photographers and videographers.
The samples images above are from a ‘non-polarized’ frame grab and a ‘Polarized’ frame grab. Circular Polarizers are super super important, yet very hard to explain. We’ve put together some examples and information (best we could), and this is a video review / article you do not want to miss. Check it out [via Oliviatech.com] here: http://oliviatech.com/circular-polarizing-filters-if-theres-one-thing-you-need
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June 9th, 2011 at 6:50 am
would you recommend a CPL filter when shooting video of people in direct sun?
June 9th, 2011 at 8:16 am
@arp1 – I don’t think you’ll see a difference with the person, but if you have sky or landscape around them, it would make a difference.
June 9th, 2011 at 10:27 am
worth a try..i just bought a vivitar series 1 CPL for 10 bucks…will give it a shot.
June 9th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
How would these work on a side to side slider move? And why isn’t Olivia using a hood on the sample video to cut down on the stray light? I generally use B+W filters for stills and they ain’t cheap. What’s the least expensive quality brand in your opinion? I read some of those $3-4 filters are garbage.
June 9th, 2011 at 4:07 pm
Awesome video. Good job explaining the difference. So does that mean the neutral density filter would stop down your exposure?
Also, do you need to buy different size filters for each lens you have?
June 9th, 2011 at 4:22 pm
nevermind, obviously you need to buy a different filter depending on the size of your lens…that was retarded.
June 9th, 2011 at 5:35 pm
@Anthony – Yes you would buy different filters for different lenses. Or you could get a larger filter and then just use step down rings.
June 9th, 2011 at 5:39 pm
@apostolos – A hood is a great idea, but we needed to demonstrate ‘turning’ the filter around. With the hood, that was going to make it more difficult to shoot. Using it on a side to side movement won’t really change anything. It only affects the light that’s being deflected, it will not change current exposure or induce any color cast.
Of course, the best brands for a decent price in my opinion are Tiffen or Hoya, but I also have a few Sunpaks: Sunpak CPL Polarizing Filters
June 9th, 2011 at 7:06 pm
If you use a mattebox you could use the filter tray in that (if it has a rotating stage). Although, it might be more expensive to buy a 4×4 (or whatever size your mattebox is) pola than buying separate filters for all your lenses.
That was a decent explanation (although, not entirely accurate when it comes to the actual optics). I could give a full scientific explanation on unpolarized light versus linearly polarized light and filters but I don’t think it really matters when you are behind the camera. I’m a nerd.
June 9th, 2011 at 7:11 pm
@Anthony – Yes, a neutral density filter cuts down the light that goes through the lens by a certain amount (depending on the filter, ie ND .3 cuts the light by one stop). Ideally, it does so without changing any of the other characteristics of the light (color, quality, etc).
June 9th, 2011 at 8:02 pm
@Ryan – Yeah I don’t think we need to get into electromagnetic waves and oscillating patterns. Hopefully it’s enough to show people that it’s an important thing to use..
June 10th, 2011 at 12:19 pm
So CPLs don’t have any colour cast? Alot of NDs give off a colour cast, so I worried about this. I’m getting the tiffen white water ND filters, and I was worried putting an polarizer on top would would give a colour cast making the extra spent money on the white water glass useless!
June 10th, 2011 at 6:43 pm
@Tim – No CPLs should not add color cast.
June 10th, 2011 at 7:31 pm
@Emm – The video was great I was just messing with you. I mean, come on, I have to feel like my physics degree is occasionally useful…yeah ok…its not.
June 18th, 2011 at 2:49 am
Is there a reason it affects background, but not people? Isn’t there light bouncing off skin as well? Thanks!
This was great by the way, very enlightening! Love the site.
June 18th, 2011 at 3:01 am
@bahboh – It’s actually blocking polarized light. It’s when light hits certain things, but not everything reflects light the same way.
June 29th, 2011 at 11:23 pm
Hi, I have a Canon 28-135mm lens and am wondering if filters are available for zoom lens’. And if so, how would I go about finding the right size?
thanks much!
June 30th, 2011 at 6:56 am
@Sam – Most of the time it’s on the front of the lens. If not, look at the back of your lens cap. It should say 72mm for the 28-135mm, that’s the Filter size you need for that lens. Check the back of your other lens caps for other sizes.