Linear polarizers on digital/DSLR?

welly

welly

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Have a great big 105mm B+W linear polarizing filter which I used to use on my film cameras. Now I'm over on the dark side I would like to use it on my 24-70 lens but do read many, many conflicting opinions on using linear polarizers and their affect on autofocusing and metering. Has anyone got any experience with using such a filter on digital/autofocusing lenses? Positive results or should I start looking for a new filter?

Cheers!
 
personally I wouldn't bother you can get perfectly good CPL filters from china for a few pounds
 
the black fox said:
personally I wouldn't bother you can get perfectly good CPL filters from china for a few pounds
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I'd be interested to see if you can get a 105mm circular polarizer from China for a few quid. One that isn't like sticking the bottom of a jam jar in front of my lens!
 
welly said:
Have a great big 105mm B+W linear polarizing filter which I used to use on my film cameras. Now I'm over on the dark side I would like to use it on my 24-70 lens but do read many, many conflicting opinions on using linear polarizers and their affect on autofocusing and metering. Has anyone got any experience with using such a filter on digital/autofocusing lenses? Positive results or should I start looking for a new filter?

Cheers!
Click to expand...
Probably best to just try it and see, in my limited knowledge I believe it may have an impact on the AF, used to use a linear when using x-pol and MF isn't really a problem. As for metering, its digital simply compensate for the filter...

Good luck...
 
welly said:
I'd be interested to see if you can get a 105mm circular polarizer from China for a few quid. One that isn't like sticking the bottom of a jam jar in front of my lens!
Click to expand...
No need to be snotty ,you asked I gave a possible answer .
 
The obvious answer is to stick the (presumably expensive and good!) B&W filter on the front of your lens and body and see if it adversely affects focus and/or exposure. IIRC there used to be problems with some AF systems when linear polarisers were used but can't remember if it was at all angles of rotation of the filter or just a certain orientation so do a thorough test at lots of different angles of rotation, just in case.
 
I've used linear polarisers in the past on AF digital and not experienced any issues including AF.

I suspect it's another ploy to get photographers to spend more money :D

Try it for yourself and see. MF is not such a pain even if you have to use it
 
the black fox said:
No need to be snotty ,you asked I gave a possible answer .
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I think the context of my reply was probably lost, it certainly wasn't intended as snotty! My reply obviously came across differently to how it sounded in my head! Apologies.
 
Nod said:
The obvious answer is to stick the (presumably expensive and good!) B&W filter on the front of your lens and body and see if it adversely affects focus and/or exposure. IIRC there used to be problems with some AF systems when linear polarisers were used but can't remember if it was at all angles of rotation of the filter or just a certain orientation so do a thorough test at lots of different angles of rotation, just in case.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'll certainly give it a go. If I have to use manual focus, I'm totally fine with that and actually in the circumstances I'll be using the filter, I'll probably be using my sekonic lightmeter to meter the exposure. So it'll probably not be an issue at all, thinking about it! Anyway, will give it a test one evening this week and see how I get on.
 
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