How does a Fader ND affect a polarizer?
- Thread starter Peberley
- Start date
cpc
Well-known member
Yes, variable ND filters do fitler polarized light.
This is very easy to test with a glossy plastic surface (a glossy laptop cover, for example). Just rotate the filter (screw/unscrew it slightly) in front of the lens and watch how reflections appear/disappear. Make sure to rotate the whole filter body, not just the front element.
This is also the reason variable ND fitlers don't usually have exact marks for filtration: depending on the angle of the filter the amount of filtration changes, so your filtration is never the same in varying lighitng conditions (i.e. shooting direction relative to the sun).
This is very easy to test with a glossy plastic surface (a glossy laptop cover, for example). Just rotate the filter (screw/unscrew it slightly) in front of the lens and watch how reflections appear/disappear. Make sure to rotate the whole filter body, not just the front element.
This is also the reason variable ND fitlers don't usually have exact marks for filtration: depending on the angle of the filter the amount of filtration changes, so your filtration is never the same in varying lighitng conditions (i.e. shooting direction relative to the sun).
Postmaster
Dark Side of the Camera
If you use a ND filter with an other polarizer you can change color temperature.
I think Tiffen already sales something like that ready made.
Frank
I think Tiffen already sales something like that ready made.
Frank
Nirv
Carbonite Member
Can I hijack the thread with some more questions about ND Faders please? This is the first time I have ever used a fader and wonder what the does and don'ts are.
What makes a good ND Fader? I have the Genus fader and it makes the image soft at medium telephoto lengths >85mm and down right weird at long focal lengths. Do all faders do this?
What separates the top end faders like the Singh Ray and Heliopan from the cheaper ones like my Genus? I don't see any colour shifts BTW just softening. Do the expensive faders soften the image?
I am getting best results with a 4 stop ND and using the fader for a fine adjustment when outside? I keep a bit more life in the sky. What are other peoples' experience with faders?
I never shoot people with the fader after having some awful dead/waxy skin results. Anyone else feel the same about skin and faders? I even wondered if that might be the source of the "red channel" comments?
Any advice gratefully received.
What makes a good ND Fader? I have the Genus fader and it makes the image soft at medium telephoto lengths >85mm and down right weird at long focal lengths. Do all faders do this?
What separates the top end faders like the Singh Ray and Heliopan from the cheaper ones like my Genus? I don't see any colour shifts BTW just softening. Do the expensive faders soften the image?
I am getting best results with a 4 stop ND and using the fader for a fine adjustment when outside? I keep a bit more life in the sky. What are other peoples' experience with faders?
I never shoot people with the fader after having some awful dead/waxy skin results. Anyone else feel the same about skin and faders? I even wondered if that might be the source of the "red channel" comments?
Any advice gratefully received.
cpc
Well-known member
Unpolarized light reflected by skin can become partially polarized and thus rejected by the fader ND depending on angles, etc. Same with already polarized skylight. This kills some of the specular reflection and makes for lifeless skin. (You are also losing some of the subsurface skin scattered light, which is exactly the part of the reflected light that makes for beautiful radiant skin)
For exactly this reason photographers usually don't shoot people with polarizers on (well, photographers that know what they are doing at least). Also, various tricks with polarizing the light source and then using polarizers on the lens are avoided when there are people in the shot.
My variable ND filter rarely sees any use. If I wanted a polarizer I would use one, when I want ND I'd rather have ND in front of the lens, not polarizing ND.
For exactly this reason photographers usually don't shoot people with polarizers on (well, photographers that know what they are doing at least). Also, various tricks with polarizing the light source and then using polarizers on the lens are avoided when there are people in the shot.
My variable ND filter rarely sees any use. If I wanted a polarizer I would use one, when I want ND I'd rather have ND in front of the lens, not polarizing ND.