polarizing gels + circ pol to control window (aka, variable nd)?

MPB

MPB

Well-known member
has anyone used the Rosco View Adjustable Window ND System? i've used polarizer gels on light sources, combined with circ pol, for flat art before, to reduce glare. but i've been getting my ass kicked on interview shots where "they" want a big window with a wide vista as background, even with a pretty big key. if i understand correctly this Rosco system is just a polarizing gel. kind of expensive for a big wall of window, but if it works....

i'm wondering if my 4x5.65 Formatt circ pol would do the same job as the one Rosco sells with their "system."
 
I wouldn't bother with it. Rental houses can give you large gel rolls and charge by use. I think it usually comes out to around $6 per foot. I've gotten some for free from CSC by taking rolls that were already used.
 
i'm not looking for an inexpensive way out, i'm looking to control a background that i can't... control. or predict. if i have to gel anyway, i'd like to be able to dial in the level on the background on a long interview.
 
Well, the Rosco "view" system says that it's designed to work together, the filter with the gels. Rosco also makes polarizing gel separately, but what I read said it wouldn't work with the "view" filter. Whether it would work with a regular polarizer, I don't know, I would presume so.

Second problem is -- the Rosco polarizing gel (not the "View" gel, but the regular) is only available in 17" widths. Which seems like it would be inconvenient for covering big windows with, you'd have to line up strip after strip to cover any decent-sized window. The "View" gel comes in 56" width, a lot more suitable for covering a big window with, the "view" gel comes in a 56" by 9' chunk, big enough for some sliding glass doors I would think.

The cost seems about the same, between the "view" gel and the regular, in terms of cost per square inch. In any case, it's a pretty expensive sheet of gel; 56" x 9' is about $600, as compared to, say, $120 for a 4' x 25' roll of CTB... so 10c per square inch vs. 0.83 cents per square inch, it's about 12x more expensive than a "regular" gel, so I doubt you're going to be picking up much of it for cheap at a rental house, although -- hey, try...

If it was me, I'd just go with the View system. It costs about the same, but you know it's gonna work.
 
thanks Barry. as i say, i'm not looking for inexpensive or rental house options. and yes, i would go with the larger rolls. since this "system" was specifically mentioned by the EP, i'm happy to use it if production can pay for it. i thought it seems a waste to buy another lens filter if the one i have works. but i just want it to work, and work well, and was looking for some input or experience.
 
Do you shoot at the same location very often? The view system is really only worth it if you have dramatically different lighting throughout the day and are there multiple days.

If you're just going from location to location having to gel windows, I'd just stick with a couple rolls of N6 and N9. Considering you might need two or even three sheets of this 600 dollar gel (jesus!) and it's going to cut down every single time you use it (ouch). 400 worth of N6 and N9 will go so so so much further than 1800 worth of this polarizing gel. The EP will love you when you tell him you found an option that costs 4x less...

To answer your original question...I wish I knew :( I would suspect that it would work just fine though. Maybe call Rosco and ask them what is different from that polarizer to other polarizers...
 
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I keep a few rolls of ND gels on the truck for shots like this. Purchased from a large regional production house that went out of business for $5 a roll.
 
I've offered the option of nd. When an EP specifically mentions a piece of equipment I have to investigate it. What production pays for sometimes works against me and sometimes works for me, but I have to do due diligence either way.
 
I haven't heard of bobbinet, I've usually used 12x12 nets.

But this shot is on the second floor.
 
just a follow up; apparently Rosco doesn't officially support this product anymore in its gel roll form. they found the gel was not at all practical to work with, didn't cut or apply well, as i understand. they do sell and support the system as (made-to-order?) laminated panes.
 
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