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berghaus
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p.1 #1 · B+W CPL QUESTION

I got my B+W 77 MRC KASEMANN (NONE SLIM) CPL today.
Here in the UK today it was overcast and some drizzle for a while, but I had to try out my new toy on a Canon 40D with a 24 105 L IS, my friend had the identical gear set up but with NO CPL.
When I got home I checked his and my pictures RAW IN DPP, his looked like they would on an overcast crap day, my photo's looked absolute crap!, the main of the shots where across a river with trees in the background, the trees looked like they had a strange cast on them and they looked out of focus, they were so bad that I nearly just deleted them, to start with I thought it must be that these CPL filters are NOT for overcast days, and also never owning a CPL I had NO idea what I was doing with it, as I looked through the veiwfinder and turned the bit on the end of the CPL, there was no change at all.
ANY WAY, I thought I would try processing a few of them in DPP from RAW, and WOW!! I could not belive it the pictures were stunning!
My question is, does anyone else use there CPL in overcast conditions, and if so, how do you know where to rotate it to? plus how can the pics look so bad before processing? I can't wait for the sunshine this thing must be fantastic.
By the way if anyone in the UK wants one the cheapest place I could find is Harrison Cameras in Sheffield, and they are £102 including Next day delivery for the one I bought listed above, any help would be great on answering my question.
LINK TO HARRISON CAMERAS http://www.harrisoncameras.co.uk/productlist.kmod?ManufacturerID=51&categoryid=689

Edited on Aug 05, 2008 at 05:46 PM

Aug 05, 2008 at 05:43 PM

mgipe
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p.1 #2 · B+W CPL QUESTION

I'm not sure why the previews would look bad, but I suspect it has little or nothing to do with the polarizer.

Generally, polarizers are not very useful on overcast days, since the lighting is all very diffuse and not polarized. Sometimes the filter can knock down some reflection from water or leaves, pulling out extra color and contrast, but the effect is small.

The polarizer becomes very useful on sunny days with harsh light. You will easily see the effect through the viewfinder as you rotate the filter.

Enjoy it, you've got a good one.

--Mike

Aug 05, 2008 at 05:59 PM

berghaus
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p.1 #3 · B+W CPL QUESTION

Thanks for your reply Mike, I still don't understand why the pics. have come out fantastic with a Slide film quality, I processed the same way I normally do them, they should not look good in these conditions, but they do.
Rob

Aug 05, 2008 at 06:07 PM

Mike Ganz
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p.1 #4 · B+W CPL QUESTION

Also, when using a polarizer on a sunny day, you'll get the most benefit when you are positioned 90-degrees to the sun's position. For example, when composing your shot, make sure that the sun is aimed at either of your shoulders. Then, just simply rotate the polarizer until you get the desired effect in the VF.

One last bit of advice...when looking through the VF, rotate the polarizer in the counterclockwise direction. This will prevent you from inadvertently unscrewing it and having it fall to the ground (don't ask me how I learned that).

Aug 07, 2008 at 01:24 AM

mgipe
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p.1 #5 · B+W CPL QUESTION

berghaus wrote:
Thanks for your reply Mike, I still don't understand why the pics. have come out fantastic with a Slide film quality, I processed the same way I normally do them, they should not look good in these conditions, but they do.
Rob

It may be that you experienced just enough contrast enhancement, even with the overcast sunlight, that the colors appear richer and more saturated.

Keep experimenting. A polarizer is a great tool in the arsenal.

--Mike

Aug 07, 2008 at 07:58 PM

runamuck
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p.1 #6 · B+W CPL QUESTION

A polarizer takes away 2 stops of light. This probably put your exposures in the range where a tripod was needed.

Get out in the sun with the polarizer and watch the difference.

Aug 08, 2008 at 11:02 PM


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