Reflections: To Polarize or Not

Based on what I have read, a polarizer is a “must have” filter when near water or when the sky is blue and filled with puffy clouds.  Or, at least that has been my “take away” when reading various articles by the experts.  Near water and other reflective surfaces (automobiles and foliage, for example) the polarizer cuts the reflections.  And when it comes to blue sky and clouds, the filter can brighten the blue and keep details in the white clouds.

In the two examples below, the polarizer was able to simplify the composition in photo #1 but cutting out the reflections being created by the surrounding vegetation.  

But just because you have a polarizer in the camera bag doesn’t mean it must be used!  I actually find them to be cumbersome to use, as the more times you screw one on and screw one off, the more likely it is that you will drop it or at the very least smudge it or the lens. In the situation below it would mean potentially dropping the polarizer in the water, so I didn’t bother with it in photo #2.

These two images are very different.  I don’t know which I like better, but my current favorite is photo #2.  That’s because it seems kind of artsy and abstract.  I guess any time a photo makes me feel like an actual artist, I like it.  YMMV.

Photo #1: With Polarizer

Photo #2: Without Polarizer

Found an old Vivitar polarizer in the bottom of my old camera bag. Fits and works nicely on my Panasonci LX5.

The other day I was cleaning out an old camera bag and found a 52mm Vivitar polarizer.  If I bought it, it was at least 35 years ago and probably more like 40 years ago.  It's the same size as the threads on my even older Nikon 50mm F1.4 lens (I wasn't the first owner of this fine legacy lens).

The polarizer was a bit cloudy coming out of the little clear plastic case, but I cleaned it up nicely with a bit of hot breath and the tail of my cotton t-shirt.  Is there any other way to clean glass!?

I frankly don't know how good this filter is.  And are filters for digital sensors different than those made for film? Does it make a difference?  I have no idea.

But regardless, it works nicely on my Panasonic LX5 compact camera, even at the widest setting on the 24mm-90mm (equiv.) zoom.... I should have tried a horizontal shot but I wanted to get the clouds and sky using a vertical shot.  Assuming we have another nice day tomorrow I'll give the landscape orientation a try, and see what I get.

The lens adapter is from an aftermarket ebay supplier but the filter end measures 52mm just like the Panasonic adapter. A perfect fit for 52mm filters.  It's nice too because my only other polarizers measure 67mm and 58mm.  I've used 58mm filters on the LX5 with a 52-to-58 step up ring, but using the right size is always slicker.



Anyway, here's the example I was happy with this afternoon.  Nice day, huh?  After a week of rain it was nice to get a reprieve.  Blue and green are great landscape colors.  I am very happy with Panasonic's metering system and always enjoy the live-view histogram.