Willing to trade

SitterS

Willing to trade 2 kids (ages 4 and 8) for advice on a circular polarizer filter for the 70-200 IS. Kids come with clothes, enough medication for those days when you just can't take them anymore and a case of beer of your choice. Sound like a good deal then please reply with some information on a polarizer that does the job but doesn't break the bank.

Objective: to increase color saturation on my sport shots and protect the lens. Have alot of shots where the sky is just washed out. I think I am on the right track.

Shane

cmason

SitterS wrote:

Willing to trade 2 kids (ages 4 and 8) for advice on a circular polarizer filter for the 70-200 IS. Kids come with clothes, enough medication for those days when you just can't take them anymore and a case of beer of your choice. Sound like a good deal then please reply with some information on a polarizer that does the job but doesn't break the bank.

Objective: to increase color saturation on my sport shots and protect the lens. Have alot of shots where the sky is just washed out. I think I am on the right track.

Shane

Does this include shipping in CONUS?

cmason

I had a cheap Hoya circ. polarizer filter on an older lens, and it functioned just fine. Ran about $45. But just a little more gets you a better brand. Polarizers are expensive, no doubt. You should remember that it will darken the entire scene, not just the sky. I do like the effect it provides, and it will help your situation a bit, especially if your shots allow the correct angle to the sun. But , if you are really worried about the overexposure of the sky, you may be in the market for a neutral gradient density filter. I have found the the Cokin system version is actually quite reasonable, assuming you plan on using the system for more than one filter.

A challenge with this kind of filter is it is hard to get the filter and the sky lined up properly. This seems to be easier on the Cokin, because the filter is fairly large, and can be move about in the holder, unlike screw-on circular filters.

Seymore

Actually, I'd suggest you also look at graduated ND filters for washed out sky in landscapes. Use this in conjunction with your PL and get great results after the learning curve is over. (as it is with all learning curves)

DoctorIt

rofl

thanks Shane, I needed that! (good luck with your query)

SitterS

Thanks guys. I just saw a thread a few down from mine asking the same thing so I will follow up with the responses on that thread as well.

DoctorIt...so glad I could make you laugh today. Even though you had no advice just your response alone wins the kids. Check for the UPS truck next week headed your way. It will be the box with the holes in it.

Shane

slapshot

Shane...I would not recommend a polarizer for shooting sports. As you probably know, the filter needs to be turned in order to maintain the proper angle to your light source. I know you are shooting kids, but the action is probably still happening fast enough that it will be difficult to have time to track the shot, get focus AND adjust your filter. Unless you are getting shots of a somewhat stationary player, perhaps a goalie in soccer, or the pitcher in baseball, it's really not practical to use a circular polarizer.

I believe this same opinion has been expressed by other sports shooters on another thread on this forum.

Also, in my opinion, a great sports shot is driven by capturing the moment, the players in action, so much so that most people will not notice, or even care about, the color of the sky.

On the other hand, I hear what you're saying, you would still like that sky gorgeous blue. I pump up the in-camera saturation settings and shoot in JPG (gasp!), and often run the photos through I2E which does a good job of giving me green grass and blue sky with very little efforts.

I would recommend a neutral UV filter to protect the lens and cut down UV haze.

That's my 2 cents, hope it helps.

SitterS

Slapshot thanks for replying. That makes sense. You are right that in sports shots who really cares about the sky. It is capturing the action that counts. I will try boosting the in camera saturation on some shots tomorrow to see what that gives.

Shane

chopsky

dude,there's already been a thread with the EXACT SAME question today.

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=59984

SitterS

quote from above: Thanks guys. I just saw a thread a few down from mine asking the same thing so I will follow up with the responses on that thread as well.

chopsky wrote:

dude,there's already been a thread with the EXACT SAME question today.

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=59984

Chopsky that is why I wrote the above sentence earlier in my thread. Didn't see the other post until after I posted mine.

Oh and I wish someone would have told me earleir in life that I was a "DUDE". My husband certainly isn't going to like that!!!!!


Shane

slapshot

chopsky wrote:

dude,there's already been a thread with the EXACT SAME question today.

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=59984

Dude, that thread does not address the EXACT SAME question. Shane was asking for a recommendation on a circular polarizer, but in the context of improving the sky color in SPORTS shots. Unless I missed it, the thread you reference does not mention sports shooting.

chopsky

slapshot wrote:

Dude, that thread does not address the EXACT SAME question. Shane was asking for a recommendation on a circular polarizer, but in the context of improving the sky color in SPORTS shots. Unless I missed it, the thread you reference does not mention sports shooting.

oh, then my apologees. I just thought they both wanted advice on circ polarizers so could use the same tips. sorry bout that

SitterS

Thank you Slapshot...I found useful information in both of these threads and maybe others will too based on their specific needs and type of photography they prefer. Have a nice weekend all!

Shane