Polarizer Filter for Coin Images?

jdcheers

I'm getting a lot of glare with my images, regardless of light whatt or angle, unless the light is right in front of the coin. When the light is right in front of the coin, the luster is gone. I'm wondering if a polarizer filter might help my glare problem. Anybody have any experience with a polarizer?

mgoodm3

Not work well, unless you shoot at a very low angle. Reflected light is most polarized at around 37 degree angle.

ModernDollarNut

The neat thing is how cheap it is to experiment! I bought a polarizer filter for my 105Macro lens just to experment as peripheral lighting, in the past, has been helpful with Goodacres. Rob

drwstr123

Natural:


Polarized Filter:

MrSpud

This picture was taken by putting one of those anti-glare computer monitor screen covers in between the lights and the coin. I think it may be some sort of polarizer filter, not sure though. I thought it worked pretty good though.

nwcs

A polarizer will not work with light reflected from metal unfortunately.

nwcs

However, as I just thought of it, a neutral density filter would probably help tone down the highlights some.

Barry

A neutral density filter will achieve the same thing as EV (exposure compensation). Neutral density filters are used primarily to slow down a shutter in bright conditions, such as waterfall pics.

MikeInFL

<< <i>However, as I just thought of it, a neutral density filter would probably help tone down the highlights some. >>



A ND filter will do nothing. However, correct exposure and application of levels to bring up the darker parts will help.

Back on topic, I have experimented quite a bit with polarizing filters, and they do make a bit of a difference. Whoever thinks they don't make any difference in photographs of coins is sadly maistaken. However, the use of a polarizing filter changes colors (tends to deepen them), and the result does not look natural to my eye. In addition, their use doesn't cut glare as much as I would like as in most of my coin photographs the reflected light is closer to 90 degrees rather than 40 degrees and the filter has little effect on the glare off the slab, which is what you're trying to limit with the use of a filter. Therefore I don't use them...Mike