Photo Gurus - What about lens filters?

Ronyahski

Anybody have an opinion or try to use lens filters while taking their pictures? As I'm contemplating whether to get a macro lens for my camera, I went browsing in the photo store. There are polarized lens filters that claim to reduce glare from glass reflections, and help with contrast and saturation of colors. Do you think they would help with regular lenses or macros by cutting down on slab glare or improving pics for toned coins?

Russ

<< <i>There are polarized lens filters that claim to reduce glare from glass reflections >>



Tried it. Didn't work.

Russ, NCNE

RWB

Polarizers have no effect on reflections from metal. One could help with glare from the front surface of a slab, but it depends on the angle of the light source to the lens. If you put a polarizer on your light source and one on the lens, you can turn your slabs into rainbows. The colors indicate stress in the plastic.

Some CCD chips do not work well with polarizers. Test anything before you buy.

[If you put a polarizer on each side of a cat and squeeze them together, you will squish the cat.]

Russ

<< <i>One could help with glare from the front surface of a slab >>



Tried it. Didn't work.

Russ, NCNE

RWB

The effect is less pronounced with most plastics and depends on the lighting angle. I never bother with a polarizer for coin photos.

cheezhed

I've used polarizers with great success for years in photography, more to saturate color than remove reflections, although they do work as advertised for removing reflections from water, windows, etc.

Never tried it with coins.

RWB

That is one of their main uses - they can remove surface reflections that reduce color saturation. Also used to make a blue sky darker, reduce reflections from glass, etc. They have no effect on metal objects or metallic paints.

Ronyahski

<< <i>[If you put a polarizer on each side of a cat and squeeze them together, you will squish the cat.] >>



That's cool, I like dogs.

Ronyahski

I've used polarizers with great success for years in photography, more to saturate color than remove reflections, although they do work as advertised for removing reflections from water, windows, etc.

Never tried it with coins.




<< <i>That is one of their main uses - they can remove surface reflections that reduce color saturation. Also used to make a blue sky darker, reduce reflections from glass, etc. They have no effect on metal objects or metallic paints. >>



Would the idea be that they would help cut through the glare on the slab, thus letting the color of the coin come through??? When taking pics of color coins, I am constantly tilting the coin to find just the right angle to pick up the colors. Invariably there is one portion of the coin that ends up being glared, just wondering if it wouldn't help cut through the plastic glare on that part of the coin and do a better job of picking up the colors.

messydesk

No filters. As Russ said, a polarizer won't help, but that's the best case. Some plastics are slightly polarizing themselves, so if you use a polarizer to shoot through a slab, you may get rainbows.

mgoodm3

Polarizers don't work for coin photography. The problem is that you are shooting from nearly vertical (90 degrees from horizontal). Polarizers work best at around 35 degrees off of horizontal (based on various equations) for most plastic. You don't generally shoot at that low angle. There is almost no polarization of light at vertical.

ModernDollarNut

Coin photography is trial and error. One learns as much through experience as by reading all applicable CU threads.

I agree with Russ except have never tried a polarizing filter for off-axis lighting reqired to catch a coin's toning but which also catches plastic reflections and glare. Rob