Nikon Polarizers

For many years Nikon had been producing "oversized" polarizers as shown on the

left size (77mm), and there is also a 52mm polarizer mounted on a small lens

in the back. Those polarizers are very thick and the elements are several

millimeters wider than the thread diameter. Presumably, these wider polarizers

can prevent vignetting. However, since they are oversized, you cannot put your

regular lens cap on them and frequently you cannot use it along with a lens

hood.

 

Recently, Nikon has replaced them with new thin polarizers, as show on the

right side (77mm). The new polarizers are almost as thin as their regular

filters. You can put your regular lens cap on them and use them with the lens

hood on.<div></div>

not really recent, i bought one over a year ago. I had one of these thin Nikon polarizers and hated it. i used it with the 18-70mm kit lens and it flared like crazy, as bad as the cheap plastic cokin square filters. i expected more from such an expensive multicoated filter.

Shun, I have two of those old style Nikon, I think in 52 and 62 mm. I'm wondering if

you or anyone has tried the new style on a 12 -24 DX? I need a 77 for that lens (I

think) and wonder how the new thin would perform? I realized this is probably the

worst case scenario for a polarizer and vignetting.

Paul, the filters shown above are mine. I was in New York City last Tuesday and bought the thin 77mm polarizer at B&H. I bought it in person to make sure that I was getting the new style.

 

The new PL filter is just as thin as the Nikon thin L37c filter (within well less than 1mm), so I don't think it'll cause any additional vignetting on the 12-24mm DX, which indeed takes 77mm front filters. In fact, I just put it on my 12-24 DX and I don't see any problems in the viewfinder. The 12-24 DX probably vignets a little bit on its own, anyway, at least at or near its max f4.

 

I certainly don't see any problems with vignetting using either the old or new style on the 12-24 on a DSLR or the 17-35mm/f2.8 AF-S on film. However, super-wides like those tend to have darken corners anyway if you use a polarizer because of over-polarization.

Thanks for the report Shun, I'll have to give it a try.

Just for reference: the 'old-syle' Nikon 52mm circular-polarizer filter does have a two-section lens hood that fits the oversize filter.

I have found that you can sometimes use the next-size-larger lens cap on the wide polarizers, e.g., I seem to recall that a lens caps for a 77mm lens fits on the 72mm polarizer. I find I mainly use it on WA lenses (20mm or 28mm) to deepen the sky.

For what it's worth: I've used the think 77mm Nikon polarizing filter onthe Tokina 12-24mm DX on the D80 without vinyetting although also without good effect. As expected, on the wide-angle lens, the polarizer causes an uneven effect on the sky. I know it has to do with the angle of the sun changing over the course of the span of the lens or something, but I can't explain it. I just know I was told a polarizer wouldn't be good on a 12-24mm, and that was what I found.

Shun,

 

While I generally admire Nikon products, their older-style polarizers are a definite exception.

 

The work-around I use is a 52/62mm filter adapter and a 62mm circular polarizer from Hoya. The 62mm polarizer works fine by itself on an 85mm f1.8 AFD lens, and it becomes a wide angle polarizer on my 35mm f2.8 PC lens via the filter adapter. So one 62mm polarizer, one 52/62mm adapter, and one 62mm lens cap became an economical, compact, and convenient "two-fer-one" item.

 

While this work-around may not work in all cases where a wide angle polarizer is needed, it has worked perfectly for me. So it may be worthwhile for others to consider it.

 

Cheers,

Finding the lens cap for the earlier version.

http://www.shashinki.com/review/nikon/7277mmcpl/

I never like the old type Nikon polarizers either. Lens cap is the smaller problem, as I don't have to have one on it. I didn't like the idea that I couldn't use a lens hood with them, at least not easily. I use the same 77mm polarizer on the 12-24mm DX, 17-35mm all the way to the 70-200 and 300mm/f4, and it would be tough to find (and carry) a separate lens hood in each case.

 

You wonder why I got the new one?

"However, since they are oversized, you cannot put your regular lens cap on them and frequently you cannot use it along with a lens hood."

 

Shun -

 

ALL the older style polarizers had dedicated lens hoods.

 

HN-12* 52mm

 

HN-26* 62mm (use 82mm cap to cover)

 

HN-13 72mm

 

HN-29 77mm

 

(*lenses over 35mm)

 

BTW, I discovered that the 72mm and 77mm polarizers are identical except for the mounting ring. You can use the 77mm on lenses such as the 105 f/2AF DC and 180 f/2.8AF by getting a 72 to 77 stepup ring.

 

The older style are also easier to grip and rotate with gloves (cold weather).

Richard, I am not familiar with the HN-29, but I don't think I can use the same lens hood for both my 300mm/f4 AF-S and 17-35mm/f2.8 AF-S (and everything in between) effectively. And I am also not interested in having two sets of lens hoods for my lenses that use 77mm (PL) filters, one for without the filter and one for with the PL filter.

 

Incidentally, the 300mm/f4 AF-S has a built-in lens hood that slides in and out. If you put an old-style oversized Nikon PL filter onto that, the PL filter would block the hood so that the hood cannot be slided out. I know, minor details. :-)

 

Replacing the old style PL filter seems to be the easiest solution.

Shun -

 

I hope I didn't imply that the older style were a 'better' choice than the newer ones. I should have pointed out that the dedicated hoods are largely discontinued and can be difficult to find.

 

Also, with the two lenses I mentioned (the 105 and 180) you must use the dedicated hood since the built-in can't be extended.

 

I think it's great that you take the time to make this information available to the user base.

Hi, I'm a bit confused. If my Nikon CP is "oversized" (has a big front element), it's not the new type, hence shouldn't be labelled CPII, or thin, or slim?

So the one listed on B&H's website "Nikon 72mm Circular Polarizer Glass Filter II (Slim) Mfr# 2257" doesn't have such a big front?

When I bought mine in person at B&H in October, 2006, they told me that they now only carry the new, thin style ones. But it is safer to confirm it if you order from them. I bought it in person to make sure that I got the new style.

I guess my confusion was that I thought all "CPLII" filters are thin-ringed - that was what the II stands for, right? But the CPLII I bought a few months ago had a big front, quite to my surprise. So I was wondering, after reading your posting, whether the seller had shipped me the older bigger CPL. The sender didn't mention "thin" in their product listing...

Just to add to the confusion about a hood and lens cap for my Nikon CP-6 old style 52mm circular polarizer (made in Japan) I have just returned from my local and knowledgeable camera store where three of the staff and the owner attempted to find one that would fit. The inside diameter is 59mm, not 58 as some have suggested and the 58 mm cap is too small. (measured with engineers caliper). We then searched their filter junk box and heaven forbid, found a Canon slip-on filter that does fit. Still have not found a hood designated as HN-12, I believe.

Mike, Toronto

<p>Actually its 58mm and if the inside thread was 58mm and the outside thread was 58mm, they wouldn't fit together, since 2 solid parts can't be in the same place at the same time. Some clearance is needed to make threads work correctly.</p>

<p>John, Photo.net forwarded your July 09 reply to my June 08 question about my old style Nikon CP-6 52mm, made in Japan polariser with the oversize outer thread which I use with my Nikon 52mm f1.8 D lens. Rereading my post a year later, I realise that it lacks clarity. The owner of the dealership and two of his staff were unable to find a hood or lens cap to fit the oversize thread of the CP-6 polariser which we all thought was 58mm, but was closer to 59mm. A 58mm lens cap was also tried but did not fit tightly enough to stay put. As it is a year later and the dust has settled I will revisit the dealership and another close by and start from scratch. To my knowledge, 59mm is not a standard thread size for filters, hoods and step-up rings. The polariser is well made, in excellent condition and came with the Nikon CP-6 plastic case, but the filter markings in white on outside edge do not state CP-6, just 'NIKON Circualar Polar 52mm Japan' Maybe it' a grey market item? </p>