Polarizing filters

[jeff_phillips8]

I am sure this is the dumb question of the year but I have just got my hands on

a Heliopan polarizer filter to use on my rollei t. My understanding is that it

can be set on the viewing lense then using the numbers on the rotating element

transferred to the taking lens - just tried it out and I cannot see a bit of

difference no matter how I turn it - I checked it against my laptop screen and

it sure does go from clear to black - what am I missing?? pointers, suggestion

laughter any help gladly accepted - Thanks in advance for any help - Jeff

Phillips

[richard baznik]

Not much to go on here, but let me try. I assume you were not aiming the viewing lens of the Rollei toward the laptop screen, right? A scene with "real" lighting -- e.g., sunlight -- will respond very differently than a laptop image. A typical outdoor scene will not change from clear to black as you rotate the polarizer, but rather from clear to slightly darker. Pick the level of brighness that you think will give you the best image.

[jeff_phillips8]

Thanks - it did darken a bit but in my ignorence I missed it - I do have a series of barcked exposures so will see what they look like - Thank you for the info - Jeff Phillips

[john_calafut]

Don't forget that polarizers have their least effect on the sky when pointed directly toward or away from the sun. The maximum effect is in a direction 90 degrees away from the direction of the sun. Also, if the sky is totally filled with clouds and white, there will be little effect.

[jeff_phillips8]

I did some more research on this kind of filter over night and you are right - It has been thirty years since I picked up a camera and I had forgotten how much there is to learn - experiments are underway and I am very curious to see the results - Thanks, Jeff Phillips