Suggestions for Circular Polarizing Filter

[BertBart]

First post.
I will be bringing a Nikon D3200 with kit lens to WDW in November. Several friends have told me to invest in a circular polarizer to improve the quality of daylight images.
I've done some research but I'd like to get input from the very talented Disney photographers here.
Thanks in advance.

 

[wdwmagic]

Welcome to WDWMAGIC!

Big fan of B+W Filters myself.

I use http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/10889-REG/B_W_66_045620_77mm_Kaeseman_Circular_Polarizing.html

 

[CP_alum08]

B&W filters are very nice. Personally, never been a big fan of the circular polarizer. I've used one a few times and didn't feel like the results were anything I couldn't replicate in photoshop in less time than it takes to screw on the filter. Unless you're dealing with reflections, then that's a different story.

I do absolutely recommend a UV filter though, even a cheap one. Dropping your camera and shattering a $10 UV filter is a lot better than the front glass of your lens!

 

[tahqa]

I have polarizing filters and use them occasionally, but to make a blanket statement and say that they "improve the quality of daylight images" is a bit of a stretch. They can improve the quality, but there are a lot of caveats. Darkening of the sky all depends on where the sun is in relation to the scene that you are shooting. Reducing reflections on water and foliage might or might not be important to you, but again that all depends on where the sun is in relation to you.

Check out this link: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/polarizers.shtml

Polarizers are an important tool in your toolbox, but they are not a universal solution.

As for UV filters, I wouldn't bother at all. Why would you put a cheap $10 piece of glass in front of your expensive optics to muddy the image? Keep in mind that every time you introduce an element into your light-flow you're reducing quality. Also, extra filters can cause side effects like reflected light sources as the light bounces between your front optics and the filter.

There are better ways of protecting your lens than putting a filter on the front of it... like not dropping your camera for a start.

 

[wdwmagic]

B&W filters are very nice. Personally, never been a big fan of the circular polarizer. I've used one a few times and didn't feel like the results were anything I couldn't replicate in photoshop in less time than it takes to screw on the filter. Unless you're dealing with reflections, then that's a different story.

I do absolutely recommend a UV filter though, even a cheap one. Dropping your camera and shattering a $10 UV filter is a lot better than the front glass of your lens!

It is true that you can do a lot of it in Photoshop, and there are all kinds of limitations when you start getting wide angle. If you are looking to get something impressive right out of the camera though, they are effective for me. The polarizer is also not a leave in place solution. You have to rotate it for each shot, and there can be vignetting problems.

 

[BertBart]

Thanks for all the input guys! One of my friends is lending me a polarizer this weekend so I can get used to its effects.
tahqa: The link was very informative. Thanks!