Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Hi photographers,

If I understand correctly, if we use a circular polariser on a wide angle lens, the images may have some vignetting.

My question is: how wide can we go (i.e: in terms of focal length), before we see some vignetting?

I'd like to get a B+W Kaesemann polariser for my 16-85mm Nikkor, and I was just wondering whether I need the regular or slim version, in order to keep vignetting at minimum.

I'm also planning to get the 17-55mm Nikkor and 11-16mm Tokina, so I'd also like to know whether it's better for me to get the regular or slim Kaesemann for these.

Thanks!

If you get a slim polarizer, you probably won't have any problems on any of those lenses. I can't unfortunately speak to any of those lenses, as I only have the Nikkor 14-24 with no abilities to add filters, and the 28-70 which I can use a regular or slim 77mm polarizer on.


David

One consideration as well is that slim filters/polarizers are not threaded to accept the regular lens caps. Meaning they have a higher chance of getting knocked off if you keep it on while in your gear bag

polarizers in general are very hard to take off and the thin ones are double trouble so if you don't need the slim don't buy them. For the same teason make sure you spend the extra for the German brass body.

Some of the newer ones have threads just enough to attach a lens cap securely. The Hoya Pro1 and HD series are slim designs and have threads. The Hoya SMC does not have threads. In which case you need to buy the snap-on caps instead. Even that isn't a guarantee you won't lose the lens cap.

I agree with Metrix, the slim ones are a pain in the a$$ to take off esp if they're stacked on another filter or when your hands are cold and dry.

I use a Hoya PRO1 CPL with the low profile frame on my Tokina 11-16. I haven't had any problems with vignetting while shooting, even at 11mm. Only downside was that it was a bit pricey.

I have a Hoya HD 77mm polarizer, however, I haven't really used it much. I have not noticed any vignetting at all. I use this with my Nikon 12-24.

I have read that vignetting will occur on certain lenses, and certain filters. However, I heard using slim filters will reduce your chances of vignetting. Not sure if that's true or not, but that's what I've read.

I have a regular kaesemann with front threads, only see very slight vignetting with 17mm, yet this is very easily recovered in post. I am actually selling a 67mm one now, since I got a 77mm lens, ordered a slim one, will tell you in a week or so how it performs

Got to love the Hoya HD polarizers! 1/3 more light transmission than standard polarizers and I did compare it against my other 2 polarizers. I don't get vignetting with the slims on my 16-35 f2.8L on a FF sensor.

My short answer re: vignetting is that it will depends on the lens...

But, I'm here to add the remark that for such wide angles you will not get a consistent polarisation effect. Thus, skies get darkened in strange patches (though I'm not that sure about reflections... I'm sure that you get strangeness in a wide body of water too).

You might want to look up the uneven polarisation effect before you consider dropping too much $$$$ on either type of polariser of that size.