Polarizer and contrast filter

thornhill · Dec 28, 2018

If someone were to use a combination of a polarizer and a black and white contrast filter, is there a preference as to which one goes in front?
Does it matter?

Derek

Ian C · Dec 28, 2018

Combing a polarizer and contrast filter works well in many situations. The contrast filter should be mounted first, then the polarizer is attached over the contrast filter. The order of the filters is stated as important in one of my books, possibly the Kodak book, Using Filters. I’m not certain if that is the book that I recall.

The effect is not only stronger than using the contrast filter alone, but also different, as the contrast filter biases the exposure of various scene elements based on color, while the polarizer does so based on the polarity of the light, and is not dependent on the color of the light.

I’ve found the combination of a yellow Kodak/Wratten #8 (old Kodak designation K2) plus a polarizer to be particularly pleasing in scenes involving a blue sky with white clouds. The result is more “dramatic” than using either of these filters singly. I prefer this combination to using a stronger filter, such as orange, by itself. Experimentation will show you what works best in various lighting situations.

neilt3 · Dec 28, 2018

Depends on what filters your using .
I quite often use ND Grads so use the Cokin Z-Pro filters ( or Cokin P depending on what I'm taking out with me ) either using Cokin or HiTech filters .
With this system the polarizer ( as well as the Infrared filter) goes in the slot nearest the lens so as to allow it to be rotated and still prevent light getting past it sideways potentially causing flair .
With the ND Grad furthest from the lens , that leaves the middle slot for contrast control filters .

I've never seen any problems with this .

When using screw in filters I put the coloured filter directly on the lens and the polarizer onto that .

I've never seen any difference in results to suggest one way or the other is better or worse .

DREW WILEY · Dec 28, 2018

Regardless, the more air/glass interfaces involved, the more there will be some kind of penalty to contrast and resolution, and increased risk of flare. Whether it's enough to be annoying just depends on the quality of the filters, the effectiveness of the lens shade, and your personal qualitaty expectations.

Alan Edward Klein · Dec 29, 2018

Wouldn't you want to put the polarizer second since you have to rotate its outer element? Also, if you put it on first, when you tighten down the second contrast filter, you'll be putting tension on the movable adjustment part of the polarizer that may damage it.

MattKing · Dec 29, 2018

The plane polarized light may very well be predominantly of a particular colour - e.g. blue.
If the polarizing filter is behind a yellow filter, then that blue light may already be blocked, so the polarizer won't have as much to work with.
I think you want to polarize at the front, then add the colour contrast filter behind.

AgX · Dec 29, 2018

I cannot think of any reason, be it optical ot mechanical, to choose an order.
Aside that with screwing in a filter into the rotating part of a polarizer it may me a bit more difficult to hold the rotaing part stationary , than with a plain filter ring.

Alan Edward Klein · Dec 29, 2018

AgX said:
I cannot think of any reason, be it optical ot mechanical, to choose an order.
Aside that with screwing in a filter into the rotating part of a polarizer it may me a bit more difficult to hold the rotaing part stationary , than with a plain filter ring.

You just gave a reason. Also, it might damage the rotating part of the polarizer if you turn the contrast filter too tight.

AgX · Dec 29, 2018

If a polarizer has as female thread, one can assumne that it is long enough to be usable.
Your other argument was that one could no longer rotate the polarizer once there is a filter in front. One can grip the filter in front and rotate the polarizer by that.

Doremus Scudder · Dec 31, 2018

There's no optical reason for a particular order. Even in Matt's example above, reversing the order would make no difference; the polarized blue light gets blocked by the yellow filter if it's last and doesn't reach the film if the the polarizer is on top. In the opposite case, the blue light gets blocked before reaching the polarizer... end result on what gets to the film is the same.

I've used both configurations with no problems. I think I'd have to use a lot of extra force to damage the outer ring on my polarizers with another filter...

Best,

Doremus

Polarizer and contrast filter

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