Polarizer When Shooter B&W??

minoltafan · Dec 12, 2007

Hello all, I'm new to the forum and I'm a film addict and the addiction only increases as the digital "revolution" keeps rolling. I shoot mostly color, but once and a while B&W.

My question is: Can one use a polarizer when shooting B&W film and what, if any, would be the effects?

I usually use a red filter or a ND filter for B&W and a circular polarizer for color.

Thank you in advance for any information!!

Andrew Moxom · Dec 12, 2007

Polarizers can and do have uses for B+W. There is a darkening effect of blue sky much like using an orange or red filter. For removing reflections, again, they are as useful with B+W as they with color.

PhotoJim · Dec 12, 2007

You certainly can use them. As Andrew mentioned, reflections are reflections and the utility of the polarizer will be the same. While saturating colours is not all that obviously helpful in B&W, it can affect tonal balances so can be desirable.

I personally prefer to manipulate tone on b&w with coloured filters, and use polarizers to get rid of reflections only.

Pinholemaster · Dec 12, 2007

Why not try a polarizer on your next B&W shoot, and report back the results?

jim appleyard · Dec 12, 2007

You most certainly can use a polarizer with b/w film, I often do. I find it to be a good choice between a yellow and red. Remember, it works best when pointed 90 degrees from the sun.

Blighty · Dec 12, 2007

I regularly use a polariser with a yellow filter. You get a significant darkening of the sky similar to using an orange filter but without the same tonal 'distortion'.

minoltafan · Dec 12, 2007

Thank you everyone, I appreciate it!! Well, I'm already looking forward to shooting a roll of Tmax with the polarizer......as soon as I finish the roll of Velvia 50 that's in my camera now.

Film Forever.

jchesky · Dec 12, 2007

Yes, you can use a polarizer, but they are less useful with wide angle

Yes, you can use a polarizer, but they are less useful with wide angle lenses. Wide angles lenses (obviously depending on how wide) cover a broader section of the sky and since a polarizer is most effective (as stated by jim appleyard) at 90 degrees from the sun, the wide angle may see too much of the sky and you'll get an inconsistent darkening. In those cases, a color filer (Red, Orange, Yellow) may give better consistency of effect.

Confusion Circle · Dec 13, 2007

I tried stacking a red (25A) filter with a CPL before and got amazing results with Tri-X. The sky went black with pure white clouds.

minoltafan · Dec 13, 2007

Jchesky and Confusion thanks for the ideas.

I have a circular polarizer for my AF Minolta and 28mm is the widest on it's zoom. I don't have any other filters for the lens.

I have two MF Minoltas (for many years) and and a bunch of filters, red, yellow, ND for various lenses. The MF's are what I use for shooting B&W, whenever that occasion arises.

So, 90 degrees from the sun, cool. What about when the sun is directly over your shoulder?

Obviously when you're shooting B&W you're still seeing color in the viewfinder so would you spin the polarizer until you get the darkest sky in the viewfinder?

In any case, I plan on shooting B&W with the polarizer in the near future.

Thanks all!!

jim appleyard · Dec 13, 2007

minoltafan said:
Jchesky and Confusion thanks for the ideas.

So, 90 degrees from the sun, cool. What about when the sun is directly over your shoulder?

Obviously when you're shooting B&W you're still seeing color in the viewfinder so would you spin the polarizer until you get the darkest sky in the viewfinder?

QUOTE]

When the sun is over your shoulder, you'll get less of an effect. The amount of polarization also depens on how clear the day is; a hot, humid day, less blue sky, less effect.

You spin the polarizer to get the amount of effect. The more you spin, the more you get until the max is reached and then is starts all over again. That's not a great description, but you see when you use it. Sometimes you don't want the full-blown effect as it can look a little too fake.

jim appleyard · Dec 13, 2007

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

minoltafan said:
Jchesky and Confusion thanks for the ideas.

So, 90 degrees from the sun, cool. What about when the sun is directly over your shoulder?

Obviously when you're shooting B&W you're still seeing color in the viewfinder so would you spin the polarizer until you get the darkest sky in the viewfinder?

QUOTE]

When the sun is over your shoulder, you'll get less of an effect. The amount of polarization also depens on how clear the day is; a hot, humid day, less blue sky, less effect.

You spin the polarizer to get the amount of effect. The more you spin, the more you get until the max is reached and then is starts all over again. That's not a great description, but you see when you use it. Sometimes you don't want the full-blown effect as it can look a little too fake.

Andy K · Dec 13, 2007

Using a polariser with bw will give darker skies (in both bw and colour) and will remove reflections from shiny surfaces like glass or water.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2097/2083608547_299307ce99_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2140/2084390206_a734096566_o.jpg

brooklynkid · Dec 16, 2007

You can definitely use a polarizer with black and white. I use it for REALLY dramatic darkening of the skies to emphasize the white clouds. The most dramatic effect is with a polarizer and a red filter. I have read that there is a difference if the polarizer is on top versus the red filter on top, but I haven't really tested it.
The difference between using a circular polarizer or a plane polarizer is determined by the type of camera you use. Some cameras have a meetering system that is imcompatable with a plane polarizer. I have a Canon F-1n which requires a circular polarizer, but I go ahead and use the circular polarizer with all of my other cameras - A-1, AT-1, Ftb-n, mechanical F-1. Hope that this helps.

dancqu · Dec 16, 2007

Andy K said:
...will remove reflections from shiny surfaces
like glass or water.

... or water or leafs, streams, rocks, and ... . I used
to carry a linear polarizer, a B+W at that, into the woods
thinking it a must have. I found though that it can take the
life out of a landscape rendering it dull, flat, unreal. So use
with discretion. Much of reflected light is blue so an
orange such as Hoya's O may do better. Dan

Polarizer When Shooter B&W??

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency