Each polarizer film is designed intricately to control reflections on varied types of tricky surfaces like glass, leaves, water, and sky. Each polarizing film is not created to match the expected picture clarity, and poor quality films can affect resolution, contrast, sharpness, and color drastically.
Below are features to look for while choosing one:
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- Optical Glass – its best to prefer optical glasses, and it is also recommended to check for “Water White” and “Hoya Clear” glasses as they have premium quality.
- Optical Thin Polarizing Film – this is a must to be stated by the manufacturer. Low cost or low-quality filters usually avoid optical grade films in order to keep the costs cheap.
- Multi-coatings – are also recommended as they reduce the flare and ghosting chances and also improve light transmission. But, mostly polarizer film are not multi-coated as it becomes harder and more expensive.
- Black Rimmed – these glasses are preferred as they assure that the manufacturer has taken extra caution to paint a black rim on the outside glass edge. This curbs the light to bounce around or off the surface from the frame to reduce the chances of flare and ghosting.
- Standard vs. High Rate Transmission Polarizing Films – These films cause similar polarization effect across both the types, but an HRT (High Rate Transmission) film permits 2/3 more light to pass through the filter compared to any standard film. This eventually translates to quicker and more accurate AF and easier viewing while used with an optical viewfinder.
A circular polarizer aims to do one main thing: control or remove reflections to increase picture quality and detail. And, now it has turned to be a life-line for all photographers across industries and specializations.
