Polarizers and the Nikon petal hoods

pbull221

Has anyone run into the issue of using a polarizer (nikon of course :-), ) with the twist on petal hood that everyone is using nowadays?
Unless I have the camera on a tripod it is an annoying challenge to take the hood off, turn the polarizer for maximum effect, then put the it back on. Add to that the fact that I developed "benign familial tremor" back in 2012 and you have a recipe for gravity to win with one piece of gear or another.

I'd appreciate input on what is already an annoying issue.

PB_PM

I tend to just leave the hood off when using a polarizer hand held for that very reason.

Ironheart

You don't need a hood if you have a polarizer. If you think about it, a hood is to prevent off-angle stray light from entering the lens and causing ghosts or reflections. A polarizer is used to prevent off-angle stray light from entering the lens and causing ghosts or reflections or glare. Seems pretty mutually exclusive to me.

Snowleopard

I agree with Ironheart, but I have tried it and it is a pain in the ........ I know you don't need it with a polarizer, but It would be nice.

pbull221

Maybe I am too protective of my expensive lenses? The bit about not needing it from Ironheart makes more sense than anything I'd ever thought of. I need to check into that. Thanks everyone for your observations. Sometimes a thing sticks in my craw and I wind up just asking around rather that finding a solution on my own. That extra bit of insurance on that front element seemed so all important until just now. :-)

Ironheart

Oh, and the polarizer will protect the front element too! Actually twice, because a polarizer is really two pieces of glass.

pbull221

Well hey, polarizer just got put back into the kit bag.

heartyfisher

Oh, and the polarizer will protect the front element too! Actually twice, because a polarizer is really two pieces of glass.

Yes to the protection bit ... err .. 2 pieces ? I think maybe you are thinking of the variable ND filter .. cos that is 2 Polarisers ...

Interesting idea of a Polariser's functional equivalence to a Hood in terms of flare.. I like it. :-) I think you may be right ... that is can cut down flare at certain settings but i think just like reflections I think you can enhance it as well with a polariser... will have a play !

Ironheart

Ha, yes, you are right about the two, thinking of a vari-ND. Good luck getting flare/ghosts with a polarizer, I'm curious to see the results :-)

esquilo

I use polarizer and petal shaped hood on my 16-85. The hood is not so deep so I have no problem turning the polarizer. The same polarizer on the 70-300 is a different matter.

@heartyfisher: A polariser actually has two pieces of glass; Linear polarizer in front of a circular polarizer. Linear polarizer only will screw up your metering and circular polarizer only does not change anything when you turn it. On it's own it's basically a one stop ND-filter.

paulr

You can have the best of both worlds. This made the Hood size 86mm so quite large and vignetting could be a problem at certain Focal lengths. The original CPL filter was very well made and are becoming quite rare.
https://nikoneurope-en.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/21603

pbull221

I liked the click in hood from circa 1970 that went with my 43-86mm lens. If they'd toughened up that design they'd have really hit the right solution. Click in is all well and good but when the darn thing causes issues like this it kinda bugs me.

Thanks to everyone who helped.

pbull221

Maybe I will invent a selfi stick I can use to reach into the hood and turn the polarizer without touching the glass. You know, just a pen sized device like a tiny backscratcher... :-)

spraynpray

I have started holding bigger filters in front of the lens when it is a once only usage. Saves a lot of hassle.

paulr

Blimey Spraynpray have you got three hands?

retread

How can you align it with the lens elements holding in in your hand? Seems like it would be and some angle instead of in line.

spraynpray

The camera is on a tripod @paulr!

@retread: I don't obsess too much - near enough seems to be good enough. This was a 10 stop held against the petal lens hood: