Which Filter for Wide Angle lens ?

[duncan22]

I Need some advice on the best type of filter for a wide angle Canon Lens 10-22mm
What I thought I needed was a circular polarising filter as that would meet my needs but looking at a number of posts on the internet such a filter can present problems on a wide angle lens and in particular where the sky is included in the shot.
What is the next best filter I should consider that would have similar properties to the polariser but without the problems of that filter. ?

[chris-p]

What problems with a circular polariser...?

There is no reason why you can't mount one on a Canon 10-22mm lens, you just need to make sure it's a thin profile one so it doesn't vignette.

There isn't really much else like a cicrcular polariser - or, at least, there isn't a "next best"

[Forseti]

Just to add to Chris's comments. Maximum polarisation is effected when the lens, fitted with filter obviously, is pointed 90° away from the sun. So if you hold all four fingers together pointed in the direction of the sun and with your thumb pointed out sideways (90°) then this is the direction that will offer maximum polarisation when the filter is rotated to achieve this. Following this of course, is the fact that the polarisation effect falls off gradually either side of this ideal angle. So in practise you could end up with a situation where you have an image with an extremely dark blue sky in the centre (point of max polarisation) with the blue saturation falling off either side of this. The wider the lens the greater the effect due to the fact that the field of view (FOV) is larger and therefore a much greater area of sky will be shown over say a standard 50mm lens. Once you understand the cause and effect then it becomes a little easier to control e.g. by backing off on the filter a touch so that the maximum polarisation effect is not achieved or physically changing your position relative to the subject.

[duncan22]

Thanks for that.
To sum up neither of you have actually said do not use a polarising filter on a wide angle lens and clearly explain the problem and possible solutions to the problem.
I Know that things can often come down to a personal opinion but there are a fair number of comments on the internet that suggest a circular polariser should not be used with a wide angle lens. The effect you describe about an image with a dark blue sky in the middle and falling off at the edges has happened a few times with a polarising filter at the 17mm setting on my canon 17-55mm and it's not easy to rectify even with appropriate software.
Both Lenses take a 77mm filter so I could try it and see but I will shortly be taking some holiday photos which I will not get the opportunity to take again hence the reason for asking the question in the first place.

[chris-p]

You're always going to get some coluor variation across the sky, especially at wide angles like that - even 17mm. Thats life sadly. You can minimise it with a more expensive filter but you will never completelely ablate the effect.

[Forseti]

Originally Posted by duncan22

.....there are a fair number of comments on the internet that suggest a circular polariser should not be used with a wide angle lens.

And as a blanket expression I would be in disagreement with any such suggestions. It would be akin to saying that one should never use a telephoto lens for landscapes which is equally nonsense.

The main thing to keep in mind of course is to use the right equipment for what you are attempting to achieve, know it's limitations and above all else, how it works........whether it be the camera itself or any ancillary equipment.

The polarising filter effect is one of the few things that you are not easily able to create in software if at all. And in fact, used creatively, even that unevenness of colour across the sky can look effective under some circumstances.

I regularly use a B + W Polarising filter (not to be confused with B&W) such as this but obtainable elsewhere https://www.schneideroptics.com/ecom...D=989&IID=4008 on my Canon 17-40mm lens. Also, keeping in mind that most lenses fall off in quality towards the outer extremes I seldom use either the 17mm or 40mm ends of the lens. Whilst the same polarisation effect can undoubtedly be achieved with a filter costing half the price I chose this make simply due to the quality of construction/materials. The outer ring is made of brass thereby eliminating the risk of having a filter jam on the lens which often happens, plus I find they do not tend to fog and are much easier to clean/keep clean that other makes I have used in the past. In fact all my filters are from the same stable other than my ND grads for which I use the Lee brand.

As I mentioned earlier, the advantages of a polariser far outweigh the disadvantages and in highly reflective light situations such as in the mountains, on the coast, snow, glass the filter maintains contrast/saturation more naturally than can be achieved in software. So never fitting a PL to a wide-angle lens is bad advice imho, but knowing how and when to use it, understanding how it works in conjunction with the effect that you are attempting to achieve will pay you dividends in the longer term.