I usually book a window seat (like many of you, I guess) and try to take some photos during the flight, but slightly often my in flight photos are ruined by reflections generated by the glass of the window (sometimes scratched) and they lose quality. Speaking with some friends came off the topic "polarizing filter" and I'd like to better understand if this tool would be appropriate for window photos during a flight.
Do you have any advice and/or opinion?
Thanks!
Carlo
Moderators: richierich, ua900, PanAm_DC10, hOMSaR
RE: Window Seat: Should I Use Polarizing Filter?
Yes, a circular polariser would do the trick, but only if you have enough light. The filter reduces light hitting the sensor by about one f-stop, or at least it does on my B+W filter. I suppose it varies across brands.
Also keep in mind that you cannot use a hood with a circular polariser, which shouldn't really matter for in-flight window shots, but is worth mentioning for general photography.
Cheers
Angad
Also keep in mind that you cannot use a hood with a circular polariser, which shouldn't really matter for in-flight window shots, but is worth mentioning for general photography.
Cheers
Angad
RE: Window Seat: Should I Use Polarizing Filter?
Thank you Angad. If I buy one of these filters, should I consider some other particular feature?
RE: Window Seat: Should I Use Polarizing Filter?
| Quoting miamivice (Reply 2): Thank you Angad. If I buy one of these filters, should I consider some other particular feature? |
Not sure. I don't really use mine for aircraft, mainly landscapes and such.
When I was buying, I just looked at reviews and the B+W was consistently rated highly.
Cheers
Angad
RE: Window Seat: Should I Use Polarizing Filter?
Aircraft windows are made of various components some of these are "plexiglass", "Perspex", basically different types of plastic.. this is likely to happen using a polarising filter..
Without a "pol" filter..
With a "pol" filter(and it was a circ polarising filter)
Cheers
Without a "pol" filter..
 |
With a "pol" filter(and it was a circ polarising filter)
 |
Cheers
RE: Window Seat: Should I Use Polarizing Filter?
Thanks mates for all the tips, really helpful for a newbie like me! 
RE: Window Seat: Should I Use Polarizing Filter?
As has been said, a polarizer is likely to make things worse. The best way to avoid reflections is to a) screen the window with a blanket or something and/or press the lens against the window - a cheap rubber lens hood against the glass works well.
Never had any problems with polarizers and hoods - it's a bit awkward, but do -able. Mind you I have long fingers.
I have seen some people have cut slots in the lens hood to allow easy access to the polarizer.
Cheers,
Colin
Never had any problems with polarizers and hoods - it's a bit awkward, but do -able. Mind you I have long fingers.
I have seen some people have cut slots in the lens hood to allow easy access to the polarizer.
Cheers,
Colin
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- dendrobatid
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RE: Window Seat: Should I Use Polarizing Filter?
| Quoting miamivice (Reply 11): Really interesting, I've found really cheaper solutions on the most famous ecommerce websites. Any tip about for the use of this tool? |
Best tip I can give is to not overuse it.
We are (almost) all the same - get a new 'toy' and you want to play and it is very easy to overuse it. Try it out before you use it on anything important as a Polariser can affect the exposure meter in the camera leading to underxposure as well as the loss of at least a stop.
I believe the patterns in plastics when you use a polariser, not simply a circular one, are caused by internal stresses in the plastic.
Mick Bajcar
RE: Window Seat: Should I Use Polarizing Filter?
| Quoting dendrobatid (Reply 12): We are (almost) all the same - get a new 'toy' and you want to play and it is very easy to overuse it. Try it out before you use it on anything important as a Polariser can affect the exposure meter in the camera leading to underxposure as well as the loss of at least a stop. |
Yeah I understand and I recognize myself in those kind of people!
RE: Window Seat: Should I Use Polarizing Filter?
| Quoting miamivice (Reply 11): Really interesting, I've found really cheaper solutions on the most famous ecommerce websites. Any tip about for the use of this tool? |
If you mean the rubber lens hood - well it works just like any lens hood, so be sure to get one designed for the particular lens you are using otherwise you'll get vignetting. It has some advantages over the ridged hoods normally supplied with the lens, primarily you can hold it against glass surfaces without clunking the glass, and it will help cancel out any vibrations transmitted through the airframe. You can eliminate most of the internal reflections on the glass this way (though because of the multiple layers of a passenger window, maybe not all).
On the minus side, I find the rubber hoods do tend to perish over time. Also they will not be optimised for the lens, (esp wide angle) as they do not have the petal design.
Colin
RE: Window Seat: Should I Use Polarizing Filter?
What you need to check is if it suits the focal length of your lens and matches the filter size.
Cheers,
Colin
Cheers,
Colin
RE: Window Seat: Should I Use Polarizing Filter?
Thank you Colin!
Carlo
Carlo
RE: Window Seat: Should I Use Polarizing Filter?
| Quoting vikkyvik (Reply 8): Ah. Makes more sense, though that depends on the focal length (and therefore hood length). With my 17-40, it works just fine. 100-400, not so much. |
Unless, of course, you have the new hood for the 100-400 mk2
It has a small sliding opening to allow adjustments to the filters with the hood on.
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