Had to choose between a UV filter and a polarizer for my lens last week

I was at B&H in Manhattan staring at two filters for my Sony. The UV was $35 and the polarizer was $90. I went with the polarizer because I shoot a lot of outdoor stuff around Central Park. First time I used it on a cloudy day, the sky looked fake dark. But then I tried it on a lake near my place and the reflection cut out perfectly. Anyone else find polarizers tricky to line up right?

3 comments

3 Comments

jenny_lee2d ago

Waste your money on the polarizer if you want to spend extra time fiddling with the ring every time you take a shot. UV filters are cheap and do the job of protecting your lens from scratches or dust. Unless you're shooting pro landscapes or water reflections all day, the polarizer is an extra step that slows you down. I've seen too many people miss a good photo because they were too busy adjusting the angle to get the sky just right. Polarizers cut light too, so your shutter speed drops for no good reason in normal daylight. Stick with the UV and save the hassle.

colethomas2d ago

Same here, I've watched friends miss perfect street shots while spinning those rings around.

emmaking2d ago

Yeah because nothing says "capture the moment" like wrestling with a plastic ring while your subject walks away.