Anyone with experience of using CPL please come in..
I just got mine yesterday, and theres sumthing to ask.

I cant use my hood together with the CPL?

I cannot rotate..hahaha

Do you need to use a hood when you use the CPL?

u oledi answered ur question.

how u gonna rotate it after u fix the hood

u need a slim cpl if u intend to use it on a wide angle.

i cant really imagine or understand why cannot.
mine can...

possible explain in detail?

If you have a rotating barrel zoom lens, then you're damned. Have to adjust the CPL angle every time you change zoom.

If you barrel is non-rotating, just set the CPL to a given angle that works best in either landscape or portrait orientation. Turn it 90' and it's still the same! Put on the lens hood and then forget about it (until you need more light for faster shutter speed).

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Added on May 14, 2007, 9:32 pmAfraid of vignetting?

Maybe can try out a normal CPL at the shop first or stacking two normal UV filters before plunking down money for a slim CPL or any slim filter. Vignetting severity varies from lens to lens.

This post has been edited by cjtune: May 14 2007, 09:32 PM

Okok..sorry for the lack of detail.
My cam is a Fuji S9600. the filter i got is a Hoya (its pretty slim)

So after fitting the filter, I cant fit the hood and go out to shoot.
Every time i want to adjust the CPL, I need to take off hood, focus, put back hood.

I dont know if using a CPL can prevent Flares anot.. Coz 1 thing is for sure..My cam NEEDS a hood if not it will over-highlight..I reckon its becoz of the cheap UV Filter?

Cjtune, I tought a CPL has to be adjusted constantly? as angles of reflections and glares are constantly changing?

I havent really went out for a photoshoot yet.. coz these few days penang so cloudy and hazy..want to test oso tak dapat

Now Im thinking if I shud have gone for a ND Filter anot..

BTW, guys, anywhere in penang can you get Cokin filters? I like thier Gradual ND filter

Flares are the internal reflection of your lens elements. Hoods can prevent that to some degree but the hood is generally useful to prevent that 'washed-out' look by eliminating most of the stray environmental light that goes into your lens. Like turning off the meeting room light when you're using the projector. The sure way to prevent flares or to drastically reduce it, you need multicoated lens elements, which may or may not be on your S9600. Note that sometimes you may need to shoot with a bright light visible in the background... hoods and CPLs can't prevent flares from that -only multicoats.

Agreed that CPLs have to be adjusted to suit scene but generally for street and park/beach shots I usually take, I find that usually just leaving my CPL at a present location for most of the daytime works fine for me. I CAN tell when I need to readjust the CPL again simply by paying attention to the optical viewfinder. For non-SLRs like your S9600 prosumer, you may not notice the change in reflections right away -LCD may not be detailed enough and your optical viewfinder is in a separate lens assembly of its own.

This post has been edited by cjtune: May 14 2007, 10:28 PM

You will need to constantly remove and reattatch the hood when using cpl if the hood is mandatory for you. Alternatively, some people have actually cut a small gap under the hood to adjust the cpl without removing it....

A small left hand with long fingers helps too...

Is that you, CJtune?

Just be aware that you risk damaging the lens drive unit when you hold the CP. The lens with rotating front elements are usually of lower quality and built. ( Eg Sigma 55-200)

COol, thanks for the advise.
I think the viewfinder on the S9600 is pretty alright. it's quite fast.
Nvm..will try it out when Its darn sunny out. Doesnt really work well on cloudy days eh? As in you can see more diffrence on sunny day.

Main Reason why i want a CPL is just to tone down those over-exposed white surfaces.. its pretty annoying on my cam sometimes. missed a few nice shots just becoz it's over.

I tought of getting a finger in and turning it with the finger tips.. BUT... The rims are smooth.. ..cant get a good grip on it.

Cutting a small hole might help..hmm...didnt tot of that.. Will get from the shop a cheaper hood and cut it

Haihz..sumtimes i dont know if I made a mistake buying prosumer anot..

most pentax petal shaped lens hood comes with an opening at the top of the lens hood for CPL filter adjustment....

I'd tried adjusting my cpl when the hood is on but what I learnt is that if you accidentally slipped and touched the filter..it will take you more time to remove the hood, clean, adjust, and re attatch the hood than just doing it right at the first place. Besides, this lazy method is only possible with some shorter hood...

It is adviceable to cut a hole at the bottom of the hood as sun light has less chance in getting into the hood from the bottom.

I usually use it for the clouds. CPL brights out the contrast between them and the blue sky. Next would be the reflections off of water -but sometimes this may be good. Cuts down on glares from walls, windows, etc. too.

CPL is not a magic cure for those overexposed surfaces. It can't really get rid of those sharp spot glares. Only those flat-surfaced glares.

If your viewfinder is not connected to the main lens assembly, you can not see its effect... Not sure if that's the case for your S9600? Only prosumers I know that has optical viewfinders that connect directly to the main lens are the old Olympus E-10, E-20. Maybe you can see it in your LCD viewfinder.

Yes..thats the problem im facing now
Its a pain to clean it up.

I will probobly get another cheap hood and try on that 1st.. Mine is a flower one.. I would prefer a "cup" shaped hood..i think its better?

My Cam's viewfinder is what I will be see-ing on LCD. So its kinda sumthing like "Live view" thing. I can see the changes when I turn the CPL. so is mine connected? Im not sure

Yea, I notice by using CPL, I can cut down on Chromatic abbreviations especially on white/chrome surface..

Well, it's an indirect benefit simply because the CPL is cutting down on the glare. You may still get chromatic abberations if you have a high contrast situation like a guy wearing a bright white T-shirt with a dark background and it's not due to glares. In low light circumstances, and if you have some surfaces that are much more brightly lighted than others, you cannot use a CPL to get this benefit (shutter speed too low or have to boost ISO too high). Ultimately, chromatic abberation is an inherent lens problem.