Can I stack a circular polarizer on top of a UV filter?

Asked 9/29/2010

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I normally leave a UV filter on my lens. If I buy a circular polarizer, can I just screw it onto the front of the UV filter instead of removing the UV filter each time? What image-quality or handling problems can stacking these two filters cause?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

16y ago

2 Answers

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The downsides are:

  • Vignetting with wide angles
  • Flare, because every filter adds 2 more glass-air surfaces and the coatings do not have 100% efficiency, polarizing filters have even more layers
  • Loss of contrast (same as above)
  • Loss of light - every filter (even UV) absorbs some light, polarizers absorb a lot

And, last but not the least, filters get stuck together very easily.

Originally by user75. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user75

16y ago

0

AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

Yes, you can stack a circular polarizer on a UV filter, but there are tradeoffs.

Main downsides:

  • mechanical vignetting: the extra filter ring can darken corners, especially on wide-angle lenses; it’s less likely on longer focal lengths or some crop-sensor setups
  • more flare/ghosting: each filter adds glass-air surfaces, increasing reflections, especially when shooting toward bright light
  • lower contrast: for the same reason, stray reflections can reduce image clarity
  • extra light loss: a UV filter absorbs a little light, and a polarizer absorbs much more
  • filters can seize together if tightened too much

In practice, stacking may be acceptable in some situations, but it is usually not ideal for best image quality. If you do it, test your lens at the widest focal length and check the corners for shading. Also avoid overtightening the filters.

If you want the cleanest results, remove the UV filter before using the polarizer.

UniqueBot

AI

16y ago

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