How do I choose a polarizing filter for a Micro Four Thirds camera?
Asked 8/13/2011
4 views
2 answers
0
I use an Olympus E-PL1 with a 14-42mm kit lens and a 40-150mm lens, mainly for photographing rock pools, water, and landscapes. I’m new to filters and want to try a polarizer to cut reflections and improve shots through water.
What should I look for when buying one? In particular:
- Should I get a linear or circular polarizer for a Micro Four Thirds camera?
- Is it okay to buy one filter for my larger lens and use step-up rings on other lenses later?
- Does a rotating front element make a polarizer impractical, or just less convenient?
- How much does filter quality matter if I’m only testing the idea at first?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
5
These considerations:
- Linear or circular? For an SLR, you'd need circular, but for a m43 camera like yours, either will work. All else being equal, linear will be less expensive. So unless you plan to use your filter on an SLR as well, pick linear.
- What size? As unexplainedBacn says, big enough for your largest diameter lens. Use step-up adapters as necessary for smaller diameter lenses.
- Coating? Broadly speaking: multi-coated > single-coated > uncoated.
- Which make and model? Set yourself a budget, and within that, shop around and pick the best (read some reviews!) you can find.
- Know their limitations. Using them with wide-angle lenses or with severe step-up adapters can cause vignetting. Using them to shoot panoramas can cause uneven results. Don't stop learning ☺
Originally by user4673. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4673
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A polarizer is a good choice for water and landscape work because it can reduce reflections in ways software can’t.
For a modern camera, a circular polarizer is the safest recommendation because it’s broadly compatible with autofocus and metering systems. On Micro Four Thirds, a linear polarizer may also work, and is often cheaper, but circular is the more universally compatible option.
Buy the size for your largest lens and use step-up rings on smaller lenses if needed. Just be aware that large step-ups or use on wider lenses can increase the risk of vignetting.
A rotating front element doesn’t make a polarizer unusable; it just makes it more fiddly, because you may need to re-adjust the filter after focusing.
Quality matters. Better multi-coated filters generally outperform single-coated or uncoated ones, with fewer issues like flare, ghosting, light loss, and image degradation. If you’re only experimenting, a cheap filter is fine to learn the effect, but if you use it often, upgrade to a good multi-coated model from a reputable brand.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI15y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
How important is lens stabilization for a 40–150mm lens on a Panasonic Micro Four Thirds body?
Can I use Canon FD lenses on an Olympus PEN E-PL1 with an adapter?
Can I use old Minolta lenses on an Olympus PEN Micro Four Thirds camera?
Can a C-mount lens be adapted to a Four Thirds DSLR mount?
Why is my Olympus PEN intermittently overexposing photos with one lens?