Which filter is more useful in bright desert conditions: ND or polarizer?
Asked 2/22/2013
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I’m preparing for a trip with bright desert conditions, plus some water, dusty city scenes, and possibly reflective buildings or pools. I’m trying to decide which filter would give me the most flexibility in the field: a neutral density (ND) filter, a polarizer, or possibly no filter at all.
My understanding is that an ND filter helps when you want to reduce light so you can use a wider aperture or make long exposures in strong sun. A polarizer seems useful for cutting reflections, reducing haze, and improving skies.
If I’m only going to buy one filter for general daytime desert shooting, which would be the more practical choice? Are there situations where one should be avoided, such as wide-angle shooting?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
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Obviously the two filters have totally different uses so you can't say one is strictly better than the other, but if you only buy one filter I'd say a polarizer is more useful as it cuts through the haze, enhances skies etc. it will also act as a 1 stop ND.
Provided your camera goes up to 1/8000s you should be absolutely fine without an ND. The only use for an ND in the desert is if you want to shoot at f/1.4 or f/2.0 which will be rare unless you're shooting portraits. If I were you I would use a long focal length f/4 or f/5.6 if I wanted to shoot portraits with background separation.
Another use for ND filters is for long exposure motion blur shots, but I'm not sure how much motion there is out there to blur, and you can always wait until night to get that sort of shot.
A possible solution is to get a good quality variable ND filter. These use a pair of polarizers to reduce light levels so will give you both ND and polarization. Be aware you wont be able to use wide angle lenses or you'll get interference effects.
Originally by user1375. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1375
13y ago
0
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They serve different purposes, so one is not universally “better.” If you’re buying just one for general desert travel, a polarizer is usually the more useful choice.
Why: it can reduce haze, deepen skies, and cut reflections from water or shiny surfaces. It also reduces light a bit, acting like roughly a mild ND.
An ND filter is mainly useful when you specifically want less light: for very wide apertures in harsh sun or for long-exposure effects. For most normal daytime desert shooting, you may not need one if your camera has fast shutter speeds (for example, up to 1/8000s).
Caution: a polarizer can look uneven on wide-angle shots, especially with blue skies, because polarization varies across the frame. In those cases, it may be better to remove it.
So for maximum everyday flexibility: choose a polarizer first. Add an ND later if you know you want wide-open apertures in bright light or long-exposure creative effects.
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AI13y ago
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