Hello all,

I've noticed something weird when using my HOYA circular polarizing filter at full effect. When doing landscapes it appears to add a slight yellow colour cast, even though there is an improved beautiful contrast between yellow, red and green foliage, whereas at minimum effect there seems to be no cast.

There are filters and then there are filters but I wouldn't expect this result.

I'd appreciate any thoughts or comments on this.

Thanks,
Chris.

Hmmm.
Most polarizers tend to impart a slightly cool cast to a scene's color balance, to the extent that warming polarizers have been marketed to counteract it. Can you just dial out the effect with the white balance?

Hello,

yes I can but I wouldn't have thought I'd need to just for the polarizer.

Regards....

Most filters are not neutral. I had the unpleasant surprise of finding out that all my Cokin "neutral-density" filters actually have a strong brown tint when the light hits at a certain angle. Polarizers definitely can affect color also.

I'd be interested in hearing if anyone has written a review of filters and which ones are color-neutral and which ones aren't.

In the meantime the only fix is WB adjustment.

Could it be your camera's auto white balance? Try shooting a gray card so you can correct in post processing. This is assuming you are shooting digital.

No, I always shoot with daylight WB set.

I used Cokin soft grad NDs for a while but was never happy. So I purchased a set of Lee soft grad NDs (Singh-ray out of my price range). Bloody hell - what a fantastic difference they made.

Anybody want to buy some cheap Cokins?

May I reccomend that you try a more expensive brand of circular polarizer? Hate to spend more money than necessary, but spending less than necessary seems to have its drawbacks as well.