Lee SW150 Cir-Polariser Filter

Lee SW150 Cir-Polariser Filter.

The SW150 filter system is suited to medium format, large format and extreme lenses like ultra wides, ultra wide zooms and shift lenses.

The Lee SW150 Circular Polariser Filter fits the Lee SW150 Holder, both MK1 and MKII. It’s easily one of the most useful filters for landscape photography. A polarising filter is designed to remove distracting reflections from surfaces such as glass and water. It can also increase colour saturation.

Polarising Filters reduce reflections and glare, they are neutral in colour and can be used for colour or black and white. As the light coming from the sun is not polarised parts of the light become partially polarised due to the scattering of particles in the atmosphere.

This scattering reduces the transparency of the air and creates haze in the distance. It also affects how blue the sky is. Polarisation also results in the reflections of light on surfaces, particularly noticeable on water.

Landscape photographers have always found a polariser essential as it’s useful for reducing or elimination reflections from water, but it can also make skies much bluer and intense. Making for dramatic images of vivid blue skies against the clouds.

In architecture, photographers often need to use a polariser to reduce or eliminate reflections off glass, water, mirrors or any other surface where reflections could be distracting or unhelpful.

In use the polariser is rotated until the maximum degree of polarisation or effect is reached. The more acute the angle the more effective it becomes, often at it’s best at 30º.

The Lee SW150 Cir-Polariser is 150mm x 150mm and once fitted, the whole holder is rotated for effect. It would be assumed that it would be incompatible with use of a graduated filter where the turning the holder would also skew the horizon line. However the filter can be turned and mounted at 90º, which may achieve a decent degree of polarisation and keep the horizontal line level. Depending on degree of rotation there will be a light reduction of up to 1.2/3 stops of light.

The filter is made from hard tempered glass and whilst hard wearing , needs to be handled with care. It is usefully supplied with a metal storage tin for additional protection.

Specification  150mm x 150mm Hard Tempered Glass. 2mm Thick.