Less reflections, more intense colors. Polarizing Filters can achieve some of the most interesting and important effects in photography. Therefore, they belong in the basic equipment kit of every photographer. With Polarizing Filters, you can reduce reflections and achieve a clearer, less disturbed image, for example, when photographing reflective, non-metallic surfaces such as windows, glass vitrines, or water surfaces. You can also enhance colors and achieve higher contrasts, for example, between foreground and sky. The results can be dramatic!
Radiant white clouds against a deep blue sky or the deep colors of fall foliage don't happen by chance. B+W polarizing filters (polarizers for short) augment the purity of the intrinsic colors and increase color saturation and are among the most important filters for analog and digital photography.
Because the filter mounts rotate, the polarization effect can be visibly controlled in the viewfinder or on the monitor display. Another effect of the B+W polarizer is to reduce reflections from non-metallic surfaces such as water, glass, and glossy paint. Objects and people behind surfaces such as shop windows and car windshields become visible again – a fascinating image enhancement without image processing!
B+W polarizing filters are circular polarizers which are compatible with nearly all modern cameras when beam splitters are used in the light path for TTL exposure metering or autofocus. Exposure errors are therefore avoided. The multiplying factor with HTC is 2 to 3, which is equivalent to 1 to 1.5 f-stops. Other polarizers up to approx. 3 stops. Often regarded as the most important filter for photography.
By reducing reflections from non-metallic surfaces like water or glass and suppressing glare, HTC polarizers help enhance the colors and contrast in an image. They make the sky appear more blue, grass greener, and can greatly improve the appearance of rainbows.
The "High Transmission" aspect of B+W's HTC polarizers refers to the filter's ability to transmit more light through the lens compared to standard polarizing filters. This results in faster shutter speeds, which is especially beneficial in low-light conditions or when a smaller aperture is used.
Like all polarizing filters, B+W Polarizing Filters HTC are used to cut out the polarized portion of light, significantly reducing reflections and glares from water, glass, and similar reflective surfaces. This feature is invaluable for landscape photographers, cityscapes with lots of glass buildings, or any scene where unwanted reflections can distract from the subject.
B+W filters are known for their high-quality Schott glass. This glass, combined with the HTC's specialized coatings, provides excellent optical clarity and color fidelity, as well as scratch resistance, which can protect the camera lens.
B+W's HTC polarizers are useful in a variety of photographic situations beyond landscape photography, including outdoor portraiture (for more saturated, contrasty images), architectural photography (minimizing reflections from structural surfaces), and even in certain aspects of wildlife photography (removing reflections or sheen from water or wet surfaces).
The maximum polarization effect is achieved in landscape photography when shooting at an angle of 90° to the sun. For an even effect in the picture, and because of uneven skylight polarization, your focal length should not be less than 28 mm in 35 mm format.
Generally speaking, with the help of a properly oriented polarizer, reflections can be completely suppressed in an ideal situation. Here, the ideal situation means that the lighting and shooting angles are almost the same and correspond to the angle of maximum polarization, usually 30° to 40°.
For more than 90 years, B+W filters have been synonymous with quality and innovation. B+W has succeeded in establishing itself as one of the world‘s leading filter manufacturers. It has, for example, made decisive progress in surface coating. B+W is the first filter manufacturer in the world to offer MRC (Multi Resistant Coating). MRC nano coating is the most innovative development in thin-layer technology. The world-famous Käsemann type polarizing filter with its outstanding quality has been produced by B+W since 1989.