Polarizing Filter for bird photography? (1 Viewer)

tom baxter · Feb 28, 2015

Would anyone more experienced than I (not very hard to accomplish) recommend using a polarizing filter for photographing birds. I am using a cannon eos 7d with a 400mm f5.6. My understanding of filters is very novice, I am looking on Amazon.com and I do not know how to find a filter that meets the specs of my camera.

I do know that I will lose multiple stops to a filter, but sometimes I have difficulty getting my skies to look the way I would like, and also shooting water backgrounds can be tricky. I am pretty new to photography and have been using my current set up for less than 1 year. I always shoot in manual and am getting the hang of it, although clearly I run into challenges at times such as the ones I have mentioned here.

Thank you for advice!!

HantaYo · Mar 3, 2015

tom baxter said:
Would anyone more experienced than I (not very hard to accomplish) recommend using a polarizing filter for photographing birds. I am using a cannon eos 7d with a 400mm f5.6. My understanding of filters is very novice, I am looking on Amazon.com and I do not know how to find a filter that meets the specs of my camera.

I do know that I will lose multiple stops to a filter, but sometimes I have difficulty getting my skies to look the way I would like, and also shooting water backgrounds can be tricky. I am pretty new to photography and have been using my current set up for less than 1 year. I always shoot in manual and am getting the hang of it, although clearly I run into challenges at times such as the ones I have mentioned here.

Thank you for advice!!

I would not use a polarizing filter for bird photography. The loss in stops just would not work for me. I want as fast a shutter and wide aperture as possible. I could see having a filter for standby for use on a scene by scene basis but would not keep it on all the time. I shoot RAW and can manipulate the photograph afterwards (sky). Reflections are not easily to edit in the photograph; best to use a filter.

If your camera lens is the "EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens from Canon" it takes a 77 mm filter. See link: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/12129-USA/Canon_2526A004_400mm_f_5_6L_USM_Autofocus.html

I would recommend buying from B & H or Adorama. Call them up and the can assist with what will work with your lens. Or your local camera store.

Polarizing Filter for bird photography? (1 Viewer)

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tom baxter

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HantaYo

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