Olympus 7-14 Polariser Details
Although the 7-14 Adapter is designed for the Nisi V5/6 filter holder, the Polariser which is included cannot be used. The 7-14 Adapter replaces the Nisi Adapter and the Polariser. Whilst it would have been possible to accomodate it, large amounts of vignetting would occur. Currently the only circular polarisers which can be used with the Olympus 7-14 and other filters are 150mm systems. A few systems are available, including one from Nisi, but the size makes them impractical for this lens and indeed for other M4/3 lenses.
As extreme Wide-Angle lenses and Polarisers are often never happy combinations the loss of being able to use one is less important than the advantage of being able to use more practical sized filters. There is a however a work-around for using a polariser with this lens. Care is needed when using polarisers on ultra wide lenses. Please see the details below for important information.
Polarisers with Ultra Wide Lenses
Limitations of use for polarisers on ultra wide lenses is not because of quality of filter or lens, it is just the nature or physics of light.
Light from the sun is not polarized and can be affected by many things, haze, angle of view from the sun, diffraction, and reflective surfaces. As light passes through the atmosphere blue wavelengths are affected, which is why the sky can appear a paler blue in different angles and different seasons.
For Photographers, what is important to know is that only a narrow band of a scene, around 85º, will have the best effect from a polarizer, around 12mm or 24mm Full Frame, and at around 90º to the sun. Ultra wide angle lenses will capture more of a scene and therefore can have strange effects.
The image above demonstrates this. Taken on Llandwyn Island Anglesey using the 7-14 f2.8, the sun was not at 90º to the scene, and the lens took in a huge 110º view. The effect is a pronounced dark blue circle in the sky. The image would have been more successful using a 12mm lens and polariser, or no polariser. The same effect will also occur on a large flat body of water such as a lake, where part of the image will have reflections removed and part will not.
Polarisers with Ultra Wide Lenses
The actual physics of light from the sun and how it interacts with the sky affects which areas have polarised light. The diagram above shows how the optimum angle for effective polarization is 90º to the sun, and the maximum field of view that will have polarised light is around 85º. An ultra wide lens such as the 7-14mm has a field of view of 110º, and will always include parts of the sky that cannot be polarised, hence the odd effect when using a polariser.
When the sun is not at right angles the dark area may be towards the side instead. Or, when shooting towards the sun or directly away the effect will be reduced because polariser has less effect.
Shooting Super Wide
This example taken in the Lake District again shows the effect of uneven tones using a polariser with a super wide field of view. The image is a 3 shot vertical panoramic taken hand held with the Olympus EM1mk2 and 7-14 Pro, hence the almost fisheye distortion in the foreground. Notice how dark blue the sky is just off centre, and very pale cyan to the right. The effect is disguised by the clouds so it is acceptable.
Full Polarisation
Vertical orientation gives full polarisation
Part Polarisation
90º orientation gives part polarisation
No Polarisation
180º orientation gives zero polarisation
Using a Square Polariser
The Nisi Square 100×100 HD Polariser is a useful workaround when the opportunity arises, and is very effective when using a polariser on a wide lens is understood. It can be easy to ruin a shot without careful inspection. When using a Graduated ND, the square polariser cannot be rotated, so inserting it into the holder as show will give adequate control.
Tip-In some shots you may find the polariser has achieved exactly the desired effect, but has badly affected the sky. Take another shot and rotate or remove the polariser and blend the two images
Examples Using Square C-PLs
All images taken with Olympus Em5mk11 and Em1mkii with the 7-14 Pro and the Adapter. Images shown in 4/3 aspect ratio with no vignetting.
Reduce the Sky
Two examples showing when the square polariser is perfectly acceptable to use. In both images reflections needed to be removed from wet rocks. The sunset image suited portrait format, which reduces the width of the sky. The second image has no blue sky. A grey sky, or even a blue sky with plenty of cloud texture will disguise any poor polarisation.
Complex Skies
Skies with plenty of of texture text to work well with a polariser and wide lenses. In both images the clouds conceal any variance in polarisation, whilst still allowing colour to saturate and reflections to be reduced on wet rocks and stones.
No Polariser
Polarisers can be one of the most overused filters, and when used with ultra-wide lenses need to be used with care, not to to avoid uneven polarisation. In both of these images, a polariser could have given uneven tones to the sky, but more importantly, would have removed the reflections on the water. These images rely on the mirror reflections.
Tip-Use a polariser with care. Ensure you actually need to use one, and watch those reflections.
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