Lens Hood & Filter Combination

[MOOSE]

I'm looking at purchasing a new lens (Canon 24-70/f 1:2.8) and, while I have always used a polarizing filter, I have never used a lens hood. So forgive my ignorance, but can one use the two in combination? How does one adjust the polarizer with the lens hood in place, or is this not possible?
Thanks,
Al

[Grant]

I'm looking at purchasing a new lens (Canon 24-70/f 1:2.8) and, while I have always used a polarizing filter, I have never used a lens hood. So forgive my ignorance, but can one use the two in combination? How does one adjust the polarizer with the lens hood in place, or is this not possible?
Thanks,
Al


The answer to, can you use the two in combination is yes ... er no!

First of polarizing filters are not all that satisfactory on wide angle lenses and if they are when used in conjunction with a lens hood can cause vignetting. At the 24 mm end of this lens you are skating on thin ice and the only way to tell if it will work is to try it.

As far as how it works, there are some polarizing filters (I have an old Pentax one) that have a housing that is stationary and an internal element that moves. That would be the type you would need if you have a wide angle lens hood.

But the main question, other than convenience, why would you? Lens hoods do their best when shooting close to the sun and polarizing filters work best when the sun is 90˚ from the subject.

[ljameso1]

For a deeper lens hood I use a pencil eraser to turn it, for shallower just use my fingers to reach in. I do keep the shade on when using polarizer to minimize general desaturation from sidelight striking the lens. I've done this ever since I took a workshop in which the pro put up an image taken with a polarizer and no lens shade. It looked pretty good until he put up the same shot with a lens shade added. MUCH better. Never realized until then how valuable a shade is.

[lowbone]

Years ago Pentax made a couple of lenses with a small portion of the lens hood that you could remove and this allowed you to stick your finger in and rotate the ring on the polarizer. Of course this let in all kinds of stray light so the idea was quickly abandoned. I think you are limited to the advice given above for using a polarizer with a hood.

[baycruisers]

On my Pentax film SLRs I used a folding rubber lens hood that collapsed around the lens when not in use, allowing easy access to the polarizer, etc.
http://www.camerafilters.com/pages/lenshoods.aspx