Eliminating banding caused by using a polarizer on a wide angle

[Lady GooGoo La La]

I like the effect of a polarizer to enhance sky contrast, but when used on wide angle lenses the sky becomes banded because the polarization effect is related to angle of incidence and when the angles are to great, it results in very efferent degrees of polarization.

Has anyone tried stacking 2 thin polarizers to see if the banding effect could be eliminated?

Just a thot, but  might work, possibly some vignetting but maybe insignificant with thin filter.

[hvbemmel]

Are you aware that stacking polarized filters or lenses can cause black photos? It´s the principle of passive 3D TV´s blocking horizontal at one eye and vertical at the other. When you put two polarized glasses together in a cross the vision is zero. even a small amount of turning the two against each other will cause less light to enter the camera. 

[Lady GooGoo La La]

thanks Herman, yes I am aware that two polarizers oriented 90 degree to each other will block all light, but maybe at a separation of 20 degrees they might augment each other........

True, that means compensation, but outdoors often there is plenty of light, they would act like a variable neutral density filter. 

In fact, why spend big money for big stopper filter when two polarizers achieve the same end?

Good point tho, just curious if anyone had tried this?

On Friday, November 15, 2013 7:58:53 PM UTC+7, hvbemmel wrote:

Are you aware that stacking polarized filters or lenses can cause black photos? It´s the principle of passive 3D TV´s blocking horizontal at one eye and vertical at the other. When you put two polarized glasses together in a cross the vision is zero. even a small amount of turning the two against each other will cause less light to enter the camera. 

On Friday, November 15, 2013 1:27:01 PM UTC+1, Lady GooGoo La La wrote:

[Kevin Childress]

Lady GooGoo La La wrote:

I like the effect of a polarizer to enhance sky contrast, but when used on wide angle lenses the sky becomes banded...

Has anyone tried stacking 2 thin polarizers to see if the banding effect could be eliminated?

Lady, 

Very interesting observation and I'd like to understand this a little better. Are you seeing this effect on a single frame or in multiple frames stitched together? What focal length are you calling wide angle? What lens/camera combination? And do you happen to have a photo uploaded that shows this effect? 

I used a CP on my Sigma 10-20mm lens extensively and never saw anything like you've mentioned. I wasn't aware of the information Herman provided but stacking two CPs just doesn't sound like a good idea to me.

[Lady GooGoo La La]

Kevin this is very well documented phenomenon with "wide angle lenses" 

I've observed this affect many times with my lenses, I've sure I have posted some terrible photos showing this effect but better to read here! 

 http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/polarizers.shtml

Not great article, but shows the effects of CPL are wide angle lens. Still looking!

I gave up using polarizers on with my wide angles for this reason.