Pocky_master
newbie
Reged: 29/02/2008
Posts: 30
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I just got it today (for a really good deal too!) at a local FutureShop. I've been shooting it around for fun and I'm really impressed at the VR. I'm actually surprised there are better VR systems out there.
Possibly the only gripe I have is some dark corners (or my eyes are really going out from arc burning from welding)
That is all, I just had to express my rush of positive emotion. =)
I also picked up a polarizer filter and found out that it rotates. What's the advantage of that?
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Mark_Norton
Reged: 29/06/2002
Posts: 1168
Loc: London, UK
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I'm wondering whether you understand what a polarising filter does... or did you just pick one up because you liked the colour of the packaging?
Today's Assignment. Look at the reflection off a water surface through the filter and then rotate it. What do you see?
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Mark
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El Sid
Going potty
Reged: 14/04/2003
Posts: 9463
Loc: Sussex-by-the-Sea
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Avoiding any unnecessary sarcasm the polarising filter rotates so that you can adjust the degree of the effect. As you rotate the filter while looking at a reflective surface such as water (ideally) you will see that the reflections from the surface vary from maximum to almost none as you rotate the filter. Equally if you point the filter at a blue sky with clouds you will see the blue intensify or reduce with the rotation. For the best effect on sky the sun needs to be at about 90° to the lens, with it head on or right behind you the effect of the polariser is minimal.
When you say dark corners do you mean just a general darkening toward them or quite clearly defined, almost sharp, black triangles? If it's the latter then the rim of the filter is appearing in frame - if you are using the polariser on top of a UV/Skylight or clear 'lens protection' filter then you need to remove that filter before adding the polariser. If you sill get the black triangles then you need filters with the thinnest rims you can get.
A general drop off in brightness at the corners is often a feature of more budget lenses with limited maximum apertures. Normally it more-or-less disappears if you close down a stop or two...
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Nigel
Completely BSRIPN 
ElSid Gallery
A camera in the hand is better than one in the cupboard........
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AlexMonro
old hand
Reged: 05/06/2006
Posts: 757
Loc: Exeter, Devon (and Somerset so...
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Next assignment. Look at a blue sky (ideally with a few white clouds) through the filter, and rotate it. Repeat looking in various directions relative to the Sun.
Having just checked the weather forecast, maybe you'd better do the blue sky experiment first - there'll be more oportunities for water surfaces later in the week! 
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Mark_Norton
Reged: 29/06/2002
Posts: 1168
Loc: London, UK
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Quote:
Avoiding any unnecessary sarcasm...
Sarcastic? Moi?
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Mark
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Dannyw
Dr. Lector's Apprentice
Reged: 29/05/2008
Posts: 136
Loc: Birmingham
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excellent, just purchased one myself so looking forward to trying it out.
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He who asks is a fool for 5 minutes.
He who doesn't is a fool forever.
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sey
nag picker
Reged: 22/12/2004
Posts: 2846
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another exercise is to shoot through glass, shop windows etc.
rotating the filter will, similarly to the water shots, reduce or eliminate the reflections.
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sey
"sometimes a brain is more important than a fancy camera" - Philip Greenspun
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Dom_Rivers
addict
Reged: 03/04/2007
Posts: 417
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I think everyone who's posted should have a little look at the signature under Dannyw's post and try taking it to heart, the pathetic initial answer to the op's question is exactly the sort of thing that puts people off.
I'm sure the OP bought the polariser in the knowledge of what he wanted from it and what it could supposedly do, but without having used one before, and assuming lifes too short to learn how it works on a crystalline level (and it is), it's perfectly natural to wonder what the rotating front does, and where better to ask than on a photo forum?.
You'd have thought.........
Oh and I use the 55-200vr on my D300 with great results (by my standards), excellent little lens.
Edited by Dom_Rivers (28/07/2008 23:00)
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Towershot
old hand
Reged: 19/03/2007
Posts: 766
Loc: Lancashire, U,K.
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Also,with polarizer filters, on a wide angle lens 10-20mm for instance, on a DSLR ,it might darken some of the sky more than the other.
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Got a good camera, now to get a good photographer.:~<
Rick
My Flickr
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Pocky_master
newbie
Reged: 29/02/2008
Posts: 30
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I'm having a lot of fun watching this lens work. Almost makes me forget the subjects in my viewfinder.
I went out today and tried the filter out on some blue skies and windows. Now I see why it rotates.
I didn't take the sarcasm in offense, instead, it became more of an incentive for me to shoot and find out.
Some person I met up with who had a D2X recommended it'd be one of the first things I'd pick up, so i decied to pick one up, knowing that it increases contrast and reduce reflections (and it did come in a neat little plastic package XD. I couldn't resist)
Another neat thing I found out today, when I held the filter with my mouth (hands were full) the rim felt cold, like... Metal! Just something about that made me happier.
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AlexMonro
old hand
Reged: 05/06/2006
Posts: 757
Loc: Exeter, Devon (and Somerset so...
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Glad you didn't take offence - my post wasn't meant to be sarcastic. It's hard to describe in words the effect of using a polariser, so since you said you'd got one, I thought the best thing was for you to have a look.
Metal filter rings are nice, but you need to be careful when using them on lenses with plastic threads - it can be easy to get them cross threaded.
One thing to watch for with some cheaper filters is the quality of coatings - the cheapest ones tend to be uncoated, and can cause problems with flare when shooting towards bright light. When using a polariser to get deep blue skies, it's less of a problem, since as you've found now, you get the best effect when you have the sun to the side.
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