I was interested in a circular polarizer to emphasise colour and get rid of reflections. I was looking at these below but can't work out which is the right one...it doesn't explain what 'shmc' means? could someone clarify this for me?

thanks

http://www.microglobe.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?pName=hoya-72mm-shmc-pro1-circular-polarizing-filter&cName=hoya-filters-hoya-circular-polarizing-filters

http://www.microglobe.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?pName=hoya-72mm-pro1-digital-circular-polarizing-filter&cName=hoya-filters-hoya-circular-polarizing-filters

Neil,

THe label Super HMC refers to the coating that is applied to the inside and outside of the filter to minimise reflections off the glass surfaces of the filter. In the case of the HOYA filter you have chosen, it is a multi-coated filter (they apply 12 different very thin coats of chemicals), which is said to greatly decrease the reflections and flare coming off your filter and onto the lens.

Living in Australia, I use a polarising filter a lot. It is almost essential in many areas and very useful when there is lots of glare, producing a better image with deeper colours and better contrast. By co-incidence I use the filter that you have listed first - and it is very good. One critical thing is that it is very thin, and therefore does not vignette at wide angle.

I would say go ahead and buy it. You will be impressed if it is used correctly. Just make sure that you learn how to use it properly by setting it correctly (rotate outer filter for maximum polarisation), and only putting it on your lens when it will make a difference. It will not work in low light or flat lighting situations.

Hope this helps,

Just to warn you before you buy. A polarisor is very viewpoint dependent, and simply turning through 90 degrees for your next shot can give you big continuity errors. Also the talent won't thank you for removing the sheen from her har and making her skin look so flat.

tom.

I don't wanna hijack this thread but when filming skating or other action sports outside in the southern California seems to lead to alot of hot spots with my zebra lines. Would a polarized lense be a good choice to remedy this or with the constant movement lead to a bad picture due to the anlge of the filter itself?

'A lot of hot-spots with your zebra lines' maybe, but how does it look on your TV monitor back home? A lot of folk get scared off by the galloping zebras, but the final picture depends the setting you've chozen and how much of the picture is attacked by them.

A Polarisor won't affect the zebra as such, but what it will do (at certain positions, angles to the sun, time of day etc) is darken blue skies, so possibly removing one big zebra splodge. Of course the 'constant movement' you talk about will constantly change what's being polarised, which is where the continuity headaches come from.

tom.