What good's a polarizing filter?

[Takkun]

Stopped into my local B&M and walked out with a handful of B+W and Leica filters for peanuts. My salesperson threw in a polarizing filter just to sweeten the deal.

Now, I shoot BW almost exclusively, and use a lot more contrast filters on RF for the convenience over using them with an SLR. I always assumed polarizers were only useful on SLRs in color, for darkening sky and the like.
How do you all use them?

 

[KoNickon]

They will heighten contrast, say between the sky and clouds, with black and white film also. And don't forget that polarizers will cut reflections, which has benefits regardless of the type of film you're using.

 

[kdemas]

On the reflections front they help if you're shooting (or shooting through) glass for instance. Also can have a sky effect as well I believe.

 

[nikon_sam]

They will heighten contrast, say between the sky and clouds, with black and white film also. And don't forget that polarizers will cut reflections, which has benefits regardless of the type of film you're using.

I agree...😀

 

[lynnb]

If you stack a PL with a red filter you can get some really cool high contrast effects, e.g. a dead tree against a blue sky (shot for maximum polarising effect) can be close to white against black.

Edit: don't forget if you are shooting into water the PL will cut out reflections so you can clearly see what's under the water.

 

[divewizard]

I used one in the photo to bring out the clouds.

©2014 Chris Grossman

 

[FrozenInTime]

With out going to fancy swing out polarizers, the trick with a polarizer on a rangefinder is to set the camera to AE and rotate the polarizer for minimum exposure reading ; that gives the strongest contrast.