Polarizing filter with color cast—cuts reflections on water and glass while subtly shifting hues. Standard for landscape and water work.
Polcolor
On set, you quickly realize: a normal polarising filter gets the job done, but sometimes you need more control over the color temperature. This is where the Polcolor comes in – a polarising filter with an integrated color cast that does two jobs at once. You reduce reflections on water and glass surfaces, while simultaneously shifting the overall color towards a specific direction. This isn't accidental, but intentional: especially for water shoots or in scenes with a lot of glass, you often need both effects in parallel.
In practice: The Polcolor works on the same polarisation principle as a standard polarising filter – meaning one half blocks reflected light, while the filter substance introduces a slight color shift. Typically, the color cast is realized as warm (more orange/amber) or cool (more blue-grey). You rotate the filter on the lens to find the optimal reflection reduction – and get the color change as a side effect. This often saves you an additional ND or color correction filter.
Where this becomes practically relevant: Landscape shots with cloudless skies and bodies of water – the Polcolor measurably darkens the sky and simultaneously warms or cools the scene. For interior shots through windows, you need reflection reduction to see through the glass, and the integrated color cast can help you integrate the indoor lighting more harmoniously. Especially in documentaries and smaller productions, it saves weight: one filter instead of two.
Attention to detail: The color cast of the Polcolor is not neutrally compensable – it influences your white balance calibration. In post-production, you might need a separate grading pass for these shots, or you can specifically calibrate your camera with the filter on the lens. For high-end productions with strict color specifications, this can be problematic; here, the classic polarising filter + separate color correction usually remains the safer choice. But for quick, intuitive setups – especially in nature films and documentary work – the Polcolor is a classic you should have in your kit.