Camera body is EOS Elan (1991); Lens is EF 28-80 f/3.5-5.6 USM Zoom; Polarizer is Quantaray Circular Polarizer (58mm)

The lens will only accomodate the polarizer when it is in the fully extended position (full zoom or fully wide). Is it supposed to be this way, or did I screw up by buying the Quantaray polarizer? Is there a circular polarizer or some kind of adapter for this lens that will allow the zoom function to work with a circular polarizer?

Any info appreciated-TIA

Woody laz_long@hotmail.com

-- Woody Smith (laz_long@hotmail.com), October 14, 2001

Answers

I had that lens back in the early 1990s. It came as part of the Elan kit. Very nice lens but, yes, it sucks the front element in at the middle zoom postions. You simply dial in the amount of polarization desired at the wide or tele end and re-zoom to shoot.

-- Puppy Face (doggieface@aol.com), October 14, 2001.

Thanks for your reply, but that doesn't work. I have to extend the lens completely in order to attach the polarizer. With the polarizer installed, the lens will not retract (i.e. can't readjust the zoom). The adjustment ring on the polarizer is on the "inside" (closest to the body) and its outside diameter is greater than the inside diameter of the cylinder that the lens would retract into when adjusting the zoom.

This may be a dumb question, and I'll ask for your indulgence of a newbie, but... Putting a clear filter (Skylight) on the lens before the polarizer gives me partial travel of the zoom, and putting two filters on the lens before the polarizer give me full use of the zoom.

Is there anything wrong with putting two clear filters on between the lens and the polarizer?

Again, TIA for any answers.

Woody laz_long@hotmail.com

-- Woody Smith (laz_long@hotmail.com), October 14, 2001.

I guess my polarizer was smaller in diameter than yours, so I recall being able to use it (just couldn't turn it at 50 mm). I do remember the hassle when it sucked in the barrel (it has been a few years).

However, the more glass surfaces you use in front of the main element, the more you degrade the image. Some UV filters are so untrue and full of glare that only one filter will cause AF to fail to lock. Multi- coated filters are the best, but 4 glass surfaces (there are 2 in the pol filter) will not be good.

-- Puppy Face (doggieface@aol.com), October 14, 2001.

I had this lens too. I think you still have choices.

1) You can remove the glass from two other filters and attach your polarizer to them. In fact, I believe there was an adapter made for this. Not sure it was from Canon though. The problem with this is that you may experience vignetting in the corners when using the lens at 28mm.

2) Get a polarizer that has a smaller outside diameter.

3) Get a different lens.

-- Jim Strutz (j.strutz@gci.net), October 14, 2001.

I have this lens, and have a Cokin 58mm extender ring that lets you use filters in the middle of the zoom range (when the lens pulls in). The problem is that at the far ranges of the zoom you can see the ring at the edges of the frame.

-- Christian Erickson (christian@tenbyten.com), November 05, 2001.