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03/25/2003 03:31:08 PM · #1 |
I'd like to know if there is a huge difference for digital cameras between circular polarizing filters and normal p. filters. Circular, as I've come to understand, have been ground in a circular fashion and so have "special" qualities. Does anyone one know of any big difference, considering that circular p filters cost about three to four times more?
David
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03/25/2003 03:52:43 PM · #2 |
David...
My understanding is that circular polarizers are used strictly for autofocus cameras and all other cameras get the regular kind...jeff |
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03/25/2003 04:03:31 PM · #3 |
A circular polarizer is only a camera where the lens and the filter turn in the process of focusing or zooming.
-Terry
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03/25/2003 04:12:01 PM · #4 |
Here's the scoop: I went to the store to buy a polarizing filter, and the clerk showed me two. One was a normal polarizing filter. The other said "Circular" on the package and was three times more expensive. The clerk then explained that the circular one was ground and polished in a special "circular" way. Does this match your descriptions?
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03/25/2003 04:15:30 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by dsidwell:
Here's the scoop: I went to the store to buy a polarizing filter, and the clerk showed me two. One was a normal polarizing filter. The other said "Circular" on the package and was three times more expensive. The clerk then explained that the circular one was ground and polished in a special "circular" way. Does this match your descriptions? |
Yes. On a normal polarizer, turning the polarizer allows the photographer to control the amount of polarization they get. This becomes a problem if the camera turns the filter to a different position. A circular polarizer avoids this problem with the circular grinding, but is more expensive to produce. Unless your camera will turn the filter when focusing or zooming, get the standard polarizer.
-Terry
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03/25/2003 05:10:44 PM · #6 |
I'm no professional but what I have read / heard is different to this...
I heard that Circular polarisers are constructed so that when screwed onto the lens you can still rotate the filter itself. Polarisers are directional (or so I understood) so you get a different level of polarisation as you turn the filter. Rotating the filter will change how blue the sky becomes, for example.
I'd search the web for circular polarising filters and read some articles. There are some web sites that provide a lot of info on filters and what they can be used for.
As I said though - don't take what I say as gospel. I don't own a CP yet, although I will probably buy one soon to help with landscape shots. I've also heard they work as a poor mans neutral density filter, which would be a bonus. |
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03/25/2003 05:15:55 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by sparky_mark:
I'm no professional but what I have read / heard is different to this...
I heard that Circular polarisers are constructed so that when screwed onto the lens you can still rotate the filter itself. Polarisers are directional (or so I understood) so you get a different level of polarisation as you turn the filter. Rotating the filter will change how blue the sky becomes, for example. |
Nope. I can rotate my polarizer and it's not circular.
-Terry
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03/25/2003 05:18:09 PM · #8 |
David,
Here's a quote from Joseph Meehan's book: The Photographer's Guide to Using Filters:
"Polarizers are available in two forms, circular or linear. Linear
polarizing filters are n't ordinarily recommended for use with
modern cameras wth autofocus and multi-mode metering technology
because they might interfere with the accuarte operation of these
electronically mediated features. For such cameras, the circular
form is the better choice. But generally speaking, you can use
either the circular or the linear form with manual focus cameras."
Also, I found my Tiffen circular polarizer online at ebay for just $10.00 with shipping, so that good values can be found at web sites such as this. And I'm very happy with it.
One more option for you is to purchase a Cokin filter system. It's inexpensive and very flexible so that you can use them with lenses of different sized threads as long as you have the lense adapter fitted for that particular lense. The whole kit-n-kaboodle is very inexpensive and gives very good results. They have a very large quantity of different filter for you to buy and the polarizer can be rotated in the filter holder so you can get different effects with it.
Hope this has been helpful...
Jeff |
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03/25/2003 06:57:27 PM · #9 |
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03/25/2003 07:16:34 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by Olyuzi:
Linear polarizing filters are n't ordinarily recommended for use with modern cameras wth autofocus and multi-mode metering technology because |
Hmm, I heard the opposite.. On another website everyone said (and the guy at Ritz Camera) say that Circular Polarizing filters (the adjustable ones) are meant for SLR cameras (non-digital) because the action of the shutter mechanism works better with them. He/they said that a regular "linear" filter is the one to use for digital cams, but that either one is fine (no benefit to using the Circular on digi cams). So I bought the circular one anyway. :) It seems to work great.
Message edited by author 2003-03-26 00:17:59. |
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03/26/2003 06:59:08 AM · #11 |
Here is a faq about linear vs circular polarizers.
It has nothing to do with turning lenses etc. A circular polarizer just does an extra step to prevent buggering up the focus and metering systems of some camera's.
A linear one polarizes the light and lets that through. A circular polarizer polarizes the light and sends it trough a second filter to rearrange the light so that the inside systems aren't affected.
That's the difference and nothing else.
edit-------
I believe that the Fuji 602 can take linear polarizers without a problem (Part of the AF is ont the outside). I've got a circular one myself, because I expect it to use on other stuff in the near future.
The main difference in quality is the way they are build (how the glass and filters are layered) and how well the glass elements have been coated (prevents some ghosting and internal flares) and are optical correct.
Explanation of Hoya HMC circ pl
Luminous Landscape PL tutorial
Another FAQ
"A circular polarizer is just a linear polarizer followed by a quarter-wave plate set at 45 degrees to the axis of polarization."
Message edited by author 2003-03-26 12:08:47.
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03/26/2003 07:52:53 AM · #12 |
Azrifel,
Thank you for your accurate, well researched and indepth answer to dsidwell's question.
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03/26/2003 10:01:20 AM · #13 |
| You might also want to use the forums at dpreview.com to get answers that are specific to your camera. I heard that I could use either type on my G2, but the company that I ordered from only had the circular one from Tiffen so that's what I bought. It was around $30 at 2filters.com. Definitely not bad considering how much I've used it. |
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03/27/2003 09:56:39 AM · #14 |
I have both types and the linear polarizer causes the metering to underexpose the image by about 1 stop. The circular filter gives correct exposures.
kevin |
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