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Circular vs Linear Polarizer on m4/3 Camera

Started Jun 7, 2016 | Discussions thread
Skeeterbytes Forum Pro • Posts: 23,186
Re: Circular vs Linear Polarizer on m4/3 Camera

jpig wrote:

JDLaing wrote:

Circular polarizers rotate to increase or decrease polarization.

So do linear polarizers. In this respect there is no difference. You can use either type on a mirrorless camera. There is no particular reason to prefer one over another, although good quality linear polarizers do seem harder to find these days.

I have a Marumi circular polarizer and an old Hoya linear polarizer. Both rotate to adjust degree of polarization and both work fine on m43 cameras. The only difference I have noticed is that the Hoya seems to have a stronger polarizing effect.

I have never seen a coated, much less multicoated linear pola, so end up using circular for my OM-Ds despite the extra cost and greater light loss. Circular are only required where there is a beam splitting scheme, as done with DSLRs.

For folks who don't know, all screw-on pola filters rotate, which is different than "circular" technology: "...comprises firstly a linear polarizer which performs the artistic function just described, followed by a quarter-wave plate which further transforms the now-linearly polarized light into circularly-polarised light before entering the camera. This additional step avoids problems with auto-focus and light-metering sensors within some cameras, which otherwise may not function reliably with a simple linear polariser."--Wiki

Cheers,

Rick

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