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Not sure I understand why it needn't be circular-rotating the filter increases/decreases the polarizing properties....

Not sure whether that’s meant to be a joke …

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I am NOT an expert, I only know what I read and not everything written is correct.  That said....

 

1) Some polarizing filters do rotate to allow adjustments for differing angles between direction of sun and direction of composition.

2) Circular is said to be required for auto focus and auto metering systems to work properly.

3) In addition to the glass properties, when selecting a filter one needs to consider if it will affect attachment of the lens hood.

4) Effects across the image can be uneven when using wide angle lens i.e. 28mm

 

Again, I am not knowledgeable enough to know whether what is written is hype or not but these points seem consistently made.

 

If OP decides to take the 'plunge', please let us know what you learn. I suspect others will be interested.

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This is useful:

 

http://photo.stackexchange.com/questions/9488/why-does-a-linear-polarizer-work-as-well-as-a-circular-one-on-a-ps-camera

 

Basically, circular polarizer are recommended for SLR cameras because of the mirror that might interfere with the light of linear polarizers thereby causing problems in autofocus and metering. Circular vs linear has nothing to do with the user turning the filter, but how the polarized light is transfered to the lens. 

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1) Some polarizing filters do rotate to allow adjustments for differing angles between direction of sun and direction of composition.

Not just some, all polarising filters do rotate. As their effect crucially depends on their orientation they wouldn’t be much use otherwise.

 

2) Circular is said to be required for auto focus and auto metering systems to work properly.

Circular polarising filter are required for SLRs with AF. Other cameras can use linear filters. SLRs with AF have a half-transparent mirror splitting light between the AF sensor on the one hand and the AE meter (and viewfinder) on the other. This half-transparent mirror is polarising light and combined with the filter on the lens it would act like a variable ND filter.

 

The Q – not being an SLR – doesn’t need a circular polarising filter. By the way, a circular filter is just a linear filter with an added layer turning the linear into a circular polarisation.

Edited by mjh
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  • 7 months later...

I use a polarizer and at times a 6-stop ND filter. I have to remove the hood to install or remove one. Then I put the hood back on. With a little dexterity I can rotate the polarizer with the hood still in place. Not a big deal. Mine are Zeiss and B&W. Very happy to have and use both.

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Ah. I bought the Q in order to neverrr unscrew things anymore before taking a pict :-)

But... see where you brought me : I had an old, dirty pair of polarizing eyeglasses, the cheapest sort (which glasses you can just pull out of the frame with the thumb); I catched one glass this way, tried it on the Q with hood: guess what, it fits almost exactly!

So, not sure I'll do this, but if I find a reasonable way of gripping it there, I may well end with the cheapest of polar filters onto the costliest camera in my whole life :-D

BTW, indeed I think someone could start a 'goodies' commerce with easy-to-add little features like that -"wanna filter? get this part and just plug it onto your hood, designed for Q"...

Edited by Herve5
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Do you use a polarizer with the Q, or not?  I am considering a B & W multi-coated resistant polarizer, even though I can do post processing. Opinions appreciated. Thanks.

 

Unfortunately, post processing cannot do what on-lens polarization does.

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Polarizers with 28mm lens can sometimes produce uneven effects on an image if there is a lot of sky in it.  It all depends on the angle of the sun and the filter of course.  Still a good idea to have one though.  I use it occasionally when the above effect isn't an issue.  I have a Hoya and it seems pretty high quality.

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