Polarising filter advice please

[johntobias]

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Hi folks...more questions from me

 

I use an old leitz rotating polarising filter with my 18mmTL  lens with good effect, this is clearly a linear polariser and great for enhancing clouds and cutting reflections. I also have an old leitz CIRCULAR polariser (series VII) which seems to do similar but obviously with no effect depending on its orientation....which is best to use??  I seem to remember a problem with the first generation Autofocus SLR's ...ie minola 7000 etc where a linear polariser caused focus errors and therefore circular was required

 

Any info re circular Vs Linear or a link to where I can explore this more would be most welcome

 

Thanks in advance ........

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[jankap]

A linear filter consists of a single polarizing sheet, giving light that is polarized to the film/sensor. The result is a darkened sky, for instance.

 

A circular one consists of 2 filters after each other.

At first the incoming light passes a linear polafilter to give the effect. 

Thereafter there is a second filter, that destroys the polarizing of the light. The darkening effect remains thereby naturally.

The circular type of filter has to be used for mirror reflex cameras.

Jan

Edited August 27, 2018 by jankap

[jaapv]

A circular polarizing filter has the same positioning effect as a linear one. The only reason to use a circular one is if there are mirrors in the light path. On a mirrorless camera there obviously are not. So use either type in the same way.

[johntobias]

Thanks, I knew I could count on the sage advice of you

[albert]

I use a circular Leica polarizer on my CL and as I rotate the filter it makes a huge difference.

[Steve Lane]

Mine is a B&W C-POL and I only really use it for reducing reflections now, which it makes a brilliant job of.