Pol filters Linear or circuar

Hocke · Mar 4, 2006

I was just about to buy a polfilter on a german website when I discovered that they sold two types! Cirkular polfilters and linear... The circular are by far more expensive.

Can anyone tell me the difference?

A bonus question: Are there polfilters available for lenses with rotating mounts? (I have a couple of those lenses as well).

I would apreciate any help
____________________
Hocke :meh:

Mitica100 · Mar 5, 2006

What kind of camera do you have?

Hocke · Mar 5, 2006

I have a Canon EOS 350D.
I've just ordered the EF 28-135 mm lens and the filter is intended for this lens.

I've also thought of pol-filters for my other lense: EF 70-210 mm which has a rotation filter mount.

Mitica100 · Mar 5, 2006

Go with a Circular by all means.

Hocke · Mar 5, 2006

Allright. Understood. I figured that the circular was better (due to the higher prize).

But could anyone explain to me:
- what is the diference between linear and circular polfilters?
- can you get polfilters for lenses with rotating lense mounts?

Thanks in advance

Digital Matt · Mar 5, 2006

Circular polarizers are necessary for cameras with autofocus. Linear polarizers will disable the autofocus of the camera. What do you mean by rotating lens mount? The front of your lens rotates during focusing? You'll just have to deal with that. The circular polarizer has to be rotated to adjust the amount of polarization. Focus first, then adjust the polarizer, then shoot.

Hocke · Mar 16, 2006

Thank you for your replies. I've bought circular pol-filter - and ordered a book on use of filters also. This because I bought some other type filters also and I don't know what they do yet...

Money is only worth anything if they are spent!

Big Mike · Mar 17, 2006

While filters can be helpful and fun to use...when shooting digital, it's often easier to adjust the images in the computer with software like Photoshop. It also give you a lot more control because you can fine tune the filter effects.

A polarizer is an exception though, you can't recreate it with software. So when shooting with a digital, the only filter I use, is a polarizer.

Of course, you can still use them, they can be fun.