Polarizors, circular, non-circular, will they work on a DSLR

[yikes]

Will standard polarizors work on a DSLR? I understand what they do and how the circular polarizor is different in generally terms, but will my DSLR attempt to adapt? I love blue skys and blue water I dont wanna go out and spend $200 bucks on one if its not going to work :)

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Nick

[Aylwin]

I have a circular PL for my 17-40L and it works fine with the 10D.

[phili1]

The filter has nothing to do with the Cameras. It is the lens and auto focus systems that determins which polorizer you should use. Auto focus systems need a circular one and are best use on a none rotating front elelment. HOpe that helps.

[yikes]

none rotating front elelment like a 17-40L F4?

Thanks,
Nick

[Jesper]

none rotating front elelment like a 17-40L F4?

Thanks,
Nick

Yes. If the front element of the lens rotates while it's autofocussing, the polarizer would obviously rotate with it, which is not practical when using a polarizer. The front element of the 17-40L does not rotate.

[drisley]

You must use a circular polarizer on a DSLR.
A linear polarizer wont work.

[yikes]

As usual, all my questions have been answered. Now time to find one in my price range. oh and ask more questions :)

Single or multicoated....Whats the diff? I used triffen filters in the past are they decent? What are some other high quality brands?

Nick

[jgbeam]

Here's a greta source for filters. Personal service, quick and cheaper than B&H.

http://www.2filter.com/welcometo.html

Jim

[Jon]

Single or multicoated....Whats the diff? I used triffen filters in the past are they decent? What are some other high quality brands?

Nick

The coatings on filters, like lenses, are applied to cut reflections off the glass surfaces. They are specific thicknesses for specific wavelengths of light, so multi-coated will do a better job of cutting reflections than single-coated.

Brands, aside from Tiffen - I've relied a lot on Hoya. B+W makes excellent, if pricey, ones.

[neil_r]

A linear polarizer wont work.

Mine does????

I had one in the bag from my Medium Format days, I know that they all say use a circular (which I do for the 77mm Lenses) but the difference between pictures taken with the circular and the linear is.... zip, nada, none at all.

Strange..........

N

[Jon]

All polarizers work by filtering out light vibrating in one plane, while passing the light vibrating at right-angles to it. This is also how partially-reflective mirrors work. Circular polarizers re-impart (by choice of materials) the second direction of vibration. So the advice to use circular polarizers rather than linear polarizers is to avoid screwing up metering and AF which are performed through partially-reflective mirrors.

Note: This is the extremely simplified version.

[yikes]

thanks for the info guys, I picked up a triffen circular polarizer this aft, too bad its overcast :)

nick