Polarizing Filters

I've scanned several posts and it seems that about half of the people who mention what kind of polarizer they have say "linear" and half say "circular". I understand that linear polarizers can play havoc with the light meter on newer SLRs (film). Is there any reason NOT to use the less expensive linear polarizer on the G3 ? I'm not fully competent on how its light meter works.

This has been discussed a lot at the dpreview forums and the consensus was that a linear polarizer will work just fine on the G3 or any powershot camera. I use a circular polarizer but if I knew any better back then I could've saved some money and got a linear one instead.

A linear polarizer will work fine on your G3 - and cost less.

FWIW: SLRs employ small mirrors inside the camera to direct part of the light on sensors for exposure metering. These mirrors can polarize light. If you use a linear polarizer with such a camera, the circular polarizer can screw up the metering. Circular polarizers have a second layer, which will make the polarized light (after the 1st layer) non-polarized again, thus combating the problem. I've heard that the D30 and D60 use passive focusing like an SLR and a linear polarizer should not be used with them.

I have two linear polarisers I use with the G2, one just as a polariser, and the pair together as a variable neutral density filter... they don't affect the focussing system at all... it works on a contrast line, so polarising your light doesn't affect it...

Cheers,
Stuart

Excellent! Thanks, folks.

Aloha,

If u want to use a (Polazing) filter u can only do that with a lensmate adaptor or can u use the canon adaptor or something else ?

Anyone know where to buy a ir filter?

Lensmate sells IR filters *but* they say that they will work with the G1 but that the G2 (and I assume the G3) Canon has installed a more agressive hot mirror in the G2 making it less suitable for IR photography .

I just received my G3 and this is my first post so you may want to take it with a grain of salt.

Hi Psaint thanks for your reply, yeah i notice they sell IR filters. Was wondering if u can put on a filter without adaptor ?

I still can remember the day (lol 6 days ago) when i did buy it. It's like ehm i had a new hobby Good luck with it and post your pictures if u want to in the share photo session. Somehow i don't work much since the g3, so watch out

You need to use an adapter to use a filter. There are different types of adaptor available. Canon's has a 58mm thread, the kenko is 52mm, and the lensmates are available in 52 or 58mm

I have the 52mm lensmate / hoya linear polarizing combo and it works great.

Thanks, hypokondriak! It really helps to hear from someone that "has it" and "it WORKS"!

speed:
You may want to check out the LensMate site which shows the interference caused by both adapters before you make a decision. I got a Canon 58mm adapter with UV filter to protect the lens, but having read the above posts and the LensMate site:
http://www.lensmateonl​ine.com/g3_samples.htm​l
I could have gotten the 52mm and avoided excess flash and AF assist light shadowing. Guess I can use the 58mm "when" I get a teleconverter.


Speaking of which, the Olympus replacement for the discontinued but highly-regarded B-300 is about to ship. See:
http://www.b-300.com/tcon17.html
and click on "TCON-17 Test Gallery" to see some images. It has a 55mm mount so it'll need a step ring.

speed,

I use my filters with my lensmate adapter, telephoto and wide angle, I have 2 sizes.

I didn't want to be limited to just one size.

Big Smile,

Ah great thanks for all your answers.

I am thinking to buy a lensmate 52mm with some filters. A Kenko 2x Telelens (52mm) and a widelens not sure which one yet.

I was wondering can u put the filters for the kenko 2x telelens ? If that's not possible i need 67mm filters, which i then only can use with the telelens ?

I am a bit lost in the size atm, hopefully someone can tell me what i can ('best') buy if i want a telelens, widelens and some filters (polar. and ir) ?

I am thinking about:

Hoya Linear Polarizer 52mm
IR 52mm
Kenko KNT-20 2X
Lensmate adaptor 52 mm
widelens don't know which one yet.

Allready thanks.

Concerning putting the filter between lens and lens...
It does put the tele/wide farther from the G3 lens. Does that have an affect on the image quality other than possible vignetting? Don't know.

Also, in the dim days of my youth I did something like that with a rotating polarizer and it came apart due to the weight of the extra lens (or inferior quality of the filter mount). Come to think about it, I think it was a metal sunshade instead of a second lens. That said, I'm probably going to do that very thing once I get a tele. Perhaps I should get a lens leash just in case...