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Types of polarizing filters
By Bernard Dery
Types of polarizers
There are two types of polarizers: Circular and Linear.
There are many ways to fabricate a polarizing filter. Cheaper filters will be made with a tiny mesh grid, while more expensive ones require optical coatings.
Stay away from cheap polarizers as image quality will be strongly degraded. In fact,sometimes you can see the mesh on your pictures.
As with almost everything in photography, you get what you pay for.
Linear or Circular polarizer?
Both types of polarizers affect light in exactly the same way. A Circular polarizer is basically a Linear polarizer with an added optical component on the back.
Why the difference?
Cameras with phase focusing, only Single Lens Reflex cameras and Digital Single Lens Reflex cameras currently, need light in two polarization orientations to focus. The added component of a Circular polarizer makes sure the camera gets just that.
If you don't intend to use a DSLR, save money and buy a Linear polarizer.
Slim polarizer
If your camera has a wide angle lens, you'll want to get a "slim" polarizing filter. It is thinner than a standard polarizer and should prevent vignetting.
