charlesp Posted June 13, 2003 Share Posted June 13, 2003 I know the reason for using circular polarizer filters with autofocus cameras, but I wonder whether it matters which filter I use with my manual focus Mamiya RZ. In other words, is the polarizing filter effect going to be the same for both filters? I am also going to use Rosco polarizing sheets on my light sources. I'm told this will give a "cross polarized" effect. My light sources are tungsten hot lights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry_ Posted June 14, 2003 Share Posted June 14, 2003 If your Mamiya has no 'internal' meter to worry about in the studio, the type of polarizer should have no effect on your images. But keep in mind that 'sunlight' and 'tungsten' are not quite the same light quality: you may need to experiment a bit to find out if the polarizer filter(s) you plan on using have much of an effect in the final image. You may want to keep a notebook handy and record your exposures for one roll and see what makes you happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garry edwards Posted June 14, 2003 Share Posted June 14, 2003 Circular and Linear polarisers give a similar, but not identical effect. You do not need a circular polariser with your RZ, and in any event the polarising lighting gels for use on your lights are linear, so you will need to use a linear polariser on your camera.<br>Be aware though, that the heat from your lights will damage the polarisers very quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesp Posted June 15, 2003 Author Share Posted June 15, 2003 Garry, I'm interested to know what would happen if I use a circular polarizer (since I already have one) on my camera and a linear polarizing gel on my lights. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobatkins Posted June 16, 2003 Share Posted June 16, 2003 Linear and circulat polarizers DO have the same effect (at least insofar as any two polarizers are the same). A circular polarizer is in fact a linear polarizer (which does all the work as far as you and the film is concerned), followed by a 1/4 wave plate (which scrambles the resulting light just to make the metering system happy, but doesn't affect the way things "look", either to you or the film. Circular polarizers are needed when you have a partially reflecting mirror (as do most AF SLRs). AF really has little to do with it. AF systems work fine with either type unless they use birefringent lenses in the AF sensors (this can happens as a result of stress in plastic lenses). It's metering that suffers most when you use a linear polarizer on a camera that needs a circular polarizer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesp Posted June 16, 2003 Author Share Posted June 16, 2003 Thanks Bob. You just saved me $75.00 that I don't need to spend on a linear polarizer! (Not bad, become a Photo Net patron for a measly $25.00; save $75. the first week.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garry edwards Posted June 16, 2003 Share Posted June 16, 2003 Certainly you don't need to change your camera polariser to make it work with your lighting gels, but it's a pity that you paid extra for the circular polariser in the first place when you don't need it.... I can't agree with Bob totally, because circular and linear polarisers do work in slightly different ways and both the degree of reflection suppression and the degree of saturation increase are type-dependant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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