Linear Polarizer Filter

What type of Polarizering filter do I need?

I am trying to improve my pictures and I want to try a polarizering filter. I know what they are and what they do, but I do not understand the difference between a circular and linear polarizer filter. Could someone (in somewhat laymen’s terms) what they difference is, and what I need?
I read on wikipedia that circular filters tend to work with most cameras, while linear ones are only for certain ones. I wanted to make sure this was accurate.
My camera is a Panasonic DMC-FZ7.
Also, could anyone reccomend brands? I am a poor student, so I can’t go very high… but if anyone has better experience? I was looking between Tiffen and Sunpak (the cheapies).
ALSO how do you work them? I have heard that you can twist to get difference results?
I know this is a lot, but thank you to anyone that tries to answer my questions!

Polarizers eliminates Photons (reflected light waves). Linear polarizers eliminates photons coming from an angle, i.e. You set the filter to “kill” vertical photons (a glass window?) or rotate it somewhat 90deg to eliminate horizontal photons (water surface?).
A circular polarizer is designed to somewhat do both of the above (Imagine 2 linear polarizers stacked up in a 90deg orientation).
For illustrations, read :

http://www.cs.mtu.edu/~shene/DigiCam/User-Guide/filter/polarizer.html

“Linear polarizing filters seem to have a greater effect on the final image than circular polarizers do, and in spite of many misconceptions, you can use either type of filter on any camera. But there is a catch: if you use a linear polarizer on a modern camera, you may not be able to use your built-in metering, or autofocus, or possibly both. ” camerapedia.com

It is mainly because modern automatic cameras sends out beams throught the lens for metering, focusing, etc, and the linear polar filter affects those readings.

When using a polariser, whether linear or circular, you rotate the outer filterlens-ring. as you rotate it, the polarizing effect varies. Stop where you like it to be and snap!

Tiffen is not a cheapie brand in my opinion, and it is expensive here. Between sunpak and tiffen, i’ll take the latter for sure!

Take Great Pics!

effect of a polarizing filter

BAYONET B-30 PL ( POLARIZING LINEAR ) FILTER MADE BY MILO – JAPAN ! $14.00

49mm STAR-D THIN LINEAR POLARIZER FILTER – old stock -Made In Japan-BRAND NEW 49 $5.99

62mm Kalimar Linear Polarizing Glass Filter ~ Japan $16.99

49mm KALIMAR LINEAR POLARIZER FILTER – old stock – Made In Japan – NEW 49 $5.70

49mm MAXTEC-MILO LINEAR POLARIZER FILTER – old stock – Made In Japan – NEW 49 $5.34

Used PRO 49mm Polarizer Linear Filter $17.99

Used Black’s 49mm Polarizing Linear Filter $20.69

Used Hoya 55mm PL Filter linear (Sold Separately) Polarizer Polar $21.59

Used Vivitar 52mm Polarizing Linear Filter (Sold Separately) $15.29

Nikon genuine 52mm Polar Filter Used linear polarizer $44.99

Used Vivitar 49mm Polarizer Linear Thin Filter $17.99

Used Vivitar 49mm Polarizer Thin Linear Filter $34.19

Used Vivitar 55mm PL Filter Linear Polarizer $22.49

Used Rolev M.G. 52mm Polarizer Linear Filter $13.49

Used Tiffen 55mm PL Filter linear Polarizer $20.69

B+W 37mm KAESEMANN Linear Polarizer Filter 37 mm L-Pol $72.95

Hoya 49mm PL Linear Polarizing Filter $19.95

Hoya 43mm Polarizer Linear $32.99

HOYA 49mm PL Linear Polarizer Filter for NIKON CANON PENTAX SONY MINOLTA OLYMPUS $14.99

Cokin 160 Linear Polarizer (A160) Filter $5.00

B+W 60mm Keasemann Linear Polarizer Filter $89.00

Tiffen 72WPOL 72mm Warm Linear Polarizer Filter NEW $60.97

55mm Screw-In Filter SEARS LINEAR POLARIZER – JAPAN $9.95

46 mm SR Linear Polarizer Glass Filter NEW $10.97

New Schneider 6″ 85 Linear True Polarizer Filter Tiffen $400.00

New Schneider 127mm True-Polarizing Water White Linear Glass Filter Filters $500.00

B+W POLARIZING FILTER – 58mm Top-Pol Linear – NIB $20.00

B+W POLARIZING FILTER – 49mm Top-Pol Linear – NIB $15.00

B+W POLARIZING FILTER – 52mm Top-Pol Linear – NIB $15.00

Hoya B46PL 46mm Linear Polarizer Glass Filter NEW $23.97

Hoya B55PL 55mm Linear Polarizer Glass Filter NEW $23.97

Bower 37mm Glass Pro Linear Polarizer Filter enhances color Free World Ship $9.99

MAXTEC 62mm Linear Polarizer Glass Filter Japan 11919 $29.95

Telesor 62mm Linear Polarizer Glass Filter Japan 11911 $24.95

Series VI/6 Vivitar Linear POLARIZER/POLARIZING Camera Lens Filter $19.99

Tiffen 62mm Linear Polarizer Glass Filter USA 11909? $19.95

Hoya B55PL 55mm Linear Polarizer Glass Filter NEW $23.97

New 48mm Schneider Linear True-Polarizer Filter Rotating Tiffen Filters 48 mm $150.00

Nikon 52mm Linear Polarizer Filter $17.95

Tiffen 72mm Std Rotating LINEAR POLARIZER Filter $43.95

Lenmar 55mm THIN Linear Polarizer -Made In Japan- New $7.74

Star-D 55mm THIN Linear Polarizer -Made In Japan – New $7.55

New Schneider 40.5mm One-Stop Linear True-Polarizing Filter Tiffen Filters $125.00

B+W 67mm TOP LINEAR POLARIZER Filter 67 mm MRC Coated! $75.95

STAR-D Skybolt 55mm LINEAR THIN POLARIZER FILTER- BRAND NEW 55 $0.99

Promaster Spectrum 7 – 72mm P.L – Polarizing filter. Linear Excellent condition $21.90

Top Brand FILP77 Linear Polarizing Filter 77mm NEW $34.95

TIFFEN 62mm LINEAR POLARIZER FILTER $21.00

Tiffen 72mm Linear Polarizing Filter $35.99

HOYA 55MM LINEAR POLARIZER FILTER Japan $6.95

25mm Polarizing Linear PL Filter for DSLR SLR Camera High Quality Optical glass $4.99

27mm Polarizing Linear PL Filter for DSLR PENTAX K-01 with 40mm XS Optical glass $4.99

28mm Polarizing Linear PL Filter for DSLR SLR Camera High Quality Optical glass $4.99

Vintage Cenei Ceneipol 58mm Linear Polarizing Lens Filter $20.00

52mm Std Rotating LINEAR POLARIZER Filter $18.99

Hoya 95mm Linear Polarizer $47.99

Leica (13359) E54 Linear Polarizing Filter – GORGEOUS – MUST HAVE $69.95