Standard Circular Polarizer

I photograph paintings.What is the difference between circular and standard polarizing filters?

I use a standard polarizing filter on my film camera and a circular polarizer on the digital camera. The specular highlights and flair are always grreater on the digital images. PS. I also polarize my lights.

I think the first thing you need to know is what a polarizing filter does. A polarized lens basically has microscopic lines that filter extraneous light. This is why you can get rid of glare and reflections because the lens only allows only a set direction of light (for instance only allows vertical or horizontal light through). But unlike a neutral density filter, you lose only extraneous light and not a lot of desired light.

Now the difference between a regular polarizing filter and a circular polarizing filter is that the regular has the microscopic lines going in one direction (again, like vertical or horizontal stripes). The circular polarizing filter has concentric circles of lines. This is only important for auto-focus lenses. If you used a regular polarizing filter, the moment the lens shifted (circular motion) for focus, the light-waves have changed and now the auto-focus is lost. However, with a circular polarizing filter, regardless of how much the focus ring turns, the light is always the same and this allows the auto-focus to continually function.

Here’s the fun part. You can see for yourself what a polarizing filter does. Take 2 REGULAR polarizing filters and place one on top of each other. If you twist one of them, you should be able to see clearly through both of them. Now continue to twist and soon you won’t be able to see through at all. This is because one filter is filtering one direction of light and the other is filtering out another. So when they are aligned, you can see through. But when they’re opposing, they’re blocking all directions (both horizontal and vertical). If you use 2 circular polarizing filters, you won’t get the opacity because they’re always aligned when on top of each other.

If you polarize your lights, you’re already filtering one direction of the light. That’s probably why when you use your circular polarizer, less of the extraneous light is being filtered. With the regular polarizing filter, most of the time you’re probably filtering multiple directions of light; hence reducing more glare.

Canon Vixia HF S100 Camcorder | Cen Matrix TR Arena Truggy

Kenko KB-62CRPL 62mm Standard Coated Circular Polarizing Filter $64.95

Kenko KB-52CRPL 52mm Standard Coated Circular Polarizing Filter $40.95

Kenko KB-67CRPL 67mm Standard Coated Circular Polarizing Filter $64.95

Kenko KB-72CRPL 72mm Standard Coated Circular Polarizing Filter $76.95

Kenko KB-77CRPL 77mm Standard Coated Circular Polarizing Filter $89.95

Kenko KB-55CRPL 55mm Standard Coated Circular Polarizing Filter $40.95

Kenko KB-49CRPL 49mm Standard Coated Circular Polarizing Filter $37.95

Kenko Standard Circular Polarizer CPL Filter 40.5mm Check Listing for Best Price $41.90

HOYA 55mm Standard Coated Circular Polarizing (CPL) Filter $38.85

BIG BRUIZER CPL PUNISHMENT COSTUME ADULT STANDARD *NEW* $40.99

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NEW HOYA STANDARD Circular Polarizer CPL Filter 58 58mm $36.90

NEW HOYA STANDARD Circular Polarizer CPL Filter 67 67mm $49.90

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HOYA STANDARD Circular Polarizer CPL Polarizing Filter 86mm US Authorized Dealer $155.90

HOYA STANDARD Circular Polarizer CPL Filter 40.5mm *Check Listing for Best Price $30.90

Genuine HOYA CPL 62 mm Filter New & Sealed Circular Polarizer Standard Brand New $30.99

Sunpak Cf-7059-Cp Standard Circular Polarizer Filter (58Mm) $28.50

Sunpak Cf-7058-Cp Standard Circular Polarizer Filter (55Mm) $25.50

NEW HOYA STANDARD Circular Polarizer CPL Filter 72 72mm $56.90

NEW HOYA STANDARD Circular Polarizer CPL Filter 52 52mm $32.90

NEW HOYA STANDARD Circular Polarizer CPL Filter 43 43mm $30.90

NEW HOYA STANDARD Circular Polarizer CPL Filter 49 49mm $30.90

NEW HOYA STANDARD Circular Polarizer CPL Filter 55 55mm $32.90

NEW HOYA STANDARD Circular Polarizer CPL Filter 77 77mm $67.90

Hoya Standard Circular Polarizer – 46mm **AUTHORIZED HOYA USA DEALER** $22.50

Hoya Standard Circular Polarizer – 43mm **AUTHORIZED HOYA USA DEALER** $22.50

Sunpak – CF-7058-CP 55mm Standard Circular Polarizer Filter $21.26

Genuine HOYA CPL 77 mm Filter New & Sealed Circular Polarizer Standard Filter $42.90

SUNPAK CF-7057-CP STANDARD CIRCULAR POLARIZER FILTER (52MM) $17.50

SUNPAK CF-7059-CP STANDARD CIRCULAR POLARIZER FILTER (58MM) $20.50

SUNPAK CF-7058-CP STANDARD CIRCULAR POLARIZER FILTER (55MM) $17.50

Genuine HOYA CPL 52 mm Filter New & Sealed Circular Polarizer Standard Filter $23.90

Hoya Standard Circular Polarizer – 40.5mm **AUTHORIZED HOYA USA DEALER** $22.50

Hoya Standard Circular Polarizer – 67mm **AUTHORIZED HOYA USA DEALER** $37.95

Hoya Standard Circular Polarizer – 77mm **AUTHORIZED HOYA USA DEALER** $52.95

Hoya Standard Circular Polarizer – 72mm **AUTHORIZED HOYA USA DEALER** $46.95

HOYA 52mm Standard Circular Polarizer for 18-55mm VR DX Lens $38.85

55mm Standard Coated Circular Polarizing (CPL) Filter for SONY Alpha 18-70mm $38.85

55mm Standard Coated Circular Polarizing (CPL) Filter for SONY Alpha 18-55mm $38.85

Standard Coated HOYA 58mm Circular Polarizer (CPL) Filter $43.35

HOYA 58mm Standard Coated Circular Polarizing (CPL) Filter $43.35

HOYA 72mm Standard Coated Circular Polarizing (CPL) Filter $70.35

HOYA 77mm Standard Coated Circular Polarizing (CPL) Filter $88.35

Hoya Standard Circular Polarizer – 58mm **AUTHORIZED HOYA USA DEALER** $24.50

NEW HOYA STANDARD Circular Polarizer CPL Filter 82 82mm $97.90

Hoya Standard Circular Polarizer – 62mm **AUTHORIZED HOYA USA DEALER** $37.95

HOYA 52mm Standard Coated Circular Polarizing (CPL) Filter $38.85

Genuine HOYA CPL 67 mm Filter New & Sealed Circular Polarizer Standard Filter $35.40

Hoya Standard Circular Polarizer – 52mm **AUTHORIZED HOYA USA DEALER** $22.50

Hoya Standard Circular Polarizer – 55mm **AUTHORIZED HOYA USA DEALER** $22.50

Hoya Standard Circular Polarizer – 49mm **AUTHORIZED HOYA USA DEALER** $22.50

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