Linear or circular polarizer? Need help

[Sanjin Jukic]

Linear is fine for RED now... But I would get the circular. It may future-proof you if upcoming Epic S35 or future cameras offer autofocus ability with the RED mount electronic lenses... Circular isn't really any more expensive these days. 4x5.65" size covers the RPPs fine, but you'll want a 5.65x5.65 for pola or grads you rotate.

I like the Formatt 5.65x5.65 one and it's around $260 from AbelCine or FilmTools. The Tiffen and Schneider ones are good too.

BTW, I have all circular polarizers either (Formatt filters in square size or Hoya round screw filters)...

[Shawn Nelson]

thanks everyone! ordered the 5.65x5.65 circ pol Formatt from Filmtools today!

[Pawel Achtel]

1. Do I get linear or circular? I've long though of circular as superior, but recently I heard that circular is only needed if being used on a CCD system. Really? Don't you still need to be able to rotate? I'm confused. I also read David Mullen talking about Circ Pols sometimes causing artifacts in the sky on a pan. Whoa! Can Linears do this too?

Get linear, circular are only needed if you use beam splitters.

2. Size: 4x5.65 or 5.65x5.65? I supposed this is related to part 1. If I get linear then I might as well only get 4x5.65 since I won't be rotating it.

You will be rotating linear, so get a 5.65x5.65.

[Stephen Strangways]

Close, but not quite. I believe circular polas are for any camera that has a prism in it. So a film camera that has a video tap needs one and so does any 3CCD camera (which are most pro broadcast cameras.)

I may be wrong about that, but I know you are supposed to use a circular pola if you have a video tap on a film camera.

Matthew

Circular polas are for cameras that have beam-splitters. Prisms do not involve polarizing light, so linear polarizers work perfectly with 3CCD cameras.

[Mitch Gross]

Circular polas are for cameras that have beam-splitters. Prisms do not involve polarizing light, so linear polarizers work perfectly with 3CCD cameras.

Actually, the latest generation of Sony cameras, including all of the XDCAM cameras (EX1 & 3, PMW-F700 & F800 as well as other current 3-chip models) use particular coatings on their beamsplitters that improve color fidelity and reduce fringing, but do in fact require the use of circular polarizers.