Polarizer question

[jools230575]

Hi folks

A hopefully simple question for you all.

When it comes to buying a polarizer for a digital camera do you have to buy one that is labelled as being "for digital cameras"?

Earlier today my mum went to buy one for herself and the sales guy asked what camera she had. She responded buy saying a Fuji S5100 and he directed her to the more expensive polarizers.

Typical sales pitch or some substance in there?

[DarkPenguin]

I'd get a multi coated polarizer.  Beyond that I wouldn't concern myself with the digital appellation.

[Ken Bennett]

Well, maybe.

A basic linear polarizer won't work with many modern cameras because it can interfere with either auto focus or auto exposure or both. So you need what is called a "circular polarizer" not for its shape (they are all circular) but because it twists the light in an odd way that eliminates that interference.

Yes, circular polarizers can be more expensive. A basic Tiffen CP is about US$70:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5663...zing_Glass.html

And you can go way up from there. Sorry.

It's quite possible that manufacturers are adding "for digital" as a shorthand for "circular" because they've found that explaining the difference can be difficult.

[jools230575]

Thanks.

I was aware of the circular vs linear. It was just the "specially designed for digital cameras". I didn't know if there anything in it.

To be honest, I'm curious as normally the shop that my mum went into is good and wouldn't sell someone something at a hiked up price.