Circular or standard polarizer?

[Dave Allen]

Ira Tiffen mentioned that it is the camera and sensor that determines whether one needs a circular polarizing filter which is more expensive and required rotational adjustment, or a standard one will work.

I can confirm a circular polarizer works fine when adjusted to maximum effectiveness.

Can anyone confirm a regular polarizing filter works really well on their FS700?

[Tim Kolb]

All polarizers require rotational adjustment to optimize the effect...

A circular polarizer is appropriate for a three chip camera, a normal polarizer should work for a single chip.

[Charles Papert]

There's a certain amount of confusion as to the definition of "circular polarizer" out there. It involves a linear (aka "standard") pola that has an additional layer that further polarizes the light circularly. Both a linear or a circular pola can be round or rectangular or square or whatever. And as Tim noted, all will require physical rotation to cycle through the desired effect.

Dave--apologies if you were already aware of this; consider this information aimed at other readers who may be unclear.

[Tim Kolb]

I was a little lazy on my initial reply...Charles filled in with

The deal with a three chip camera is that the "prism"/mirror system that routes the wavelengths to the appropriate sensors acts as a 'redundant polarizer' (completely knocking out certain wavelengths-colors) depending on the rotation unless some additional rotation is introduced...hence the term "circular".

A camera without a mirror system with a single sensor should be fine with a standard polarizer...but a circular polarizer should work in either case as far as I know.