Can you do cross-polarization with linear polarizing sheets and a circular polarizer on the lens?
Asked 2/1/2018
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I want to reduce surface reflections using cross-polarization. If I put linear polarizing material on my lights, can I still use a circular polarizer on the camera lens and get the effect? Most lens filters are circular polarizers, while sheet polarizers for lights are usually linear. Will this combination work for controlling reflections?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
8y ago
2 Answers
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Yes. Both of these filters exclude light that doesn't match the appropriate direction of polarization. Circular polarizing filters start with a linear polarization filter. They then also have a quarter-wave plate which transforms the light which has got past the filter so that it doesn't mess up autofocus and metering systems.
There's more on the background of how circular polarizers work What is the difference between a linear and a circular polarizer?, but for the purposes of this question, the basic answer is don't worry about it.
Originally by user1943. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1943
8y ago
0
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Yes. A circular polarizer on the lens can still be used for cross-polarization with linearly polarized light sources.
A circular polarizer is essentially a linear polarizer followed by a quarter-wave plate. The linear part does the polarization selection; the quarter-wave plate is added mainly so the filtered light won’t interfere with camera autofocus and metering systems.
So for your use, the important part is that the lens filter still starts by acting as a linear polarizer. If your lights are polarized with linear sheets, you can rotate the lens polarizer to control or suppress reflections in the usual way.
In short: linear polarizers on the lights plus a circular polarizer on the lens is a compatible setup for cross-polarization.
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