Linear or Circular pola filters for GH1??

[kagibson2]

Are linear pola filters affecting the auto-focus on the GH1? I know they are ok for most video cameras, but not DSLRs. Since this is a hybrid, I was wondering.

Also, since the GH1 has no ND built in, what set would be appropriate at the very least for this camera? At this point I can't afford every .3, .6, .9, 1.2 etc....

[Psynema]

Generally anything with autofocus, a circular is recommended. Usually I just get circular ones to be safe either way...

[Kevin I]

Hi. If you're going to buy one, you should probably go for a circular polarizer so you can use it on pretty much any camera without worry.

However, the GH1 uses contrast-detect autofocus which is generally considered to be fine with a linear polarizer. Phase-detect autofocus SLRs with a beam-splitting mirror are the ones that have problems with linear polarizers.

On a trip last week I used a linear polarizer on my GH1 because that's all I had in 62mm. I had no problems with either photo or videos.

[Blue_Food]

With respect to building up a budget ND kit (and a budget filter kit, generally), you should definitely consider the French Cokin system (which Kholi mentions in the opening post of the General Hardware thread).

You just need to pick up the filter-holder itself, the appropriately threaded ‘holder-holder’ (for want of a coherent term), and then start investing/playing around with their range of inexpensive, rectangular, resin filters.

DP

[ydgmdlu]

If you screw a linear polarizer on top of a circular polarizer, you'll have a variable ND filter.

[daveswan]

Cokin are ok, sort of, (I have some myself), though my photography guru calls them "Cock-Up" filters. If you can afford them, Lee Filters are a good compromise between the cheep Cokin, and horrendously expensive Cine-types.
Dave

[Martti Ekstrand]

I got a Cokin holder and ND2, 4 & 8 filters. Compared to screw-on ones it's really fast to make combos of those for whatever exposure needed. Very similar to working with a full matte box but at the tenth of price or less. I'll probably get some variable NDs in the end but as a quick and cheap solution it ain't bad.

[kagibson2]

I got a Cokin holder and ND2, 4 & 8 filters. Compared to screw-on ones it's really fast to make combos of those for whatever exposure needed. Very similar to working with a full matte box but at the tenth of price or less. I'll probably get some variable NDs in the end but as a quick and cheap solution it ain't bad.

That's exactly what I need for this project... quick and cheap filter solution. I'll eventually get the more expensive stuff.
thanks for all the replies.

[Kevin I]

One thing to watch out for with Cokin filters (I have A, P and X-Pro stuff plus Lee filters) is that they tend to have a color cast to the graduated grey and polarizers. I've had better luck with the ND filters... but it's still a bit hit or miss. Even the Lee filters can have color casts, so you'd better check whatever you get and return it if you're not happy.

You can color correct in post, which can be a pain if you're on a crunch for time.