When it comes to 
photography, polarizing filters can make a significant difference in the quality of your shots, especially when it comes to managing reflections and enhancing colors.
Two common types of polarizing filters are linear polarizers and circular polarizers, and knowing the difference between them can help you choose the right one for your needs.
Linear Polarizing Filters
A linear polarizing filter is simpler and works by filtering light waves moving in one direction, reducing glare and reflections from surfaces like water or glass. These filters are ideal if you’re working with a fully manual camera system without fancy internal mirrors or autofocus.
Pluses of Linear Polarizers:
- More affordable than circular polarizers.
- Effectively reduces glare on non-digital cameras.
- Great for outdoor photography to boost contrast in skies and foliage.
Minuses of Linear Polarizers:
- Incompatible with autofocus systems in most DSLR and mirrorless cameras.
- Can cause metering issues with cameras that use beam-splitting or mirror systems.
- Hard to find in certain sizes or high-quality options
Circular Polarizing Filters
A circular polarizer consists of two layers: a linear polarizer followed by a special optical element that spins the light waves before they enter the camera.
This ensures that modern cameras with autofocus and beam-splitting metering can function correctly.
Pluses of Circular Polarizers:
- Works well with modern DSLR and mirrorless cameras.
- Reduces reflections while still allowing the camera autofocus and metering systems to work properly.
- Ideal for reducing haze and making colors pop in landscapes and outdoor shots.
Minuses of Circular Polarizers:
- More expensive than linear polarizers.
- It may result in slight light loss, requiring adjustments to exposure settings.
- If not carefully selected, some filters can introduce color casts into your photos
I tried linear polarizer filters. They can work with digital cameras, like point-and-shoot. And will definitely require some practice. Using circular polarizer is less strenuous task. And still involved trying and learning.
For most shots, keeping polarizer on the lens is not a necessity. Especially in low light conditions. And having one, in my opinion, is very beneficial.