After reading the DV Mag. article, "Filters For Digital Cameras," April, 2002 issue, I've come to the realize that a circular polarizer is #2, after the UV, as the article concluded. "The circular polarizer increases color saturation, cuts down glare, reduces reflections, and provides greater contrast between blue skies and gray clouds." (Page 55.) Furthermore, Dave Kapoor wrote, "If your camera doesn't have built-in ND filters, it's handy to have one of these around for every shoot" (in reference with a ND filter). So always take a cam with built-in ND's for every shoot, because it's handy. Here are the 3 must have filters in order of importance:[list=1] UV
circular polarizer
a cam with buit-in ND's[/list=1]

Disclaimer: not intended for the ironically challenged. :-))

So if I have a camera without a built in ND filter, say the old Canon 8mm E250, do I have to attach an XL1 to it's lens?

Most likely. But better check with DV dot com.

Frank, your provided link does not work. I keep getting an error message that the page does not exist.

Try, http://www.dv.com - I quoted the magazine, but I'm sure the article can be found online. Hope this helps. :-))

"But better check with DV dot com."

"Disclaimer: not intended for the ironically challenged. :-))"

Gotcha!

Can I put down my hands now? :-))

I'm sick and tired of dv.com telling me that I should change filters. I've gone from a clear to an optical flat and back 3 times based on their various articles, and now I've got to through out my ND filters and buy a camera with nd filters built in?! jeez, just when you think you understand how things work... Hmm if I want ND grads do I have to split my camera in two?

A hacksaw shoud do the trick, but that would void the warranty.