I dropped by Photo Continental in Bris on the weekend, hoping to pick
up my X400 ND filter (*still* hasn't arrived), and also after a second
linear polariser.

"Can I help?"
"Yes, I'm after a linear polariser"
"Linear?"
"Yes, it's for a non-dslr and I am just going to do some experiments
with crossed filters and the like, so I don't need to go to the
expense of a circular"
"So this is for a digital camera?"
"Yes.."
"No, you can't use linear polarisers with digital, because you'll get
jaggies."

A pause, while I give him my best annoyed, pained look.

"No, that's NOT right - and you have lost a sale." as I turned and
walked out of the store..

JAGGIES????  Sheesh.  Note to Photo Continental's staff trainer - it's
one thing not to know what you are talking about (just admit it - it
doesn't hurt) - but for heaven's sake, tell your staff NOT to just
make stuff up.

For the record, as I understand it, linear polarisers are fine on any
camera which does not use beam-splitting.  So isn't that pretty well
*all* non-DSLR's?  I know that I've used my trusty old linear on a
number of non-dslrs, including Sony 717/828's, my Oly C8080 and now a
Fuji S9500, without a problem with either AF or exposure metering.

I've heard an awful lot of usenet folk very animatedly argue that
linears are not to be used on *any* digital cameras (thankfully not
normally because of 'jaggies' (O:).  But I am inclined to think this
is just making a lot of non-dslr owners needlessly poorer.  Linears
are a lot cheaper, and in theory should be a teeeny bit better as they
are only one layer of glass..

Does anyone know which non-dslrs might use beam splitters (and, out of
interest, why?), or have a decent reference to something substantial/
scientific (rather than hearsay/opinion) about this topic?

And lastly, having been underwhelmed by Photo Continental - where do
cameras go to die in Brisbane???  Back in Adelaide a few years back,
there were at least 3 places where you could browse through lots of
used gear - are such places rapidly disappearing, or are there some
around Brisbane or the Gold Coast that I haven't been able to find?
(Yes, I've let my fingers do the walking, but haven't encountered
anything very useful so far - I'm almost ready to descend to the level
of visiting Ca$h Converter$... Eeurgh.)