This is a static photometric polarimeter for use with a sample S upon which a beam passed through a beam splitter (which reflects the beam to a detector D.sub.o) and which beam is 45.degree. polarized. The reflection of the beam from the surface of sample S is passed to a polarizing beam splitter with one portion of the reflected beam going to a detector D.sub.s which measures the perpendicular polarization component of the beam and the other portion of the beam going to the detector D.sub.p which measures the parallel polarized portion of the reflected beam.