This device makes measurements of the intensity of light in four different polarizations, chosen for maximum accuracy and efficiency. In the “measuring head” the light passes through two liquid crystal waveplates and a polarizing filter before falling on a light sensitive element. Different interchangeable measuring heads, using this principle, can be made for different applications. The device has electronic control and display circuits, coordinated by a microprocessor. With a photodiode as the light sensitive element, the device is a portable stand alone polarimeter which displays the polarization parameters in whatever representation the operator chooses. With a digital camera as the light sensitive element, the device produces four scenes which can be processed digitally and uploaded as a scene seen in any arbitrary polarization. Also, the unpolarized component can be filtered out; something impossible with physical filters placed before the lens.