Birefringent filters can be used for tuning lasers, with some advantages over prisms, gratings and tilted etalons. In this paper the transmission characteristics of a new mixed birefringent filter are investigated. The term 'mixed' is used because both circular birefringence and linear birefringence have been utilized in the fabrication of this filter. It has a loss-less core, formed by a cascaded system of alternate rotators and retarders, and a linear polarizer at each end. The performance of this filter is better because of the more effective suppression of side peaks. Unlike previous birefringent filters, this one may be used inside a linear resonator. © 1986.