filter brands

In most reviews and I guess by price it appears that B+W are the best but are they worth that much more than a Hoya? What other brands are quality.
I'm shopping for a 58mm circular polarizer for my sigma 70-300 and both a uv and circular polarizer for the 50mm I ordered today.
Thankyou!

I use a Hoya and I have no complaints. It get great results with it. I would recommend a multi coated one, I have no proof but it seems that I have less lens flare and it cuts glare a little better than one that is not. You might think about a Cokin grad system. In my opinion you get better results. A polarizer can cause loss of color in the foreground. A Cokin graduate only effects the area you wish it to. You can adjust the filter up or down and it brings out as much detail in the sky as a polarizer.

I've had no issues with Hoya filters. I buy the Hoya Pro-1 digital filters on ebay from seller besteastern.

I've been using Hoya Super HMC uv filters and love them. There is a noticeable difference especially with lens flare over a couple Promaster filters I have. In addition to Canuck's Ebay recommendation, I have been buying mine on Ebay through Spotlight Photo. Had several transactions now with them. I would say they are probably the friendliest sellers I have dealt with and definitely the fastest shippers I have dealt with.

For a Polarizer, I second Greg's recommendation on a Cokin system.

Frog,

I just spent a kings ransom on the B&W circ polarizer and so far the results have been good. Trouble is since I bought it we have had a ton of rain and little sun.

The photo I have on the Critique forum used this filter.

The reason I didn't buy the Cokin is that I have a 24-70mm with a 70mm diameter lens and I had difficulty getting a Cokin Pro X to try and worried about the size of the adabter when at 24mm - that is it might show up in the edges. In the cokin docs it doesn't have a tick against SLR and wide angle but the Z does and its diameter is smaller than the X.

Roger

Forgot to mention I am now looking at the Cokin system again but want to try it first - reason is for the NGRAD's that I want. Might end up buying the B&W if it goes on to long.

Thanks, all!
I'm still trying to make up my mind on the neutral density or circ. pol.
I saw a photgrapher traveling the world on pbs with some impressive photos and he used a neutral density that was rectangular and he just held it in front of his lens. That would work as long as you are on tripod but I haven't seen one like it anywhere.

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Originally Posted by readingr

The reason I didn't buy the Cokin is that I have a 24-70mm with a 70mm diameter lens and I had difficulty getting a Cokin Pro X to try and worried about the size of the adabter when at 24mm - that is it might show up in the edges. In the cokin docs it doesn't have a tick against SLR and wide angle but the Z does and its diameter is smaller than the X.

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readingr, not sure how the X-Pro will fair as like you said they're not "checked off" on their site but, I use P-Series filters with no problems at all at 20mm and that lens has a 72mm diameter. May I ask why you are considering the Pro-X over the other series?

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Originally Posted by Frog

Thanks, all!
I'm still trying to make up my mind on the neutral density or circ. pol.
I saw a photgrapher traveling the world on pbs with some impressive photos and he used a neutral density that was rectangular and he just held it in front of his lens. That would work as long as you are on tripod but I haven't seen one like it anywhere.

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Cokin makes square ND filters, and they are pretty inexpensive.

If you're buying UV filters to keep on your lenses as protection, then I understand why you want one for each size lens, but multiple polarizers don't make much sense to me. Get one good one, that will fit your largest lens (or largest future lens) and then buy adapter rings for your smaller diameter lenses. It will save you a lot of money, especially if you are buying good filters.

Frog,

There is no substitute for a Circular Polarizer. It can be used in a variety of situations that make it a must.

Of course, with AF and TTL metering, it also a must as other polarizer and light modifiers may 'trick' or confuse multi-segment detection.

For glare reduction and contrast a Polarizer is truly indispensable. Combined with a red filter, black and white photography takes on a whole new dimension.

Heliopan, Tiffen, and Sunpak are a few more brands/names to consider in decreasing order of cost. Over the years I've used all three as well as others including B/W.

Heliopan makes a multi-layer Super Hardened Filter series that are slightly better than the B/W Kaesemann I feel in terms of scratch resistance and durability. They are similarly priced usually. Not cheap.

Tiffen makes a lot of coated filters which for most purposes are fine. If you are shooting in perfect conditions buy the best you can, but if you might drop it, lose it, or it could get damaged . . . $25 new vs $100 bucks, you can make your own calculation.

Sunpak makes fine inexpensive filters. You have to shop around as some vendors want to charge a lot more for them than full retail. I imagine it is they are looking for suckers who really don't know what they are purchasing. Their CP's are slightly milder in effect than some other brands, but still work fine, even the plastic coated varieties.

Something always left out of this discussion, some 'specialty' filters work betterr with some lens types than others. Remember the lens has a coating (or twenty) as well. These lens coating are primarily to color correct, though most incorporate an anti-glare anti-flare formulation.

With DSLR's there is sometimes the possibility that you will get VERY oddly colored blue skies or sunset that have a slight discoloration with CP filters, and it can be worse with the ones that combine an 812 warming filter.

I would get a CP to start with, and if you need a ND, or really graduated density is more desirable, add that as needed.

The rectangular filters are more flexible, but harder to manage unless you are shooting MF which demands them, but that is another story.

Let us know and we want to see what you do with your new camera 'shades'!

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Originally Posted by Xia_Ke

readingr, not sure how the X-Pro will fair as like you said they're not "checked off" on their site but, I use P-Series filters with no problems at all at 20mm and that lens has a 72mm diameter. May I ask why you are considering the Pro-X over the other series?

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I was looking at the technical information and the size of the filter holder and drew a diagram on a piece of paper of the lens angle and length the filter holder protrudes. This led me to think that the Z and P for a 77mm diameter lense was too close for comfort - it looked like the edge of the Z would be in frame at 24mm and when I get round to buying my 15/16mm - 24 zoom then it would definately be in frame. The X is supposed to be good for 118mm wide which confuses me that you can't use it on a wide angle SLR. Z only 96mm and the P 84mm wide.

Not being able to try one is a real bug bear and I am still looking for a store to try them. I did look at the Lee but they were mega expensive once you bought all the kit you need to start with.

Roger