Reccomend a polarizing filter

[Grandpaw]

My three main lenses are 77mm and I am thinking about purchasing a polarizing filter. Is there one that is of good quality that won't break the bank that you could recommend? Jeff

This for my trip to Disney World

All three of these are 77mm
Nikon 70-200Vr F2.8
Sigma 17-50 F2.8
Sigma 10-20 lens

[SmartWombat]

No, good quality is expensive.
Mine from Canon was £100 about $150?

[Greg McCary]

I had a Hoya and not a cheap one that when in AF it left my images a little soft and it would fall out of the thread too. It caused color shifts in greens making green have a yellow tint to them I was always having to correct for. I finally gave up after going to the Cokin ND grad . I get detail out of the sky with all the PPing. I would look at B&W or Heliopan. You get what you pay for when it comes to filters. multi coating will cost more but money well spent to prevent flares.

[mjs1973]

I have a B+W slim polarizer that I bought a few years ago and I have been very happy with it. I went with the slim because I don't stack my filters, plus I can use it on my 12mm wide angle lens without causing any vignetting problems.

I would also suggest getting a multi-coated lens.

[mn shutterbug]

I've heard that B + W is one of the better ones, but for what they cost, I prefer to shoot naked. I do very little landscape shooting anyway, which is where I think it would be the most useful.

[Grandpaw]

I have a B+W slim polarizer that I bought a few years ago and I have been very happy with it. I went with the slim because I don't stack my filters, plus I can use it on my 12mm wide angle lens without causing any vignetting problems.

I would also suggest getting a multi-coated lens.

If I wanted to put a UV and a circular polarizing filter why couldn't you do that with this filter and just put it on last, Jeff

[mjs1973]

If I wanted to put a UV and a circular polarizing filter why couldn't you do that with this filter and just put it on last, Jeff

The slim filters don't have threads on the front of them, so there isn't any way to attach another filter to it. The threads on the front of a filter can cause vignetting when used with a wide angle lens so I got one without it to avoid having that problem. If you want to use this type of a polarizer with any other filter, the polarizer would have to go on last. I don't use UV filters so it has never been an issue for me.

[freygr]

I would purchase one for the largest filter ring of my lenses. Then I have a step down ring to each of the smaller sizes or filter threads. This has worked without any vignetting problems.

But do purchase a high quality polarizing filter, I think I have a Hoya circular polarizing and I have been very happy with it.

[NoKnees]

One of the best bang for the buck filters I've seen is from Marumi. There was an article a few years back looking at a bunch that did some pretty serious testing and I have to assume the quality has not slipped since then. The competition may have improved, but..... They can be found on eBay for around $110 for 77mm, and I think there are some other direct sales sites for them as well. Quality compared to B&W...

Polarizing filters test - Introduction - Lenstip.com

The latest Hoya Pro1 and HD filters should be better than the ones reviewed in that article, based on everything I've read about them. Lower light loss, etc...

But, I'd try to stay away from the cheaper basic single coated filters out there. I've had bad results from basic Tiffen and the single coated Promasters in the past. Those were before I new any better. For a lower price than the multi-coated Promaster you can get the Marumi Super, which is thinner, sharper, more consistent, and basically better all around....

Anyway, have fun shooting!

And yes, buy a 77mm, and step down rings for any other lenses you use... That is, unless you have a smaller lens that really needs the hood for how you use it... Then, well, gotta drop more $...

[Grandpaw]

Mike, thanks for your reply

freygr, thanks for reminding me about the step down rings. I have three that are 77mm and one that is 72mm so that will be helpful

NoKnees, thanks for your input, I will check it out, Jeff