Polarising Filter Quality

[lewisjharvey]

Hi all,

I am looking to buy a circular polarising filter that screws on my lens. I see Jessops do their own ones or Hoya.

Does it make any difference in picture quality? Which is best?

Any other brands? Where else to purchase them?

Thanks.


Lewis

[shed301]

well if your on a budget you can always buy the cokin system, or if you have money to spend you can always use Singh-Ray ones..

[karen_s]

I had a couple of cheap UV filters with my first set of lenses and ended up removing all of them. I do have a higher end Hoya clear (Pro1 I think) for my macro that I continue to use but all the others were replaced by B+W clears. When I get around to replacing my cheap polarizer, I'll probably get this one (of course the size you need may be different) ...

B+W 77mm Kaeseman Circular Polarizing 66-045620 B&H Photo Video

B+Ws are expensive but get great reviews and my experience with their clears has been quite good so I for me, well worth the money. There are other good brands out there, I just landed on the B+W and have been quite happy.

[navcom]

With filters you really do get what you pay for. I'd resist the temptation to buy cheap. You will get frustrated and may not even realize that the new cheap filter is the cause of the frustration. I learned the hard way. I bought several cheaper polarizers years ago and they never seemed to produce the effects others were getting. It wasn't until I got a decent one that I realized it. Spend the money and get one that is high quality and will last.

Singh Ray is the top but they are spendy. But I've never regretted any that I've bought. Quite the contrary...they always go above and beyond what I anticipated they would do. Hoya makes some good ones too but go with the higher end layered ones.

Hope that helps!

[patchen]

great question - i was just about to ask about this! Love this forum!

[Krusty79]

I'm sure Singh-Ray is good. I've also heard the B+W multi-coated ones are excellent and Hoyas are good if you're on a budget.

B+H Photo, Calumet & Adorama are reputable online stores.

[SwissJon]

Originally Posted by Krusty79

I'm sure Singh-Ray is good. I've also heard the B+W multi-coated ones are excellent and Hoyas are good if you're on a budget.

B+H Photo, Calumet & Adorama are reputable online stores.

B+H Photo.. Is that some kind of photoshop for smokers?

I've got a Hoya Pro-1 Digital filter, it works very well.

[milosh]

Just yesterday I ordered myself a Kenko Pro 1D Wideband CPL. I was going to buy Hoya Pro1D, but then I found out that both Hoya and Kenko brands are produced by Tokina. Kenko is the brand they sell in Japan, and Hoya in the rest of the world. They even have the same names. A lot of people on the forums say their quality is same, although Kenko is a tiny bit cheaper (maybe 10$ for a 77mm).

Here's an extensive test of CPLs that places both of them pretty high, while all the Cokins are at the bottom:
Polarizing filters test - Introduction - Lenstip.com
and a supplement to that test, which includes the Cokins:
Polarizing filters test - supplement - Introduction - Lenstip.com