Tiffen filters?

[Jamdiver]

Alright, so question of the day.

I've got a Canon Digital Rebel Xti, Sigma 17-70mm, Canon 50mm f/1.8 and some other goodies on their way to me in about a week.

Anyway, I stopped by a local camera/photo gear shot was having a look through their filters.
Now from what i'd read B&W and Hoya filters are highly regarded.

Having done a bit of research and after seeing the results, I realise that a UV filter and Polarizer filter would be a good investment for me.

But i'm curious as to what your opinions are on Tiffen Filters?

Major plus for me is that they're available locally, everything else i'd have to order abroad and have shipped to me here which would take quite a while and be a fair bit of expense for me.

[Jon]

Tiffen aren't in the same league as Hoya or B+W, by a fair piece.

[Jamdiver]

So you'd pass it on Jon?

I'm hoping to expand my photography into Landscapes and urban type shots.
So far i've been mostly doing macros and things of that nature.

[Olegis]

Tiffen aren't in the same league as Hoya or B+W, by a fair piece.

Exactly.
I use B+W and Hoya SHMC filters - they are not cheap, but very high quality.

[DavidW]

As the others have said, I'd use higher end Hoyas that are multicoated, B+W MRC or Heliopan SH-PMC.

All my screw-in filters are B+W MRC.



David

[rhys]

I have some stopgap ProMaster filters (Hoya uncoated). Now I have them I wish I had saved my money and instead of buying 3 UV filters and 2 polarisers, purchased a single decent filter by B+W or ordered a Hoya SMC filter. The reflections from the backs of the filters are horrible.

[EdV]

I have some stopgap ProMaster filters (Hoya uncoated). Now I have them I wish I had saved my money and instead of buying 3 UV filters and 2 polarisers, purchased a single decent filter by B+W or ordered a Hoya SMC filter. The reflections from the backs of the filters are horrible.

Just to be clear (I hope), there are many different "grades" of filters. I use ProMaster Multi-Coated Digital UV Filters and Circular Polarizers and am quite satisfied.

By the way, I refrain from voting in the poll. Just don't believe a poll is the way to choose.

[Wilt]

I once owned a Tiffen linear polarizer, decades ago. Then I purchased a camera which required a circular polarizer, which I bought a Hoya. Curious about the difference in the two types of polarizers, I was experimenting with simply holding the filters in front of my eye and turning them slowly as I viewed different areas to compare if there was an observable difference in effect. That is when I noticed the Tiffen acted like a prism, and I could clearly see the scene distortion as I rotated it! I prompty threw it out and vowed to never, ever buy a Tiffen again!

[Scottes]

I always used Hoya, but found them a bitch to clean, so I've switched to B&W.

I'd have to be fairly desperate to put a Tiffen filter on my lens.

Same goes for a UV filter, but that's another story.

[Jamdiver]

Thanks for the advice all, guess i'll pass on the Tiffen filters..

[mijbril]

Nothing like the power of the search function on POTN, the question was already answered :D

(My Hoya C-PL literally fell apart in my hands this morning & I am ALWAYS gentle with my gear)

So, no Tiffen.

(more search now on the B&W, though I know already that they're well regarded & I don't want another Hoya)