polarizer filter question????

[ElleG83]

i'm looking at getting a circular polarizer filter for my 50mm lens. on B&H the "general brand" filter is only 20 bucks where as the canon filter is 60 bucks. is there much of a difference between the two besides the price?

[RJSorensen]

I went with the Canon 58mm CP. It has been good thus far. The few things I chose to place in front of my Canon glass must be as good and or better than the lens. Or there is no sense in doing it at all.

[Raj]

I have a kenko polarizer (costed around 50 bucks) & gives some good results. Which general brand are you referring to ?

[johneo]

I've got Hoya, Tiffen and Quanterary (sp?) polarizer filters and except for the way they are made (Hoya seemingly better built at more than twice the price of the Quanterary) they all seem to give pretty much the same results.

Nothing scientific about my claim here but no big differences either, as far as I can tell.

[radar-eclipse]

Hoya or Tiffen. I have thousands of dollars in filters including Lee. Using Canon filters doesn't yield any advantage. Don't go with the general/generic brand.

[Scottes]

You might not notice a difference in many/most circumstances, but the top brand (Hoya, Tiffen, etc) Multi-Coated filters will show a significant difference at times - like lessening flare when shooting towards a light.

[Raj]

On a side note, where do you guys rate Kenko products ?? I hear brands like Hoya/tiffin all the time on this forum, but they are very hard to find in Tokyo. kenko's are the only ones mostly available & pushed by sales person.

[robertwgross]

If you avoid the very cheapest filter and also avoid the very most expensive filter, then you'll probably be happy with the mid-priced filters. I don't believe that Canon makes their own filters, anyway.

---Bob Gross---

[radar-eclipse]

Kenko may be the local filter of choice where you are at Raj. If your pictures look good to you, then don't worry about it. Hoya and Tiffen are heavily marketed in the U.S. There are some others out there that are good also, including B&W.