Circular Polarizers

[_method]

Are they really that expensive? A 58mm CP is around 90 bones, is that about right?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/533196-REG/Tiffen_58HTCP_58mm_Digital_HT_High.html

[scot079]

Yes, but get this one. Not so sure about Tiffen filters, especially the $90 ones :-)

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/10882-REG/B_W_66_045615_58mm_Kaeseman_Circular_Polarizing.ht ml

[dpds68]

Yes and I would not suggest a Tiffen something better like this .

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/9773-REG/B_W_66044840_58_mm_Circular_Polarizer.html

And check here you might get better deals .
http://maxsaver.net/

http://www.2filters.com/

[CW Jones]

I would suggest a Tiffen, Like this one
http://www.adorama.com/TF58CPL.html?searchinfo=tiffen+58mm

I have it and it works great. Mostly metal, only a little of it is plastic. The only bad reviews of it I have seen are from people who don't know how to use a CPL.

[dpds68]

Polarizing filters test


http://www.lenstip.com/115.1-article-Polarizing_filters_test.html

[argyle]

Yes...better filters such as B+W are expensive, but deals could be had depending on where you buy them. A good filter will not degrade an image, but a crappy filter surely will. Remember...no filter is better than a crappy filter.

[Tareq]

http://maxsaver.net/B-W-58mm-Kaesemann-MRC-Circular-Polarizer-Filter.aspx

http://maxsaver.net/B-W-58mm-MRC-Circular-Polarizer-Glass-Filter-NEW-F-PRO.aspx

http://www.2filter.com/prices/B+W_filters/B+WCircularPolarizers.html

[_method]

Thanks a lot everyone. Great prices on those sites and great explanations as to how they work and why they are so costly as well. Things like the polarizing foil, eight layers on the glass etc.

[Wilt]

I would suggest a Tiffen, Like this one
http://www.adorama.com/TF58CPL.html?searchinfo=tiffen+58mm

I have it and it works great. Mostly metal, only a little of it is plastic. The only bad reviews of it I have seen are from people who don't know how to use a CPL.

I know how to use a CPL. I can state that I have crushed a Tiffen polarizer after discovering that it distorted things like a prism would. I would not foist it upon another photographer in selling it on the used market!

Here is what a Tiffen filter does, compared to a good filter...

http://www.kenandchristine.com/gallery/1054387_ucZqa/1

The test linked in post 5 shows the Tiffen at the bottom of the filters tested. My link shows you how it affects your shots.

[TheBurningCrown]

Wilt, that's a UV filter, not a CPL.

I have a Tiffen CPL (not enough time to get a nice one shipped from Hong Kong for a trip) and works well. I've used poor quality UV filters with little success, but as far as I've seen (from borrowing a friend's very expensive CPL in addition), the lower end CPLs work just fine.

[Wilt]

Wilt, that's a UV filter, not a CPL.

I have a Tiffen CPL (not enough time to get a nice one shipped from Hong Kong for a trip) and works well. I've used poor quality UV filters with little success, but as far as I've seen (from borrowing a friend's very expensive CPL in addition), the lower end CPLs work just fine.


A filter (a polarizer) acting like a prism should never have left the factory. That was the point of my post about the 'prism'. Ken and Christine's test shows the result of lower quality coatings, it happens to be with UV, but the coatings can cause similar results coated on a CPL as well.

[Jon]

Wilt, that's a UV filter, not a CPL.

I have a Tiffen CPL (not enough time to get a nice one shipped from Hong Kong for a trip) and works well. I've used poor quality UV filters with little success, but as far as I've seen (from borrowing a friend's very expensive CPL in addition), the lower end CPLs work just fine.Tiffen uses the same QC on their polarizers as their UVs. Lest you accuse me of Tiffen-bashing, they also make Domke bags. But their filters are to be avoided.