CPL: Hoya or B+W? What's your opinion?

Need to purchase a CPL for my 15-85. Camera shop guy says Hoya (probably because that is what they carry)...many here say B+W.

Opinions?

I've got a Marumi CPL and it does great.

http://www.lenstip.com …_Results_and_su​mmary.html

another thread concerning the Marumi circular polarizers
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=881844

B+W for me. Excellent quality.

Marumi! 2/3rds the price of the B+W and equal or better optically and mechanically. Hoya is well back in the pack.

PLLphotography wrote in post #14862336
I've got a Marumi CPL and it does great.

http://www.lenstip.com …_Results_and_su​mmary.html

another thread concerning the Marumi circular polarizers
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=881844

+10001

Really, I don't think you can go wrong with any of those 3, providing the Hoya is one of their higher end multi coated filters.

I have Marumi Super DHG, Sigma DG wide, Hoya Pro 1, B+W slim, Heliopan and Moose CPL's. I have used them in various situations and my experience outside of the physical feel of the frame and ease in which it rotates, I see no difference in the image quality. I believe the Marumi was the least expensive of the group.

Well even with the price difference I'm kinda leaning towards the B + W Kaesemann Circular Polarizer MRC Filter from most I've read. I do appreciate all the comments though and am still reading more about the different brands. Hoya seems to be in last place right now. Kinda bothers me when camera stores push things on you only because that is what they stock.

Now the question is wether the "slim" model is that paramount. It's going on a 15-85 which isn't super wide and a lot of folks tell me it's not going to be a problem with vignetting using the stand size. I don't know though. I also heard/read that the slim variety is problematic with getting lens caps on an off so I'd prefer not to have that hassle. Again I'm new at this and just don't know how important the slim would or wouldn't be.

Tests of CPL, including Marumi
http://www.lenstip.com …arizing_filters​_test.html


A thread from a couple years ago on POTN, demonstrating bluish cast from using Marumi CPL
https://photography-on-the.net …p?p=10742659&po​stcount=45

I would have had no hesistation in recommending Hoya S-HMC filters in the past, but judging from some threads on forums, it seems that perhaps Hoya adopted a lower cost manufacturing method in recent times in which the retaining ring comes out and the CPL filter falls into component pieces. (You can readily put it back together again.)

Given the bluish test of Marumi with results easily visible in the link above, that leaves only the B+W as the filter without some issue!

BW.

I chose the Marumi SUPER DHG CPL. It works well for me, it has a slim profile, and can accomodate a front lens cap.

I've used the B+W KSM MRC CPL in the past and it works great. The physical size of the polarizer is bigger and feels more heavy because of the brass construction. I'd say the B+W is more heavy duty compared to the Marumi. You can't go wrong with the B+W

However, Marumi is about 1/2 - 2/3 the price of the B+W KSM MRC CPL but isn't 1/2 the quality of B+W in terms of image quality for me. I haven't noticed a blue cast, but that is because I've never compared CPLs side by side. Nothing a little white balance adjustment couldn't fix.

The B+W KSM CPL is their most expensive version of CPL, and it is more than most folks need;
a B+W non-KSM CPL is less expensive and should be considered as an alternative.

B+W here for all of my filters.

Of recent years, Hoya have suffered because of counterfeiting. As market leader world-wide, they are the obvious target and I think much of the criticism may stem from filters which say Hoya on them but aren't that make. Users without direct access to importers (ie most folks excluding me) need to be wary and certainly avoid unknown sources. I've even read (NO personal experience, of course) that two highly reputable US vendors were scammed with these fakes. So, although Hoya are excellent filters we do need to beware this situation. Matters are further confused by the same filters appearing in some global markets under the Kenko brand (Hoya being part of the Kenko Tokina Group). The genuine Hoya / Kenko HD and Pro1Digital CPLs are extremely good - the genuine ones.

B+W are a great make benefitting by association with Schneider Optical. They used to make much of their brass mounts on the basis that aluminium mounts can bind with aluminium lens threads. This is not exactly untrue, but with anodising it's not exactly the problem portrayed. The optical quality is extremely good. They are also the only mainstream maker of sealed edge Käsemann units generally available (yes, there are other makers but they're quite hard to get hold of and somewhat overpriced).

Marumi actually pre-date both Hoya and B+W as specialist filter makers - they had a huge European presence in the 1960s / 70s as 'Aroma' brand and were often the filter of choice of the informed user. The quality remains to this day, along with quite advantageous prices. From my own experience, the Marumi Super DHG CPL is truly excellent - it lacks the Käsemann edge-sealing of B+W but this is irrelevant for my purposes. It also lacks the price associated with Käsemann construction.

IF you are working in tropical/sub-tropical situations, then the obvious choice would be a B+W KSM CPL. Otherwise I would go for the Marumi - but make sure it's the Super DHG version.

I have B+W & hoya filters, both appear to be top notch!