Best B+W filters that clean easily...

Hey guys, I have a very low end B+W CPL but I found it really detracts from my IQ which is why I never use it. I would be interested in getting a much better B+W CPL but I heard that with more coatings on a lens the more difficult they are to clean of smudges/fingerprints etc. Which would be the best or recommended. Want almost no IQ loss (if possible) and easy to clean.

I have a 110ND 3.0 77mm ND from B+W and its a real pain to keep clean.

What are your suggestions on filters and how to clean them?

Thanks!

I have no problems cleaning my B+W Kaesemann CPL. That said, I prefer using my Marumi DHG Super CPL now (tied for #1 CPL on lenstip.com, cheaper, and I see no practical differences when comparing the two in use).

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

Tony_Stark wrote in post #15241711
Hey guys, I have a very low end B+W CPL but I found it really detracts from my IQ which is why I never use it. I would be interested in getting a much better B+W CPL but I heard that with more coatings on a lens the more difficult they are to clean of smudges/fingerprints etc. Which would be the best or recommended. Want almost no IQ loss (if possible) and easy to clean.

I have a 110ND 3.0 77mm ND from B+W and its a real pain to keep clean.

What are your suggestions on filters and how to clean them?

Thanks!

I thought it was the opposite. The better the coating, the easier to clean. At least that matches my experiences. I've found the Marumi DHG, B+W MRC, and Hoya HD filters very easy to clean. Much easier than non-coated filters I have.

v35skyline wrote in post #15241732
I have no problems cleaning my B+W Kaesemann CPL. That said, I prefer using my Marumi DHG Super CPL now (tied for #1 CPL on lenstip.com, cheaper, and I see no practical differences when comparing the two in use).

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

Nightdiver13 wrote in post #15241763
I thought it was the opposite. The better the coating, the easier to clean. At least that matches my experiences. I've found the Marumi DHG, B+W MRC, and Hoya HD filters very easy to clean. Much easier than non-coated filters I have.

Well this is certainly very encouraging to hear. I have been eyeing B+W MRC filters for a while but avoided them due to what I read/heard. To be honest, don't even remember where I hear this

I think it can also be affected by the cleaning solution you use (if any). I used some spritzy crap I got off the counter at my local brick and mortar shop, and it drove me nuts. Then I picked up some Formula MC from 2filter and that has been super easy to clean off.

I use the following methods to clean (in no particular order, just depends on what's available):

1) Lenspen
2) breath + microfiber
3) ROR (residual oil remover) + microfiber
4) Zeiss lens cleaner + microfiber

Nightdiver13 wrote in post #15241826
I think it can also be affected by the cleaning solution you use (if any). I used some spritzy crap I got off the counter at my local brick and mortar shop, and it drove me nuts. Then I picked up some Formula MC from 2filter and that has been super easy to clean off.

v35skyline wrote in post #15241897
I use the following methods to clean (in no particular order, just depends on what's available):

1) Lenspen
2) breath + microfiber
3) ROR (residual oil remover) + microfiber
4) Zeiss lens cleaner + microfiber

I never used any cleaner actually. Just breath and micro finer cloth. Works really well on my lens front element, but not so well on my filters. My 3.0ND is particularly tough to clean.

I didn't know there was such a thing as a low-end B&W filter. I've always regarded them as excellent.

I think i can clean my B+W filters just by looking at them.

On a more serious note, I only use breath+microfiber as it seems to work well for me.

B+Ws have a coating technology, Nano, designed expressly for ease of cleaning.

goldboughtrue wrote in post #15242483
I didn't know there was such a thing as a low-end B&W filter. I've always regarded them as excellent.

Well what ever the lowest model offered by B+W is, I have that one. Everytime I use it, but IQ suffers immensely.

Tony_Stark wrote in post #15242636
Well what ever the lowest model offered by B+W is, I have that one. Everytime I use it, but IQ suffers immensely.

That's odd. I have a B+W C-Pol that's not even so much as single coated that I use as a beater polarizer when I think the camera has a decent chance of getting something flung back at it. It was the lowest on the B+W totem pole and it performs excellently. It flares like a mother, but otherwise it's top notch IQ and built like a tank.

AFAIK the highest quality filters B+W make are the MRC F-Pro filters.

I found my B+W MRC F-Pro C-Pol harder to clean than my Hoya at least with the microfiber clother. Maybe I just need a new microfiber cleaning cloth other wise I just use a Lenspen and that works very well for my B+W.

Indecent Exposure wrote in post #15242662
That's odd. I have a B+W C-Pol that's not even so much as single coated that I use as a beater polarizer when I think the camera has a decent chance of getting something flung back at it. It was the lowest on the B+W totem pole and it performs excellently. It flares like a mother, but otherwise it's top notch IQ and built like a tank.

I may do some "scientific" tests one of these days, but everytime I used my B+W CPOL on my 24-105 was not pleased with the images at all. You are right about the flaring, very flare prone. When the time comes to pick up some new lens(es) I will be picking up some proper coated B+W filters.