Advice, Please, On Polarizing Filter Purchase!

I have 2 58mm lenses that need filters. Has anyone got an opinion on this? I now have UV Haze filters on them, but want to add the polarizing filters to my equipment choices. I am ordering from B&H. I also read the thread about difficulty cleaning some types. I don't clean my filters that much, but don't want to have spend a lot of time on it.

Thanks, in advance.

SuzyView
20D, 10D, EOS 3
50 1.4, 85 1.8, 28-135 IS, 28-105 USM, etc.

If the lenses are the same size, you don't need more than one polarizing filter. It isn't like you'd want to keep it on your lens all the time.

I always keep the UV Haze on it and I absolutely hate changing lenses mid-shoot. If I know it's going to be sunny out, I would just like to keep the filter on the lens and not switch. I only have the polarizing filter on my 19-35 Tamron and need to know if it's worth getting and which filter works well. Thanks.

SuzyView

Just be aware there are are only a few specific circumstances in which you benefit from a polarizing filter. If you use one outside of these circumatances, you are losing valuable light without getting any benefit. If you want I'd recommend getting a good, multi-coated circular polarizer (e.g., Hoya, B+W, etc.). Looking at your lenses, it doesn't look like you'll need to be concerned with having to pay extra for a thin one.

I have a 58mm Tiffen CPL for my kit lens and a 52mm Sunpak CPL for my 50f1.8. Both do a good job as i expected.

Regardless of how much or how little the occasion may arise for using a polarizer, you need one. Circular polarizer with multi-coating, either Hoya S-HMC or B+W multicoated for brands. Hoyas are supposed to be harder to clean -most of mine are Hoya so I don't have any real basis for comparison, but I haven't noticed any particular headaches.

When purchasing my filter, I was catering for my wide angle (as it sounds like you've read) and couldn't get a narrow B+W with a front thread, so I went with Hoya. A friend recommended B+W to me, plus many people on here like them and as you mentioned, are apparently easier to clean. If the B+W was an option for me, I would have gone with them. So if it was me looking for a filter for the lenses you have listed, I'd go with B+W.

On the other hand, if budget is really important to you, the equivalent B+W is about $14 more expensive than the Hoya (chicken feed really). FYI: I just received my Hoya Pro1 today and I've been paranoid about getting smudges on it, until I can get myself to a store that sells the special cleaning fluid people have mentioned. I did manage to get a little smudge on it, and it came off easily with a good quality microfiber-type lens cloth. Bigger smudges could be another thing, but I'm not going to deliberately test that theory!

I use the Cokin "P" system for my 70-200 f2.8L (77mm). One of the many filters that I have is a warming circular polarizer made by Singh-Ray. I've got a couple of different adapters so this is a very versatile and expandable filter system. It's easy to install and it's easy to stack filters. I can't say enough good things about this system.

I also have a 58mm circular polarizer made by Hoya. At this moment I can't remember which lens it's for I bought it before I bought the Cokin system.

Concerning UV-1 filters- Up until recently I have used a UV-1 as a lens protector. I realize that not using a UV-1 is considered heresy by some but it will degrade the quality of the photograph... albeit by a tiny amount that may not be discernable to the human eye.

Stay the frick away from quantaray. Wolf! These guy's seem to wanna screw ya

B+W

I went to the new Ritz shop, 15 minutes from my house, just to see what they had. I realized I actually had a Quantaray P filter somewhere because I found the little case it comes in with my, you know, the place where you keep the cases of equipment you use. Well, I think the filter was on the lens I gave my niece. Oh well. At least it was a cheap filter. Wanted to remember how much I paid for it at Ritz. Went there, wasn't impressed, but a salesman did come up to me and asked if I knew what I needed. I told him I needed a CP filter for my 58mm lens kit. He paused and said, "I guess you're not interested in the Quantaray ones, then?" I said, "I was wondering if you had any Canon ones (knowing they probably didn't have anything really good, maybe TIFFEN)." He looked a little and then we found a Canon 58 UV Haze one for $15. SOLD. I left, not looking at anything else. That place has nothing! I was so disappointed, again.

SuzyView - Understand that whole Ritz thing all too well

tdaugharty wrote:
Stay the frick away from quantaray. Wolf! These guy's seem to wanna screw ya

B+W

You threw me for a loop there for a second. I thought that Singh-Ray had changed their name and gone to pot since Galen Rowell passed away . I like the Singh-Ray filter line. They are a bit pricey but their quaility is top notch.

When I lived in Denver I used to have access to Mike's Camera. It's a wonderful store (at least it was. I haven't been there in a while). Now that I live away from any decent photography stores I rely on B&H for my photography needs. So far I have been very happy with B&H. There was a Ritz Camera in Denver. I went there once and I was disappointed.