Why BRASS B+W filters? (vs. alloy)

I don't get it...what's the big deal with having a brass filter vs. the normal alloy ones? Is it really worth the price difference? How are they any better?

thanks,
-Tamas

Brass doesn't react to other metals like normal alloys do...if you leave a filter on your lens for an extended period of time...you might have a difficult time removing it unless it is the brass variety.

Woolburr wrote in post #6421344
Brass doesn't react to other metals like normal alloys do...if you leave a filter on your lens for an extended period of time...you might have a difficult time removing it unless it is the brass variety.

Only if the lens-side thread is also brass...

foxbat wrote in post #6421790
Only if the lens-side thread is also brass...

Nope.
A brass filter will not lock itself onto a lens (by corrosion).
An alloy filter might.

René Damkot wrote in post #6421988
Nope.
A brass filter will not lock itself onto a lens (by corrosion).
An alloy filter might.

I meant heat expansion due to differing materials on each side of the thread. The absolute worst filter I have for getting stuck is a brass B+W KSM polarizer. Twice it's become so stuck to a 17-40 and 400 that I've had to give up trying to get it off in-situ and go find a location that approximates the same temperature as it was when I put it on.

Actually, brass is an alloy (a mix of primary elements). I think that a better term would be "aluminum" instead of "alloy" to refer to filter rings made with material other than brass. There might be other metals besides brass and aluminum (though I have not seen any) used for filter rings.

I've never had any problems at all with decent quality filters using aluminum rings. Most of the good filters I have seen made with aluminum rings are coated with a fairly hard coating and don't corrode as a result.

If you ever get a chance to play with the two versions (one in each hand) the brass just feels more sturdy and higher quality and like it will last and take more abuse. Thats why I go with brass only.

I suspect strongly that, with the ever increasing utilization of plastics in lens construction, that the issue of aluminum ring binding in aluminum threads is becoming less and less of an issue. I still use brass CPL filters in my BC (before Canon) lenses, sturdy all-metal barrels unlike the AF lenses and engineered plastics of today!

Wilt wrote in post #6424664
I suspect strongly that, with the ever increasing utilization of plastics in lens construction, that the issue of aluminum ring binding in aluminum threads is becoming less and less of an issue. I still use brass CPL filters in my BC (before Canon) lenses, sturdy all-metal barrels unlike the AF lenses and engineered plastics of today!

ENGINEERED plastics are very good eg CFRP is an engineered plastic, and trust me a well engineered carbon fibre camera or lens will take more abuse and be lighter, and even more sturdy than a metal one ever would

pendulum15 wrote in post #6426061
ENGINEERED plastics are very good eg CFRP is an engineered plastic, and trust me a well engineered carbon fibre camera or lens will take more abuse and be lighter, and even more sturdy than a metal one ever would

You make it sound as if I had a rant about plastics...excuse me I am NOT biased against plastic! I merely stated that I had brass on my metal lenses (all of my Olympus and Bronica lenses and large format lenses!) and I have never voiced any negative opinion about the build of any Canon lens.

Wilt wrote in post #6426738
You make it sound as if I had a rant about plastics...excuse me I am NOT biased against plastic! I merely stated that I had brass on my metal lenses (all of my Olympus and Bronica lenses and large format lenses!) and I have never voiced any negative opinion about the build of any Canon lens.

Oh, I thought that you were one of the people who just thought heavy and metal equals hard to break....

LowriderS10 wrote in post #6420359
...what's the big deal with having a brass filter...How are they any better?

Stronger, much less likely to seize and you get the, argumentatively, finest glass in the world-Schott.

jr_senator wrote in post #6431355
Stronger, much less likely to seize and you get the, argumentatively, finest glass in the world-Schott.

And that german glass is any nicer than the japanese glass in your L lens...

not to make a huge deal or anything -- just a point of curiosity really -- but although canon lenses are (mostly) made in japan, does anyone have a clue where their optical glass blocks come from?

I'd assume they don't do the refining themselves, but rather buy/import the glass pre-refined, and ready for cutting/grinding.

Ultimately it doesn't matter of course, but it would be a nice bit of trivia if anyone knows.

pendulum15 wrote in post #6435644
And that german glass is any nicer than the japanese glass in your L lens...

I was driving thru Germany and happened upon the Schneider lens plant, by chance. It was a bit like stumbling upon Jerusalem and its Temple Mount, or the birth location of Buddha. Had I also encountered the Rodenstock plant and the Leica plant in the same trip, all by accident, I would have interpreted that to be a sign from the Supreme Being!