What kind of filter makes colors "pop"?

I saw lots of great photos on here where the person said they used B+W filter. But when I searched I found all kinds of filters for sale. How do I know what to get?

It really depends on what you are taking pictures of. And the type of filter will matter more than the brand.

If you are talking about landscapes with skies, you will want a CPL filter. Get a good name brand multicoated filter. B+W and Hoya are highly recommended on the forum I use a couple Hoyas and they are very nice.

Most generally it'd be a circular polarizer. Get a good quality one; B+W MRC, Heliopan SH-PMC or Hoya S-HMC or HD. I've standardized on B+W MRC.

Its interesting that with digital there typically is only 1 filter recommended.
As a long time kodachrome and velvia shooter I used to use c-pol, warming and enhancing filters.

Circular polariser. Gold and Blue polariser. Solid ND filters (GNDs are useful, but optional).

cameraperson wrote in post #10298122
I saw lots of great photos on here where the person said they used B+W filter.

Did they say anything about a clarity or vibrancy slider in Lightroom 2

They make things "Pop".

westcoaster17 wrote in post #10302445
Its interesting that with digital there typically is only 1 filter recommended.
As a long time kodachrome and velvia shooter I used to use c-pol, warming and enhancing filters.

The polarizer is the one thing that really can't be done with software in post-processing. Many other filter effects can be done pretty easily with software.

swalter wrote in post #10306021
Many other filter effects can be done pretty easily with software.

Except the effects depending on long exposure time, made possible by a ND filter(s).

not strictly a 'filter', but it's also pretty hard to replicate the bokeh effects of changing the effective shape of the aperture or front element.

The best (and first) option would be to ensure that the exposure is dead-on, and the lighting is good. No filter will help a poorly exposed, poorly lit subject, but will enhance one that is.

argyle wrote in post #10306530
The best (and first) option would be to ensure that the exposure is dead-on, and the lighting is good. No filter will help a poorly exposed, poorly lit subject, but will enhance one that is.

Excellent point. Adding a bit of extra contrast and color saturation in post will also make the photos pop.

"pop"... and they say that bokeh is a vague concept...