Choosing CPL + ND filter setup

I am looking to buy both a CPL and ND filter.

I currently have 70-200mm F4 and 17-55 2.8 (67mm and 77mm filters)

As far as I am aware, there are two options:
- A filter for a thread size
- A "kit" which holds the filter and you can basically use it on any filter size - provided you have the largest filter size to start with

How do you even go about choosing which route to go down? My friend using the holder/steppers for his ND filter kit and it seems like a bit of a hassle. I really don't know anything about this besides that I use a decent UV filter on my lens at all times

Thanks for any help...

kaitlyn2004 wrote in post #10463415
I am looking to buy both a CPL and ND filter.

I currently have 70-200mm F4 and 17-55 2.8 (67mm and 77mm filters)

As far as I am aware, there are two options:
- A filter for a thread size
- A "kit" which holds the filter and you can basically use it on any filter size - provided you have the largest filter size to start with

How do you even go about choosing which route to go down? My friend using the holder/steppers for his ND filter kit and it seems like a bit of a hassle. I really don't know anything about this besides that I use a decent UV filter on my lens at all times

Thanks for any help...

CPL- buy screw on - 2 choices
1- Buy one for the biggest lens (77mm) and then buy a step up ring for your other lens
2- buy 2, one 77 and one 67

ND
just ND or GND also?
either way i would go with a square system. you can find a lot of info on people's recommendations. you can use a holder, but then you must buy the right size screw on CPL for each lens. you can also hand hold the square in front of the lens, which is what i do. i dont use them a lot so this is fine for me.

For the cpl - can u link me to a step up ring or whatever ? Don't think I have actually ever seen one...

When using a basic CPL, I prefer to have one in each lens size...makes life a lot easier. I only started using step rings after buying a few Singh-Ray specialty filters that are sometimes only available in 77mm size. Step rings can be extremely cheap or somewhat expensive, for what they are. However, that being said, I'd recommend a B+W step ring...they're about $20 each or so, versus $9 or so for the crappy cheapos. But for the small price differential, the quality of the B+W is steps above the cheapo...the filter threads on very easily, and ditto when removing the filter from the ring and the ring from the lens. I tried a few cheapos, and their quality is reflective of the cheap price...the threading feels rough, making it sometimes difficult to put on and remove the filter. Not so with the B+W ring...on and off like butter. Here's a link to one at B&H:

B+W 67-77 step ring

I own probably 30 different brands of filters . I prefer B+W Kasserman cpl - brass . The B+W cpl can give up to 2 stops depending on light conditions - Hoya's up to 1 1/2 stops .
You don't need slim ones - I don't on my 10-22 .
By the way I also keep hoods on all my lenses all time time - more likely than not they are reversed .
I have Hoya's but they are hard to clean - I only carry Hoya's as a spare / loaner .
I have 2 filter pouches on the camera strap one holds spare cards and one filter . the other has 2 spare filters .
I also have a UV on lens all the time unless using the cpl .
I carry at least 2 of each filter with me and have more in camera bag . It is easier to change a filter than clean a filter or lens in field .
Years ago I got away from the square and rectangular filters - then the good ones were glass and the mounts were metal - they broke , scratched lenses and I cleaned the ND off a couple .
Check with 2filters.com on prices .

I found this filter... WHOA expensive!
http://maxsaver.net …lar-Polarizer-Filter.aspx

Do I not need MRC for a polarizer or something? I'm buying my MRC UV filters from maxsaver for $50ish on average... extra $100 for the CPL?

The UV can / will sometimes cut down on glare , haze and flare . It is used by most people as a lens protector .
The KSM is weather sealed , makes greens - greener blues - bluer , etc . The max benifet is at 90 [LEFT or right] degrees to sun [there is a dot on filter that you adjust to point at sun] A cpl can and is often used as an adjustable ND filter .
The B+W Kasserman is the top of the line CPL .
There is also a filter called a moose filter . - it ain't cheap either - do a web seach on it .

Is there a more affordable cpl option then? One that isn't 150 but also doesn't suck...?

kaitlyn2004 wrote in post #10471137
Is there a more affordable cpl option then? One that isn't 150 but also doesn't suck...?

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

Pretty self explanatory there. If you want to read more about the test they really break it down well as to how they did it. However, IMO the results speak for themselves.

I will be looking into a Marumi CPL once I get some funds saved up. 2filter.com is a great place to buy filters. The Marumi CPL is $114 in the 77mm size.

I Have bought from maxsaver and everyone says they are good/genuine. Is 2filters.com the same story?

kaitlyn2004 wrote in post #10471222
I Have bought from maxsaver and everyone says they are good/genuine. Is 2filters.com the same story?

Maxsaver is based out of Hong Kong. They might be a few bucks cheaper, but shipping will take much longer.

2filter.com is based in New Hampshire, USA and also offers free shipping on orders over $66. Their customer service is great as well. I prefer to support a business in the US.

kaitlyn2004 wrote in post #10471007
I found this filter... WHOA expensive!
http://maxsaver.net …lar-Polarizer-Filter.aspx

Do I not need MRC for a polarizer or something? I'm buying my MRC UV filters from maxsaver for $50ish on average... extra $100 for the CPL?

That's not a bad price at all for one of the best CPL's on the market. Do yourself a favor...stay away from the cheap, bargain-priced CPL filters...you'll regret buying one, it'll most likely end up as a drink coaster, and you'll spend more money on top of that for a good filter anyway. One key rule with filters: No filter is better than a crappy filter.

Maxsaver is legitimate...with the exception of a few Singh-Ray specialty polarizers, all of my filters are B+W and they all came from maxsaver/hvstar. The Marumi CPL tends to leave a heavy blue cast to the images...just search the Accessories forum, several threads on it with pictures. B+W is pretty much tops...excellent construction, brass rings, top quality glass. You get what you pay for when it comes to filters...

IMO, except for shooting in adverse conditions, the UV filter is absolutely useless as long as you have the lens hood in place. I basically keep a single UV filter in each of a few different sizes, but not a UV for each and every lens...I use one when needed, otherwise it stays in the bag. If you cut back on the number of UV filters, you can put the savings towards a good polarizer...

I use the uv filters for protection. I know some people always go bare while others do not. I fall into the second category and that isn't changing

So there are these 4:

http://maxsaver.net …Filter-NEW-F-PRO-CPL.aspx
http://maxsaver.net …larizer-C-POL-Filter.aspx
http://maxsaver.net …lar-Polarizer-Filter.aspx
http://maxsaver.net …lar-Polarizer-Filter.aspx

I don't believe I need SLIM on my 17-55, right?

None of them are multicoated unless I missed something, so how do you choose one of another? The first is basically double the price of the last...

Also, I read somewhere about some B+W CPLs actually being linear... are all of those DEFINITELY circular polarizers?

No, you won't need slim on your 17-55. The PRO1 you linked to is multi-coated. I would recommend you stick to multi-coated filters. They help reduce glare and make them easier to clean in some cases. Most manufacturers offer both linear and circular polarizers. All the ones you linked to have "circular" in the title, so you're fine.

I would recommend not cheaping out on this item. It can be sticker shock looking at these, especially for a 77mm filter size, but when you're putting them on the sort of lenses you own, you want high quality. Also look at the Hoya HD CPL at Maxsaver. They have it for a fantastic price.