Best 77mm polarizer

Traubrey

Traubrey

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Ray
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Hi

Just bought myself a Nikon 70-200mm VRI and need to get sorted out with a UV, but more importantly, a circular polarizer.

I know it can be a subjective area but are there any CP's that I really need to look at. I'm tempted by the B+W because you can screw it into a B+W UV filter.

Any learned advice always gratefully appreciated.

Thanks

Ray
 
Are you sure you want the BEST from B+W as that would be the £100+ B+W Kaesemann Polarizer :)

You can screw any filter in to any other filter as the all use the same screw thread, now should you use several filters on the lens at the same time is as you suggest going to be very subjective.

I would think any of the multi-coated filters from the like of B+W or Hoya Pro would be fine.

I myself have the Kaesemann Slim and find the effect a little more subtle than my previous bottom of the range HOYA
 
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I had a 77mm hoya hd cp for my 17-55 2.8 IS and it was amazing, easy to clean and very well built
 
whiteflyer said:
Are you sure you want the BEST from B+W as that would be the £100+ B+W Kaesemann Polarizer :)

You can screw any filter in to any other filter as the all use the same screw thread, now should you use several filters on the lens at the same time is as you suggest going to be very subjective.

I would think any of the multi-coated filters from the like of B+W or Hoya Pro would be fine.

I myself have the Kaesemann Slim and find the effect a little more subtle than my previous bottom of the range HOYA
Click to expand...

As whiteflyer said above the best B&W are the Kaesmann range, I have on in 105mm and will not swap it for love nor money.
 
Hoya HD is the best CPL, bar none. It's especially good for a longer lens if you shoot motorsport (to reduce windscreen reflections) because you often need all the shutter speed you can get and it cuts the overall exposure by only 1.2 stops instead of the more usual 1.8-ish. It also takes another filter in the front, as most do, but stacking filters is not a great idea.

Marumi DHG is good value, especially the Super version with waterproof coating. B+W's MRC coating is excellent, but otherwise nothing special for the money.
 
I use a Lee CPL (I've got the square but will upgrade to the 105mm and adaptor when I find one at reasonable money) which has the advantage of being really easy to fit to different lenses (without having to use stepping rings). For example I'm at the airport now going to Dubrovnik on holiday, one CPL will do my 24-105 on my 1Ds and also the 80mm f2.8 on my Mamiya.
 
Thank you so much for your learned advice. It's much appreciated. Time to start looking at the recommendations and making a purchase.

Thanks again and enjoy your Sunday.

Raymond
 
If you dont want to splash out on the Hoya HD, go for the Hoya Pro 1, which still has loads of coatings (just a couple less than the HD IIRC) and the same supurb polarising element.
 
Traubrey said:
Hi

Just bought myself a Nikon 70-200mm VRI and need to get sorted out with a UV, but more importantly, a circular polarizer..
Click to expand...

I use Nikon NC (neutral clear) filters on my lens's & also have a B+W slim 77mm CPL filter (not the kass version couldn't afford that) but I spose it depends on how much you want to spend on a CP filter....
 
odd jim said:
If you dont want to splash out on the Hoya HD, go for the Hoya Pro 1, which still has loads of coatings (just a couple less than the HD IIRC) and the same supurb polarising element.
Click to expand...

They're completely different filters Jim, the polarising foil is not the same and the multi-coating is not water-resistant on the Pro-1.

Marumi DHG Super is a cheaper alternative to the Hoya HD.

NB I recently spent a great deal of time testing a dozen of the best CPLs for Advanced Photographer magazine :)
 
HoppyUK said:
.... I recently spent a great deal of time testing a dozen of the best CPLs for Advanced Photographer magazine :)
Click to expand...


What's your personal opinion on the best filter to have :shrug:
 
Trig's said:
What's your personal opinion on the best filter to have :shrug:
Click to expand...

See post #7 ;)

Edit: in terms of basic polarising ability - to darken blue skies and reduce reflections - they are all the same, even the cheapest.
 
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HoppyUK said:
They're completely different filters Jim, the polarising foil is not the same and the multi-coating is not water-resistant on the Pro-1.

Marumi DHG Super is a cheaper alternative to the Hoya HD.

NB I recently spent a great deal of time testing a dozen of the best CPLs for Advanced Photographer magazine :)
Click to expand...

My mistake, I thought the difference is in the coatings! Maybe I'll trade in my Pro 1s afterall then!
 
Nobody has mentioned the Singh ray polariser yet.

The original question was for the BEST. It is a abyss away from the others mentioned, even the B&W kaesmann doesn't come close. It is good, but so much thicker and heavier. I have them, and Hoya but the Singh ray is simly streets ahead in clarity and quality. You would expect that at around £350 for the 77m version though, wouldn't you.:thumbs:
 
Lensflare said:
Nobody has mentioned the Singh ray polariser yet..... You would expect that at around £350 for the 77m version though, wouldn't you.:thumbs:
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:eek: I found it bad enough to spend around £90 on a cpl let alone £350 :bonk:
 
Lensflare said:
Nobody has mentioned the Singh ray polariser yet.

The original question was for the BEST. It is a abyss away from the others mentioned, even the B&W kaesmann doesn't come close. It is good, but so much thicker and heavier. I have them, and Hoya but the Singh ray is simly streets ahead in clarity and quality. You would expect that at around £350 for the 77m version though, wouldn't you.:thumbs:
Click to expand...

Sorry Simon, but I just don't believe it.

The current Singh Ray CPL uses the same type of light-toned polarising foil as the Hoya HD (as do others, like Hama and Formatt HiTech) but otherwise they are nothing special - apart from the price. They're not even multi-coated.

And no, I haven't tested one. They are not available in the UK and it didn't seem worthwhile importing one just to prove it. I doubt that Singh Ray know anything that Hoya, B+W, Heliopan, Tiffen, Marumi, Sigma, Lee, Cokin, Formatt, Nikon, Canon etc - do not.
 
Hi

Thanks for all your learned advice. I think I'm going to plump for the B+W CPL.

Thanks again for taking the time to help. Much appreciated.

Ray
 
Hi

Does anyone have an thoughts on Nikon CPL? It's certainly a premium priced product and one would assume they are great but...
 
got chatting to an old timer last weekend out with the camera at a summer fete. He started out in 1969 and has used just about every make and bit of kit you can think of.

i was surprised that he told me the best filters he's ever used were Nikon :shrug:
and he's a Canon user... he then went on to say he can't stand Canon and would change all his gear over to Nikon if he wasn't just a hobbyist these days.
 
Maybe in the past the best filters were Nikon - but now?
 
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