BigWahoo Loc: Kentucky

I am looking for a Circular Polarizing Filter.

I am seeing coated and non-coated.

What is the advantage/disadvantages of either.

I see that Hoya filters are about in the middle of the prize range. Are they of acceptable quality?

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Hoya is a good quality product. They also produce the glass for a number of other filter manufacturers.They have several levels of quality/cost. I've never had a problem with them. Coated filters help prevent or lessen reflections, glare, and other such issues in your photos. As a rule, the better the quality of this type of filter the higher the light transmission rate. Those numbers are available on the manufacturer's website.

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

My understanding is that the coating on a CPL primarily acts to lessen or eliminate flair, the same as the coatings on the lens elements. Since you are adding reflective surfaces by installing a polarizing filter, you are increasing the chances of flair. The prime advantage of a coated filter, therefore, is that they can help lessen flair relative to non-coated filters. The disadvantage is that multi-coated filters cost more.

Hoya filters are optically pretty good, and are generally considered to be well built at a reasonable price. However, my preference is for the B+W Kaesemann filter. It costs more than the Hoya but has significantly better build quality, IMHO. The rings are brass, the glass is very well fitted in the filter, and the B+W coatings are considered to be top of the line.

BigWahoo Loc: Kentucky

The B+W Kaesmann is only about $30.00 more than the Hoya pro. 58mm

I hadn't noticed that it had brass rings instead of aluminum. That is enough to make me switch to the B+W.

mikedent Loc: Florida

The aluminum ring filters tend to get "stuck" in the lens threads, really hard to unscrew. That made me switch to B+W with brass threads, no more sticking! Also, another writer posted a testing result showing Hoya had the best UV filters while B+W had the best CPL filters in terms of image quality and light transmission.

MtnMan Loc: ID

Murami is one of the better rated medium priced filters. They are coated to control reflection.

I have read that some coated filters can be difficult to clean. It included some of the more expensive models so be sure to do your homework.

Also, if you plan to use it on a wide-angle lens you want to get a thin CP.