Learned my lesson, bought a B+W Circ Polarizer! I learned the hard way that this is one area where you don't buy cheap. I first bought a Tiffen (coating peeled/came off), then paid a...

Greenguy33 Loc: Rhode Island

I learned the hard way that this is one area where you don't buy cheap.
I first bought a Tiffen (coating peeled/came off), then paid a little more for a Hoya (coating came off in one spot and left a big spot on pictures). Now I bought a B+W circular polarizing filter. I love that it comes with its own cap, so I don't risk scratching the filter trying to put my lens cap on.

phlash46 Loc: Westchester County, New York

You do get what you pay for.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

A very good choice!

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

When buying a filter, B+W is my preferred brand.

Greenguy33 Loc: Rhode Island

From what most people have said on this forum, I will only buy B+W from now on!
Thanks Hedgehoggers! :thumbup:

btw...Is it pronounced B and W, or B plus W? I have heard it pronounced both ways.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Greenguy33 wrote:

I learned the hard way that this is one area where you don't buy cheap.
I first bought a Tiffen (coating peeled/came off), then paid a little more for a Hoya (coating came off in one spot and left a big spot on pictures). Now I bought a B+W circular polarizing filter. I love that it comes with its own cap, so I don't risk scratching the filter trying to put my lens cap on.

I have used Tiffen and Hoya for years. Never an issue with them.

bioteacher Loc: Brooklyn, NY

Greenguy33 wrote:

I learned the hard way that this is one area where you don't buy cheap.
I first bought a Tiffen (coating peeled/came off), then paid a little more for a Hoya (coating came off in one spot and left a big spot on pictures). Now I bought a B+W circular polarizing filter. I love that it comes with its own cap, so I don't risk scratching the filter trying to put my lens cap on.

The cap has come off on my filter previously without me realizing it. There is no lock mechanism so be careful when using the cap.

Greenguy33 Loc: Rhode Island

bioteacher wrote:

The cap has come off on my filter previously without me realizing it. There is no lock mechanism so be careful when using the cap.

Thanks for the heads up! :thumbup:

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

phlash46 wrote:

You do get what you pay for.

That "old saw" is one of the most foolish phrases that distort the thinking or lack there of by the public. If Greenguy had paid five times the price for a Tiffen, then you, Phlash, are saying that the coating would not have pealed off? Ridiculous. We do not necessarily get what you pay for. Example shutter timer for $20 (China Direct EBay) vs $60 (USA Photo supply house).. betcha they are very much the same and made in the same country.

We have gone thru this exercise many times in UHH and shown very well controlled laboratory tests that show that yes there may be a trend of price vs quality, but there are some really surprising non conformers. One as I recall was a Canon filter which was below the price/quality trend line. You were paying for the Canon name. That same "Canon" filter quality may depend on which suppler batch it came from... low bid?

The first thing that comes to my mind is the question... Greenguy, what the heck did you use to clean that CPF that removed the coating? Was that a plastic film? Do you realize that the typical MgF coating etches into the glass surface.. tho very slightly.

There are counterfeit filters out there ...in that case the saw "you get what you pay for certainly does not hold!! I gave references in one of the previous UHH posts:
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-45006-2.html

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

camerapapi wrote:

I have used Tiffen and Hoya for years. Never an issue with them.

Have you never rubbed them hard enough to get that coating off of them? Neither have I. We are in agreement. I have never had coatings come off. I treat optics very carefully. I first rinse with a flood of distilled water alcohol mix with a drop of detergent to remove grit, shake off, allow to dry then use Zeiss lens wipes CAREFULLY. (exception being my eyeglasses, I grind the antiglare off with my fine grit dust ridden polyester cotton shirt..)

I have China Direct filters and never had problems. MgF coating is low cost and of course any factory making filters for USA "name brand" stamped on the ring knows how to make filters without the name brand.

There have been so called "purist" who claim optically ground vs float glass makes a big difference. Of course in price, but the modern manufacturing of float glass is almost equivalent. It is not like antique glass with waves!? This issue was also addressed with several science references. The Governor of NJ however knows better than science... "common sense" (by those who flunked Algebra and 8th grade Science) trumps "confusing scientific answers with +/- values!!

Too much of UHH is filled with opinions! Digital Photography is math, surly is. Optics is designed in these days by computer programing, be it lenses or filters.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Greenguy33 wrote:

I learned the hard way that this is one area where you don't buy cheap.
I first bought a Tiffen (coating peeled/came off), then paid a little more for a Hoya (coating came off in one spot and left a big spot on pictures). Now I bought a B+W circular polarizing filter. I love that it comes with its own cap, so I don't risk scratching the filter trying to put my lens cap on.

B+W is what I buy.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

I own many different brands of CPL filters, and none of them show any signs of coating coming off. (With the exception of a 1950's Kodak drop-in linear polarizing filter, but that's to be expected.) Either you have a very rare, defective dud or you are seriously mishandling it, like washing it in turpentine.