Cheap CPL filters: Hi all! I am planning a trip to High Island Tx soon for the spring bird migration. Since there can a lot of bright sunlight and reflections I invested in a B&W CPL...

MikieLBS Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

Hi all! I am planning a trip to High Island Tx soon for the spring bird migration. Since there can a lot of bright sunlight and reflections I invested in a B&W CPL filter for my Nikon 200-500 lens. I plan to also take my 28-300 along but the only CPL filter I have for it is a cheap Vivatar Series 1.

So, my question is "Should I use the cleap Vivatar or would the overall quality be better without it?".

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Filters are part of the optical system you use. Would you want a cheap lens for this trip? B+W is the best choice, which you've already made with your 200~500. Don't slight yourself, and especially your photography.
--Bob

MikieLBS wrote:

Hi all! I am planning a trip to High Island Tx soon for the spring bird migration. Since there can a lot of bright sunlight and reflections I invested in a B&W CPL filter for my Nikon 200-500 lens. I plan to also take my 28-300 along but the only CPL filter I have for it is a cheap Vivatar Series 1.

So, my question is "Should I use the cleap Vivatar or would the overall quality be better without it?".

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

You should be OK. Keep the filter and lens surface clean.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Presumably you'll use the CPL for more than just this one trip. Get a good one.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Why not use the appropriate adapter ring and move it to the other lens when needed, or is the diameter of your B&W too small for the 28-300?

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

That would work, TriX. The filter for the 200~500 is a 95mm. The 28~300 is a 77mm dia. One ring to adapt the 95 to 77.
--Bob

TriX wrote:

Why not use the appropriate adapter ring and move it to the other lens when needed, or is the diameter of your B&W too small for the 28-300?

MikieLBS Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

Thanks for all the suggestions. My finances are limited after investing in a Nikon 200-500 and 1.4x teleconverter so a good cpl filter for the 28-300 will have to wait.

TriX wrote:

Why not use the appropriate adapter ring and move it to the other lens when needed, or is the diameter of your B&W too small for the 28-300?

rmalarz wrote:

That would work, TriX. The filter for the 200~500 is a 95mm. The 28~300 is a 77mm dia. One ring to adapt the 95 to 77.
--Bob

Thanks Bob and Trix! That was very helpful. I just pushed the button on a 95-77mm step up adapter. Now, if I can just remember where I put my camera.....

10MPlayer Loc: California

I found out the hard way cheap is cheap. I was shooting pictures of sea birds flying overhead and found in certain light there was a mysterious circle in them. It was in the deep blue of the sky and appeared as a lighter area that took up about 75% of the area. I took them to an instructor at the local Learning Exchange. First thing he asked was did I use a cheap filter. Of course I just I just posted on another thread telling the guy how I bought cheap off brand batteries and had a great experience with them. As someone said above, it's part of the optics system. Go for the best you can afford.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Cheap CPL filter is better than none at all if what you're shooting benefits from a CPL filter. I have a few cheap CPL filters (including the Vivatar Series 1) as well as some mid-priced CPL filters, and in most cases I do not notice a difference in the resulting images.

Grnway Loc: Manchester, NH

rmalarz wrote:

Filters are part of the optical system you use. Would you want a cheap lens for this trip? B+W is the best choice, which you've already made with your 200~500. Don't slight yourself, and especially your photography.
--Bob

Better the step up ring than a separate cheap CPL.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

MikieLBS wrote:

Hi all! I am planning a trip to High Island Tx soon for the spring bird migration. Since there can a lot of bright sunlight and reflections I invested in a B&W CPL filter for my Nikon 200-500 lens. I plan to also take my 28-300 along but the only CPL filter I have for it is a cheap Vivatar Series 1.

So, my question is "Should I use the cleap Vivatar or would the overall quality be better without it?".

Not knowing the sizes for the two lenses, I would suggest possibly using a step-up or step-down ring and only take the good filter.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

MikieLBS wrote:

Hi all! I am planning a trip to High Island Tx soon for the spring bird migration. Since there can a lot of bright sunlight and reflections I invested in a B&W CPL filter for my Nikon 200-500 lens. I plan to also take my 28-300 along but the only CPL filter I have for it is a cheap Vivatar Series 1.

So, my question is "Should I use the cleap Vivatar or would the overall quality be better without it?".

If you have been using the series 1 filter and are happy with it keep it. Do some comparison shots with both and see if you can tell the difference.
And use with and without the filter and look to see if there is a noticeable difference.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

MikieLBS wrote:

Hi all! I am planning a trip to High Island Tx soon for the spring bird migration. Since there can a lot of bright sunlight and reflections I invested in a B&W CPL filter for my Nikon 200-500 lens. I plan to also take my 28-300 along but the only CPL filter I have for it is a cheap Vivatar Series 1.

So, my question is "Should I use the cleap Vivatar or would the overall quality be better without it?".

I use Vivitar series 1 with no complaints.

Having said that, overall optical image quality will ALWAYS be better without ANY filter....

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

At the top of the UHH page there is a search and type in CPL and you will find lots of reading on this topic. Also Google will give you many .... a lot has to do with what is in the sandwich... the 1/4 wave disrupter.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

MikieLBS wrote:

Hi all! I am planning a trip to High Island Tx soon for the spring bird migration. Since there can a lot of bright sunlight and reflections I invested in a B&W CPL filter for my Nikon 200-500 lens. I plan to also take my 28-300 along but the only CPL filter I have for it is a cheap Vivatar Series 1.

So, my question is "Should I use the cleap Vivatar or would the overall quality be better without it?".

I use my pricey Marumi CPLs only when I want a polarizer. I use Xume magnetic adapters. Cheap might be okay, but probably not.

http://www.lenstip.com/index.php?art=139
http://www.lenstip.com/139.25-article-Polarizing_filters_test_2015_Results_and_summary.html