Please, a suggestion for a polarizing filter: I would like to purchase some filters for my lenses, starting with my Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for which I would...

howdysmom Loc: the Northwoods of Wisconsin

I would like to purchase some filters for my lenses, starting with my Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for which I would want a polarizing filter. I know they vary greatly in price; is there a decent one in the $50 range? Also, can someone explain how the step-up and step-down rings work? Is that the way to go when a person has a variety of mm sizes? Any help with the filter question would be great.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

B+W and Hoya make about the best CPL filters. As for size, buy a filter to fit your largest lens and buy step-up rings to adapt that filter to your smaller lenses. You will never have vignetting issues that way and you'll save a lot of money on filters.

howdysmom Loc: the Northwoods of Wisconsin

Grateful for the advice.

RTR Loc: West Central Alabama

MT Shooter wrote:

B+W and Hoya make about the best CPL filters. As for size, buy a filter to fit your largest lens and buy step-up rings to adapt that filter to your smaller lenses. You will never have vignetting issues that way and you'll save a lot of money on filters.

That's what I did and MT S is right, no vignetting. However, those 77mm filters look odd fitted to my kit lens that takes 52mm filters :)

Kestrel1029 Loc: Philadelphia, PA

MT Shooter wrote:

B+W and Hoya make about the best CPL filters. As for size, buy a filter to fit your largest lens and buy step-up rings to adapt that filter to your smaller lenses. You will never have vignetting issues that way and you'll save a lot of money on filters.

Can you still use the lens hood?

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

What is right for me might not be right for you but I buy a polariser for each of my lenses.
I don't like step up/down rings

Bill Emmett Loc: Bow, New Hampshire

I just took delivery of a new Canon EF 70-200mm f4.0L USM lens. The filter size is the largest of my working lenses, 67mm. I'll buy a B+W or a Hoya before Spring. The lens came with a UV filter, I'll use it until I can afford a better one.
It came with a Zeikos filter. I have no experience with this brand of filter. Any UHHs have some input about this filter.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

B+W pro is usually my first choice, then Hoya if I can't find b+w in stock.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

I just went on B& H and looked at the circular polarizing filters for my 58mm lens. Both Hoya and B+W. There are many to choose from. In a price range from $24 to $115. How do you choose which one is the best for what you are doing? I hope this fits into the question by the OP.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

B+w mrc coating. Usually, the thinner the better, but that usually costs more.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/9773-REG/B_W_66044840.html

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Kestrel1029 wrote:

MT Shooter wrote:

B+W and Hoya make about the best CPL filters. As for size, buy a filter to fit your largest lens and buy step-up rings to adapt that filter to your smaller lenses. You will never have vignetting issues that way and you'll save a lot of money on filters.

Can you still use the lens hood?

When using a filter that is larger than your lens threads you cannot use the original hoods. I solve the issue with a collapsible rubber lens hood, it attaches to the filter itself, and even allows you to turn the ring of a polarizer simply by turning the hood. One filter, one hood, and a few step up rings, and extra room in your camera bag. Win-win situation.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Country's Mama wrote:

I just went on B& H and looked at the circular polarizing filters for my 58mm lens. Both Hoya and B+W. There are many to choose from. In a price range from $24 to $115. How do you choose which one is the best for what you are doing? I hope this fits into the question by the OP.

"Cheap" filters of any kind will make a mess of your images. Stick with good filters, always coated, and name brands, and you will never be disappointed. All my filters are either B+W, HOYA, Tiffen or Nikon. Filters are as important an investment as your lens is, choose them wisely.

haroldross Loc: Walthill, Nebraska

Bill Emmett wrote:

I just took delivery of a new Canon EF 70-200mm f4.0L USM lens. The filter size is the largest of my working lenses, 67mm. I'll buy a B+W or a Hoya before Spring. The lens came with a UV filter, I'll use it until I can afford a better one.
It came with a Zeikos filter. I have no experience with this brand of filter. Any UHHs have some input about this filter.

The Zeikos brand is a cheap generic brand. The Hoya or B+W brands are far superior. Besides the glass being poorer in the Zeikos filters, the aluminum rings sometimes have bad threading on them that can ruin the threads on the end of you lens.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

Ok so avoid the aluminum rings. Both the name brands you listed have some filters with aluminum rings. Hoya has at least two with aluminum rings one at each end of the price scale. And B+W has many aluminum rings. Or are you saying the cheap aluminum rings are bad.

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

howdysmom wrote:

I would like to purchase some filters for my lenses, starting with my Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for which I would want a polarizing filter. I know they vary greatly in price; is there a decent one in the $50 range? Also, can someone explain how the step-up and step-down rings work? Is that the way to go when a person has a variety of mm sizes? Any help with the filter question would be great.

$50 is a cheap filter! The Canon 70-200 f/2.8 is one of the best lenses Canon sells... Don't spoil it with a cheap filter. Your budget needs to be more than twice this. B+W is a good brand to start with.