dparker708 wrote:
Can anyone recommend a good circular polarizer for my Canon 24-70 lens?
B+W F-Pro or XS-Pro... Best value in a top quality C-Pol!
You probably need an 82mm for that lens (earlier version of it used 77mm).
$137 for a B+W F-pro 82mm C-Pol. This filter uses German Schott glass, Kaesemann design (foils and weather sealing), and uses a relatively low profile brass frame (less likely to get stuck). It's a "high transmissive" type of C-Pol, which isn't as dark as most and allows approx. 3/4 stop more light to pass. The F-Pro also has very good 8-layer multi-coatings.
$143 B+W XS-Pro is the same in all specs, except it uses a "slim" frame (not necessary on a 24mm lens, the F-Pro works fine on my Canon 24-70mm, even though it uses the 77mm). More importantly, the XS-Pro has 16-layer "Nano" multi-coating that's more resistant to water, oil and scratches. It makes the filter easier to clean, compared to standard multi-coatings.
Compare to....
Heliopan 82mm High Transmission C-Pol with virtually identical specs as XS-Pro.... $241 (choice of standard or slim)
Sony T* (Zeiss?) 82mm C-Pol... $228
Hoya 82mm HD3 C-Pol... $224
Heliopan 82mm C-Pol (not High Trans)... $220 (choice of standard or slim)
Zeiss T* 82mm C-Pol... $203
Nikon 82mm C-Pol II... $179
Hoya 82mm EVO Antistatic C-Pol... $170
Hoya 82mm NXT C-Pol... $150
Yes, there are also some less expensive than B+W, but they are typically lower spec or a company I don't recognize.
I've used B+W filters for many years (also Hoya and others). I'm happy with them and they are still my first choice most of the time. But just for fun I recently bought a couple K&F Concept C-Pol to see what they're like (43mm and 72mm). Supposedly the "green" version I bought also uses Schott glass and has 18-layer "Nano" multi-coating. They aren't "high transmissive" and don't use Kaesemann foils (which I think may be exclusive to B+W). I don't know if they are sealed for weather resistance and the frame is slim, but aluminum. But, by being made in China they're CHEAP! B&H Photo has them in 82mm size for $50! (I bought direct from China for even less, but it took a few weeks to get them here.) I haven't used these K&F filters enough to say how good of bad they are, or to be able to truly recommend them... So if you decide to give them a try, you're buying at your own risk! I can tell you they LOOK decent (no problems with stiff rotation or threading onto lenses, with on the ones I got). We'll have to wait and see how a bunch images done with them look...That's what's important, after all. They are just about the least expensive multi-coated CPL anyone makes with Schott glass.