AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Warning: It's 11 minutes of your life you will never be able to get back; eleven minutes that you could have better spent watching the ShamWow and FlexSeal guys...

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=tony+northrup+video+polarier&view=detail&mid=431CA224D12795330710431CA224D12795330710&FORM=VIRE

Andy

Spirit Vision Photography Loc: Behind a Camera.

Andy

You warned me, and we’re correct. I could not even make it to the halfway point. Are people buying into that rubbish?

Thanks

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

There are a lot of photo gurus out there, who through shrewd marketing and clickbait ads - beginning with stuff like "You won't believe!" and "Five easy hacks!" (How I wish that word had stayed in its only legit use - hyphenated in front of "saw"), or "The big companies don't want you to know!" have achieved quite a following.

Yes, people buy a lot of rubbish. And yes, some of these "gurus" are worse than others. I do like Victoria Brampton's "Lightroom Queen" videos, Ken Rockwell's website (with a very comprehensive series of highly opinionated equipment reviews), and virtually all of the B&H Photo videos on YouTube, but there sure is a lot of garbage out there in the area of photography learning.

Andy

Ron Dial Loc: Cuenca, Ecuador

Meyer Optik was an old respected German Lens manufacturer. However, like a lot of old respected companies, it got into financial trouble and was acquired by a subsidiary of Carl Zeiss. But in1991, Feinoptische Werk Görlitz spun Meyer-Optik off again they began again making lenses under the old name: Meyer Optik. But in June 1991, Meyer-Optik was liquidated. A new parent company picked up the name and started making lenses and displayed them in 2014.

In Brief, I'm sure B&H believes that Meyer-optik is a well respected old company making quality lenses and filters, it simply ain't so. They are a new company about which not a lot is understood.

Proceed with Caution

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Andy, I've transitioned to using B+W exclusively. There are a few Hoya holdouts, but that is because of the difficulty in finding some B+W filters. Part of the reason of selecting B+W resulted in a conversation I had with one of their optical engineers. in addition to discussing the engineering that goes behind each of their filters, he talked me out of purchasing one that I wanted, as its results can be unpredictable. That kind of honesty earned my loyalty.

In addition to that, I am particularly fond of the brass instead of aluminum selection they made for materials. That alone got my attention.
--Bob

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Thanks! I'll allocate some GAS money to upgrading those that aren't already B+W. I have a couple of ND filters and an old box of Cokins that I fool around with (for old times' sake) occasionally, but the circular polarizers are the only ones I really need, so it's a no brainer to upgrade.

Andy

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Andy, if your getting a B+W CP make sure it's a nano coated Kaesemann circular polarizer.
--Bob

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Roger that. Will make sure. I think my wife and I have about five different filter sizes between us, and maybe 2-3 Hoyas to upgrade before I hit the B+Ws. I appreciate the detailed, technically supported, and specific recommendations.

Andy

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Andy, if your getting filters for various lens diameters, purchase one filter for the larger diameter and use adapter rings to fit the larger filter to the smaller diameter lenses. The adapters are a few bucks, as opposed to another filter which could be $100+.
--Bob

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Good advice for the OP and anyone reading this as well.

I've done this since my film days, when a simple step up ring allowed me to use the same filters on both the 49mm Takumars and 52mm Nikkors. With the number of color correction and b/w filters I used back then it was great to buy everything in Nikkor size and be able to thread a step up on all of the Taks and Supertaks that took the 49. One set of filters, and I would rarely, if ever, take out two separate systems on a shoot.

Our problem is complicated a little because we don't always shoot together, so we have to be a little bit redundant. I think the Sigma 10-20mm is our largest filter at 77mm so it ought to be good for the 72 size of the 18-300 as well. My walkaround Nikon 18-70 takes a 67. I'm at the age where I need to write this stuff down on a card and put it in each bag!


Andy

cwp3420

Thanks, Ron, for the info. I'm going to go with B & W for the filter. I appreciate your knowledge of Meyer-Optik.

alfeng Loc: Out where the West commences ...

FWIW ...

Meyer-Optik LENSES were in the second tier of German FILM lenses behind Leitz & Zeiss (and of course, Meyer-Optiik lenses are not as good as post-War 'Aus Jena' Zeiss-formulated lenses) ...

What difference are you hoping for with a different brand of Polarizing filter than the ones which you have?

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

I don't know anything about the new line of Meyer Optic filters that are being introduced. But, as others have already noted, the name is an old, well respected one that's been bought and sold several times and is now being used by a different company. They have already launched a number of high end, manual focus lenses for various camera systems. I would guess they are introducing the filters to complement those (filter sizes are somewhat limited to the sizes their lenses use). It's hard to say what their filters, which aren't yet in stores, will be like... if they will be as good or better than other brands such as B+W and Marumi. The info is limited at Adorama, but says they are made in Germany, use aluminum mounting rings and have unspecified multi-coatings. I don't see any size of Meyer-Optic filter being offered at Adorama for $135, so am not sure what size you're looking at. The closest to that price is 55mm for $139.90.

Marumi has been around for a while and are well respected. Once again, I'm not sure what size you are looking at... Marumi EXUS (top of the line) in 62mm sells for $93.77, closest to the $95 you cited. I do not know what glass Marumi uses (Japanese Asahi glass is pretty much equal to German Schott, but don't know if that's what they use). They also do not tell us much about EXUS multi-coatings, other than that they are anti-static, oil and water resistant, like "Nano" coatings (usually 15 or 16-layer) used on other brands of filters. Marumi's EXUS C-Pol is standard tint (not High Transmissive, see below). They use an aluminum frame and put Teflon coatings on the male threads to help prevent from getting stuck on lenses.

The B+W (not B & W) XS-Pro and F-Pro C-Pols are among the highest rated... But are priced like much lower specification filters. IMO, they're a great value and hard to beat! Again, not sure what size or which series of B+W you are using or comparing... so I'm guessing.

62mm B+W XS-Pro C-Pol costs $65.50 and is their very top-of-the line with Kaesemann quality foils and sealing, German Schott glass, High Transmissive (less light loss than standard C-Pol), with 16-layer MRC Nano multi-coatings (scratch, oil and water resistant... easier to clean), mounted in a slim brass frame (less likely than aluminum to get stuck on a lens).

62mm B+W F-Pro C-Pol costs about $63.95 and is same as the XS-Pro except that it uses a 8-layer MRC multi-coatings and a "standard" brass frame (which is also pretty slim).

62mm B+W C-Pol MRC costs $53.95 and is same as F-Pro, except it uses standard type of tint (i.e., it's not High Transmissive) and it doesn't have Kaesemann foils or sealing.

62mm B+W C-Pol SC sells for about $59 and is the same as the MRC, except is uses a single anti-reflective coating. Not sure why it's more expensive than multi-coated!

A couple filters that we know more about, to compare with B+W...

Breakthrough Photography's X4 C-Pol is High Transmissive, uses Schott glass, with 16-layer Nano multi-coatings, with weather sealing, in a brass frame ... sells for $129 in 62mm size.

Helipan SH-PMC C-Pol has pretty much identical specs to XS-Pro, but is available in choice of standard or slim frame... selling for $135 to $164 in 62mm size.

Regarding High Transmissive filters.... also sometimes called "HT"... provide pretty much the same polarizing results, but "cost" less light lost to the filter while doing it. For example, a standard C-Pol might cost between 1.25 and 2.5 stops of light, depending upon it's adjustment and how strong you set the polarizing effect. In comparison, an HT C-Pol typically "costs" between .75 and 1.5 stops. That's a half stop to one stop more light, approx., which can make a real difference in some challenging conditions and may allow the camera and lens to autofocus better.

You might already be aware, "slim" filters may be needed with wide angle lenses. B+W's "standard" are already pretty slim. Really slim filters can be more difficult to get a grip on to install or remove.

JamesRx Loc: Bradenton, FL

The 82mm circular polarizer that came with my NiSi 100mm square filter set performs very well.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Excellent summary.