Polarizer
Mar 21, 2021 14:40:43 #
wdross
Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
dparker708 wrote:
Can anyone recommend a good circular polarizer for my Canon 24-70 lens?
Listen to rmalarz. B+W XS-Pro Kaesemann High Transmission Circular Polarizer MRC-Nano Filter. Really none better. I had one on my lens when I fell on my camera. Lenshood took the main blow, but the filter jammed on the lens. Being high quality brass and using a rubber band for grip at the cruise ship, I was able easily get it off. Dissimilar metals tend not to gaul. Didn't need to shoot the rest of the trip with a polarizer on.. Still sealed and intact against moisture and mold intrusion. Works like the day I bought it. You may not need that kind of quality. But if you do, the Kaesemann design is worth the price. They may not be indestructible, but quality holds up a lot better.
Mar 21, 2021 14:44:59 #
wdross
Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
Bill_de wrote:
I bought a 95mm polarizer the other day. This one was $490.00. I bought the cheap one, 
B + W Circular Polarizer Kaesemann - Standard Mount (F-PRO), HTC, 16 Layers Multi-Resistant Coating, Photography Filter, 95 mm for only $160.00.
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B + W Circular Polarizer Kaesemann - Standard Mount (F-PRO), HTC, 16 Layers Multi-Resistant Coating, Photography Filter, 95 mm for only $160.00.
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Bill de, I know what you mean. If I get the Olympus 150-400, I even plan to get the expensive one. Not cheap at that size, but still well worth either one.
Mar 21, 2021 14:49:30 #
wdross
Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
Christm wrote:
Check out Breakthrough Photography - https://breakthrough.photography/ No color shift at all.
I will be considering Breakthrough for everything except polarizers. They do not use the Kaesemann design.
Mar 21, 2021 14:54:13 #
wdross
Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
tcthome wrote:
What was the brand of the expensive filter?
B+W F-Pro. The XS-Pro is more expensive since I have been pricing it. At the much larger, less volume filter sizes, it becomes much more expensive to meet the quality standards they set for the whole surface of the filter.
Mar 21, 2021 14:55:02 #
wdross
Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
jeep_daddy wrote:
Lee is the best
Lee dose not use Kaesemann design.
Mar 21, 2021 14:57:07 #
Mar 21, 2021 15:35:33 #
Rongnongno wrote:
Cost????
The alternatives of this quality cost more. Also, depends on the size. An 82mm will be about $135.
I don't buy filters from Amazon anymore because it turned out that almost half of the B+W filters I had were counterfeit. Amazon complained only a little and they let me return them for refund.
Mar 21, 2021 17:57:35 #
rfbeams
Loc: Stanwood, Washington
I have purchased dozens of Circular polarizing screens over the years, as different lenses often take different sized screens. I've found no difference in the performance of one brand over another, although I shy away from those offered at dirt-cheap prices.
Mar 21, 2021 20:28:25 #
wdross
Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
Christm wrote:
Not sure what this Kaesemann design is?
It is a specifically designed grating that allows for more efficient polarization which allows more light transmission. The second part of the design is that the two gratings that cause the polarization are sandwiched between two pieces of optically flat glass (four pieces of optically flat glass total, not cheap manufacturing) and then sealed on the edges so moisture and mold cannot infiltrate between the two pieces of glass between the gratings. That renders a polarizer useless. It will not be a problem for some. But I travel and shoot in the tropics and in the rain and snow on a regular basis. My camera, lenses, and filters will get soaked. I learned from reading about a National Geographic pro that was on a three month assignment in the Amazon rainforest. He had mold grow in his polarizer after two weeks and had to have a filter special ordered and sent to the Amazon in the late 70s. Not cheap back then. And for me, I plan on buying a filter only once.
Mar 21, 2021 20:30:55 #
wdross wrote:
It is a specifically designed grating that allows ... (show quote)
Thanks, That make sense
Mar 21, 2021 20:58:24 #
Wanderer2
Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains
rfbeams wrote:
I have purchased dozens of Circular polarizing screens over the years, as different lenses often take different sized screens. I've found no difference in the performance of one brand over another, although I shy away from those offered at dirt-cheap prices.
I agree about staying away from "dirt-cheap" polarizers. Some years ago I had the best image I captured all season (fall color in the Idaho Rockies) ruined by an inexpensive polarizer, not a dirt cheap one but one in the lower half of the price spectrum and not made by one of the brands we are talking about. I would have paid a lot to have that image as it should have been and learned my lesson. I know some disgree but my advice is to stick with top of the line versions, even in the top quality brands we have discussed.
Mar 22, 2021 00:59:32 #
wdross
Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
Wanderer2 wrote:
I agree about staying away from "dirt-cheap&q... (show quote)
You right for most cases. If one covers up when it rains or snows, or is not always in high humidity climate, one can choose a good optically flat polarizer filter with a good multi coating and compensate for any transmission losses by exposure and color shifts in post processing. The optically flatness and multi coating will almost be guaranteed to put the filter in the mid class cost range. But if one needs or wants the extra transmission of light for their shooting options, does not want to run for cover just because it is raining or snowing, and needs or wants the color neutrality, then B+W Kasemann design (or any other brand of the same quality and Kaesemann design if there be any) is the brand that one wants. Other than polarizers, one can find reasonably priced filters that are reasonably optically flat and multi coated. But to get a truly good polarizer, one must "pay the piper".
Mar 22, 2021 06:17:15 #
Thank you for your thorough and excellent reviews. I really appreciate the expert advice!
Mar 22, 2021 15:42:44 #
rmalarz wrote:
B+W XS-Pro Kaesemann High Transmission Circular Polarizer MRC-Nano Filter. None better.
--Bob
--Bob
Mar 23, 2021 02:40:05 #
sjpschmid
Loc: Marin County, CA
I've been very happy with the results from my Breakthrough Photography polarizers. Not cheap, but very good with lack of color cast.
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