sclay1234 Loc: Ocean county nj

Hello , I am asking, how much should someone spend on a lens filter? I started looking for a set for some of my better lenses but I noticed a very big price difference for my 86mm lens. There must be a quality difference in the glass. I would love your input on this. Thank you
Scott

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

Size and quality of CPL's are the main factors in price. Multicoated can also add to the price. When looking for CPL's quality is important. I like the Promaster HGX series. The HGX filters are made for promaster by Marumi.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

you stated 86mm lens... that does not count... the mm should be the diameter of the big end of the lens... 35, 49, 48, 52, etc the filters are designed to fit the end and do not care what the length of the lens is.

Buy low cost or barrow a CPF , Circular Polarizing filter, to see if you use one much. B&H sell two differing grades... both do a good job but one is thinner... so if you have excess money or Trump Whitehouse is buying... like an office chair for 1000s ....If not then go echo class. Check out a photo in a blind study and see if you can tell the difference. Remember the "get what you pay for" motto of UHH people... yes you get what you pay for.. a bigger credit card bill ... not necessarily a better filter.

Get educated and check out:
https://www.lenstip.com/115.4-article-Polarizing_filters_test_Results_and_summary.html

Take the data copy into excel and do a cost / rank graph.

BBBruce77 Loc: Eureka, Montana

Breakthrough Technologies are simply the best by a wide margin when looking at ND filters and CPL's are also the best but not by such a wide margin and yes they are expensive.

ricardo7 Loc: Washington, DC - Santiago, Chile

If you are only making small prints or viewing your
pictures on line the quality of the filters is probably
not going to matter. Even the least expensive
filter manufacturers do a decent job.

Joe Blow

Well said. I am almost tired of preaching that. If you need to pixel peep to see the difference, there isn't any.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Best is to stay with a good brand, which have filters in various price categories! As long as you buy a good brand, even the cheaper ones should do fine! The bigger the diameter, the bigger the price, naturally(so an 86mm will not be cheap)! But one also does not need to go overboard and spend a thousand bucks on a filter, there is no need for that!

Spirit Vision Photography Loc: Behind a Camera.

Are the rebranded Promasters any cheaper than the Marumi packaged filters? I do like the Marumi’s.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

How did you or someone else determine that BT filters are "simply the best." Advice from Aunt Sally or your plumber. Making statements like you did are a form of "ya get what ya pay for" which is Bull. Check the scientific study I referenced and you will see that most expensive is not key to buying.

best by a wide margin Bruce... give a reference so we can get educated and agree or disagree with you. You have the UHH disease called Opining! What does by a wide margin mean... what qualities??

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

The common wisdom says that the more you spend, the better the quality. That's not necessarily true. I read an article recently comparing cheap and expensive polarizers. There was surprisingly little difference. That article might be in the list of links below. I use Marumi, based on a comparison article.

https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2017/09/my-not-nearly-complete-but-rather-entertaining-circular-polarizer-filter-article/
http://www.lenstip.com/139.25-article-Polarizing_filters_test_2015_Results_and_summary.html
http://www.techradar.com/how-to/photography-video-capture/cameras/best-circular-polarizer-filter-5-top-models-tested-and-rated-1320842
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Circular-Polarizer-Filters.aspx
http://www.lenstip.com/index.php?art=139

http://www.lenstip.com/115.1-article-Polarizing_filters_test.html
http://www.lenstip.com/115.4-article-Polarizing_filters_test_Results_and_summary.html
http://nikonrumors.com/2014/07/26/how-to-use-a-polarizing-filter.aspx/

billnourse Loc: Bloomfield, NM

I don't know that Breakthrough is any better or the best in the case of Polarizers, but if you look at their web page you can see examples of the difference in their ND's when compared to Lee, B+W, Formatt Tech, etc. They definitely have less color cast. They also have a 25 year warranty. Don't know of any other filter that offers that.

I have a B+W 82 mm and a Breakthrough 82mm (got it because my B+W got stuck and wouldn't rotate) and I don't know that I see any difference in images between the two. I also have a Breakthrough and Lee ND filter sets, and there is a noticeable difference when it comes to ND's.

But, to the OP's question, he is looking for filters for his "better" lenses and is inquiring as to what to spend. My answer is get what you can afford within reason. Not a scientific study, but my experience shows that quality and price, not always, but usually, go hand in hand. Good quality would be B+W, Hoya if you get the better (more $$) ones, Lee, Breakthrough, Formatt Tech etc. Price wise, in an 86mm I doubt you are going to get real quality for less that 100.00.

Bill

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

First, are you absolutely certain you need an 86mm? That's a rather unusual size for a filter... though it's possible.

Large filters tend to be expensive! But you still need to avoid "cheaping out"... because the quality of the filter will effect EVERY image you make through it.

86mm B+W XS-Pro (slim, for ultrawide lenses) C-Pol and 86mm B+W F-Pro C-Pol are among the best, either of which currently cost $169. Those are made by Schneider Kreuznach (lens manufacturers for 100+ years), using high quality German Schott glass, in brass frames (less prone to getting stuck). They both use finer Kaesemann polarizing foils and are edge sealed for weather resistance. The F-Pro has 8-layer multi-coatings and the XS-Pro has 16-layer "Nano" multi-coatings that can be easier to clean. Both these B+W also are the newer High Transmissive type, which "cost" a little less light lost to the filter than standard types of polarizers (about .75 to 1.5 stops, versus 1 to 2 stops appprox, depending upon setting).

Breakthrough Photography X4 C-Pol is virtually identical specification as the B+W XS-Pro, but they don't appear to make it in 86mm size (their 82mm size costs $139 and 95mm costs $189).

Hoya EVO Antistatic C-Pol (unknown glass, aluminum frame) 86mm C-Pol costs $200. Heliopan are very comparable to B+W, with nearly identical specs, but cost close to $250 in this size. Rodenstock and Zeiss are even more expensive.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?setNs=p_PRICE_2%7c0&Ns=p_PRICE_2%7c0&ci=115&fct=fct_design_2321%7cmulti-coated%2bfct_circular-sizes_27%7c86mm&srtclk=sort&N=4026728357&

Marumi are well respected and their EXUS and Super DHG line are similar spec to B+W. I have not used their C-Pol, but have used other types of Marumi. Had trouble finding 86mm size (not offered in EXUS, only in Super DHG).... but at $120 it looks like a good deal too: https://www.amazon.com/Marumi-86mm-Super-Filter-Japan/dp/B0053NW2OQ

I don't know if Promaster filters are made by Marumi or not.... But $270 for their 86mm DGX C-Pol seems a bit steep! https://www.walmart.com/ip/Promaster-86mm-Digital-HGX-Circular-Polarizing-Filter/146761727?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=3451&adid=22222222227057725443&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=161624242025&wl4=aud-310687321802:pla-269347782371&wl5=9032191&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=113932467&wl11=online&wl12=146761727&wl13=&veh=sem I'll be very happy using B+W's best X-Pro or F-Pro... and saving $100!

patmalone51 Loc: Washington, DC., Montgomery County, MD

I have several Breakthru filters and they are especially great on customer service. Scratched one on a rock last summer, my fault, and they sent a replacement promptly at no charge.

lightyear

There have been several scientifically valid articles rating circular polarizers, listing all major brands sold at the time of the study. It is interesting that although some high quality costly brands were at the top of the list, other less costly brands also were near the top. Conversely, some costly brands were near the bottom. The major makers ( Hoya, B+W, Marumi, etc.) have several price lines with varying levels of quality. Major determinants: glass quality, glass coatings, polarizing film(s) .

clickety

[quote=dpullum]you stated 86mm lens... that does not count... the mm should be the diameter of the big end of the lens... 35, 49, 48, 52, etc the filters are designed to fit the end and do not care what the length of the lens is.

As I see it this was:
Another 'all knowing' but INCORRECT response that the OP didn't deserve. At the moment B&H offers 36 different 86mm filters while I not listing a single 86mm lens so not sure what you're saying.
Each of us is capable of determining how we spend our money and those commets were unnecessary.