gwilliams6

I use B+W and Hoya, and they are excellent quality.

wds0410 Loc: Nunya

Agree 100%. When it comes to filters and lens I think you get what you pay for is quite true.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

I don't think a ND or polarizer sould be necessary, even if he wants to shoot wide open to maximize background blur, unless he is already shooting at the lowest ISO and the highest shutter speed and still blowing out the highlights in the egrets.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

You might try spot metering on the egret.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

77mm B+W XS-Pro ($95) or F-Pro ($74) are the best deals on high quality circular polarizers.

Both are High Transmissive, meaning that they use a lighter gray foil that doesn't "cost" quite as much light as standard C-pol. Instead of 1 to 2 stops of light lost to the filter, there's approx. 3/4 to 1/5 stops loss.

Both use high quality German Schott glass, fine Kaesemann foils, are sealed for weather resistance and are mounted in brass frames (less likely to get stuck on lenses).

The F-Pro uses a "standard" size frame (which is already pretty slim in all B+W). It also uses 8-layer multi-coatings.

The XS-Pro is the same except it uses a "slim" frame, which may be needed on an ultrawide, though not on a 100-400. Slim filters can be a little more difficult to get a grip on to install and remove, or to rotate and adjust in the case of a C-pol.

The XS-Pro also uses more advanced 16-layer "Nano" multi-coatings, which are a little tougher, oil and dust resistant and easier to clean.

For comparison, a 77mm Heliopan C-Pol costing over $200 has materials and specifications identical to the XS-Pro. The $150 77mm Breakthrough Photography X4 is also nearly identical in specs and materials. The Hoya HD3 ($200 in 77mm size) or Hoya EVO ($150 for 77mm) are close to the same quality too (aluminum frame instead of brass). The closest in price/quality that I've seen is the Marumi C-pol, which was around $100 for 77mm, last time I looked.

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

I rarely shoot without a CPL. My preferred CPL is the Promaster HGX as this is made by Marumi and distributed under the Promaster name in the USA. This is high quality filter and produces the desired results.

A CPL will enhance colors and give some decrease in light. A CPL may not be the entire solution to your situation. Some other things to consider is WB, ISO, and aperture. Metering for the hightlights (the brightest things in the frame) would seem to help too.

Bob Boner

Another recommendation for Breakthrough.

Angel Star Photography Loc: Tacoma, WA

From what you describe, "strong morning light", it seems that the sun is perhaps in the background or nearly in the background. Is this a correct assumption? If so, then a polarizer will not help much if you want it for the polarizing effect. It will provide, however, about a two-stop reduction in light. With this, it could act as a neutral density filter and may be helpful. If you are only concerned with retaining detail in the egrets, then try spot metering on them, but this may be a little more difficult if they are in motion. If you want to retain some detail in the background, then neutral density filters, with metering on the egerts would be a better choice. Where is the sun in relation to the egrets?

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

DON'T make the mistake of spending lots of money. Most do the same thing. Tiffen makes a great inexpensive polarizing filter. Regardless what others will say on this site, you will not notice a difference for what you are shooting. But this filter may not solve your problems, I believe it may be the way you are exposing your scene.

PhotoPhred Loc: Cheyney, Pa

I use Hoya filters and have never had any problems. Don't buy cheap stuff. I have Hoya UV, CPL, and Several ND filters for all my lenses.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

B+W filters are the way to go. I'm not sure they will solve your problem, polarizing filters are somewhat directional, 90 degrees to the sun. However, B+W is the only filters I'd use and recommend.
--Bob

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Sorry, not true. Crappy filters have minimal coatings which makes for inferior results. What is the point in hanging a $50 POC on a $2000 lens?

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I was assuming that the sun is on the egret, which is white. If the background is dark, the metering may call for enough exposure to blow out the egret unless spot metering is used.

If the sun is in the frame, the egret is probably in shadow and it's the background that would be blown out.

Either way, a polarizer will not help.

GEG Loc: Pennsylvania

Breakthrough Photography!!! I got a CPL polarizing filter and a #4? ND filter. Really high quality!

repleo Loc: Boston

Breakthrough has a very good downloadable book on long exposure photography.
https://theartofphotography.lpages.co/52-page-long-exposure-guide/