bruce freed wrote:
Suggestions, please, on good warming polarizer filters. I've seen prices range from about $20 for a set from Polaroid to over $200 at B&H photo. I want a good warming polarizer but don't want to spend a fortune.
Bruce
I assume you are using a digital camera.
If you use auto white balance, it will cancel out any warming effect of the filter.
If you use a custom white balance, it will cancel out any warming effect of the filter, too... OR, if you use a Warm Card or similar to bias the WB, you can get the same effect with any filter... doesn't need to be a "warming" type of polarizer.
https://www.vortexmediastore.com/pages/warmcards-white-balance-systemIf you use any of the WB presets, the filter will have some effect, but those presets are just rough guesses... at best... anyway.
If you shoot RAW... the software you use will "honor" the color temp and tint the camera generated with whatever white balance and/or filter was used, but it's completely changeable if you wish.
While they were useful with film, IMO "warming" polarizers are a waste of money with digital.
The best bang for your buck are B+W XS-Pro or F-Pro Circular Polarizers (which aren't warming type). They are top quality for the price of other brand mid-grade C-Pols. Both B+W series use German Schott glass in brass frames, with fine "Kaesemann" foils, and with edge sealing for weather resistance. Both also are "High Transmissive" type, which are somewhat lighter and don't "cost" as much light lost to the filter, allowing approx. 1/2 to 1 stop more light to pass through than a "standard" CPL does. The F-Pro are standard frames (still pretty slim), and have 8-layer MRC multi-coatings. The slightly more expensive XS-Pro use slim frames that might be needed on ultrawide lenses and have 16-layer "Nano MRC" multi-coatings that are a bit more oil, dust and scratch resistant, and are easier to clean. In 77mm size, for example, compare the cost of the B+W with a couple other brands that have pretty much identical materials and specifications:
77mm B+W F-Pro Kaesemann MRC CPL............... $89.85.
77mm B+W XS-Pro Kaesemann MRC Nanon CPL... $95.50.
77mm Breakthrough Photography X4 C-Pol......... $149.00.
77mm Heliopan SH-PMC C-Pol........................... $146.29.
77mm Heliopan Slim SH-PMC C-Pol.................... $220.79.