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I am looking into getting a Polarizing Filter. There are so many options to choose from though. Does anyone have advice on a brand of Filter to buy? Thanks!
Well, if you want to be sure to get a good one, the choice is easy, go with the brands that are known to be good!
Adorama is as good a place as any to buy, I think 2 of the most popular brands are Hoya, and B+W filters. “Good” also means expensive, be prepared to spend anywhere from $60-$150 for a good one. I’ve heard it recommended that you buy one that’s a size or two too large and use a step down filter to make it the size that you need. I think the reasoning is so that if you ever buy a lens with a larger diameter, you’ll already have a CPL that fits, instead of having to spend another $100 for one. Plus, if you buy it too large, you shouldn’t have to worry about vignetting, which really shouldn’t be an issue unless it’s an extremely wide-angle lens, (in which case, you’ll want to be careful about even using a CPL…) That whole article is a good read on filters for film and digital cameras.
I don’t really have any recommendations for cheaper filters, I don’t know of any that I can recommend. The only one that I have bought myself was a cheap Sunpak CPL from Walmart! I got a couple of higher end ones in a kit along with my DSLR, but I think about the only time I used them was to photograph the solar eclipse a few months ago.
I use Tiffen. It was $70 when I bought it. I know Cokin is also good.
If you are not on a budget, it’s worth paying more for the quality of glass and coatings that come with more expensive filters.
Hey, just ran across this article which might provide some help on which filter brands are the best to use: Gadget Bag: Key Filters for Scenics
Thanks for sharing the link. I too am looking into getting some new filteres as well! One thing that has helped me immensely in purchasing new equipment are the lessons in section 1 offered through the PRO Membership!
- This reply was modified 54 years, 9 months ago by .
That’s great to hear! FYI, the three main filters that I have (which I got one at a time, in this order) are the Circular Polarizer, 3-stop ND filter, and Graduated 3-stop ND filter. I think the next filter on my wish list is either a B&W color filter for black and white photography, or a 9-stop ND filter for longer exposures during the middle of the day. 🙂
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