| Author | Thread |
|
|
01/04/2006 05:32:48 PM · #1 |
What filter brands are good? I'm going to be buying a Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 lens and want to get a good UV filter as well as a polarizing filter (is a circular polarizer the way to go???). What brands are good what what makes them good? I've heard of Tiffen and Hoya...but I don't know how good they are.
|
|
|
|
01/04/2006 05:43:31 PM · #2 |
Decades ago Tiffen was the best, but quality has dropped drastically since then. Hoya's multicoated filters are good but over priced, while their regular filters are just junk, IMO.
The best filters are by B+W and Heliopan. Heliopan uses only the highest quality brass and Zeiss glass, but B+W is my favorite. Camera brand filters are also excellent usually. Nikon arguably makes the best close-up filters made, and their circular polarizer would rank as some of the best.
|
|
|
|
01/04/2006 06:13:00 PM · #3 |
Are there any good filters in the $100 price range?
|
|
|
|
01/04/2006 06:17:02 PM · #4 |
|
|
|
01/04/2006 06:32:36 PM · #5 |
|
|
|
01/04/2006 06:48:46 PM · #6 |
| I getting into the cokin system. Does anyone use cokin? Have any thoughts |
|
|
|
01/04/2006 08:05:22 PM · #7 |
If you dig on Ebay you can find Hoya HMC UV(n) filters very cheap. That's what I use and they work great for me.
By very cheap I mean less then $10 for 52 or 58mm. |
|
|
|
01/04/2006 09:06:17 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by hdogg4u:
I getting into the cokin system. Does anyone use cokin? Have any thoughts |
I use mostly graduated cokin filters. Most cokin filters are plastic though so just be careful not to scratch them. |
|
|
|
01/06/2006 03:58:58 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by hdogg4u:
I getting into the cokin system. Does anyone use cokin? Have any thoughts |
Yes, I've been using Cokin for a few years and have been happy with them. I have three different thread diameters in my lenses (55, 62, 77 mm) so getting polarisers/contrast filters/etc. for all of them would be an expensive proposition. It also made it easier to share filters with friends - if they buy their own ring (in whatever size they need) they have instant access to all of my filters, and vice versa.
The Cokin graduates give much more flexibility than screw-in graduate filters too.
The main downside is that the Cokin lens cases are a bit fragile, the lugs that hold the lid on / let it pivot are susceptible to breaking. My most recent Cokin filter purchase was in a different case with two halves that slid on/off, which seems a much better way to go.
Regards
Tim
|
|
|
|
01/06/2006 06:05:02 PM · #10 |
I ordered two Hoya Super-HMC UV(0) filter from Adorama for my two lenses, the 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5 ED-IF that came with my D70s, and the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 ED that I bought to complement it for the time being. I did a fair amount of research on the filters, and was content with my choice at ~$39 each.
A guy from Adorama emailed me shortly after I placed my order. I called him and he subsequently talked me into two Tiffen filter sets (UV, Circ Pol, 812 warming filters for each, plus the Tiffen Enhancing filter for my long lens). These are not the TMC series to the best of my knowledge. But he promised me "from experience" that the Tiffens are better than the Hoyas because they're internally coated (using two pieces of glass sandwiched together) rather than externally multi-coated like the Hoyas, which he said are hard to clean without rubbing off the coatings. I bought his arguments and, though I spent almost $100 more, went with the filter sets he suggested. (After all, I knew I at least needs some circular polarizers soon.)
But then I did a little more research on Tiffens and I get mixed reviews. Many say there's no difference between Hoya and Tiffen, but Hoya definitely seems to be the preference out there. I am on a budget, so I can't afford the best like Heliopans and such, but I spent a lot (to me) on my camera and lenses so I want to make sure I'm not shooting myself in the foot by putting on sub-grade filters. My telephoto is only f/4-5.6 so I want to make sure I'm getting as much light as possible through the filters.
Any direct comparison info anyone may have would be very useful.
TIA, Mike
|
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 09/10/2025 06:06:09 PM EDT.
