High Sierra Topix

I'm in the market for a really good circular polarizing filter. What's the skinny out there? I had one that gave everything a gray cast. Of course, it was cheap. How about some advice.
Thanks, Sierra/Karen.

Hi SM

Here is a link that will explain the characteristics of a polarizing filter.
http://www.digital-photography-school.c ... ng-filters" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Let me add a couple of things.
I do not like putting anything in front of my lens, only if needed.
A cheap piece of glass in front of a $1500 lens doesn't make to much sense, all
it will do is degrade image quality, which is why I spent all that money on the lens
in the first place.
Be careful that you do not over do the darkening effect of the sky, nothing
is uglier than a black-blue sky.
Also on wide angle lens some companies make thinner filters to help reduce
vignetting, but under apertures of 24mm it will still be an issue.
If your into panoramas do not use them because the light fall off at the corners
will ruin your picture, there are ways that you can avoid this but it is not
worth the effort, just shoot without it.
I prefer B&W filters, which are German made, and are of the highest quality, but
I still only use it when needed.

I still shoot film, which may effect my perspective on this. If you check the photography forums, the question of whether or not to keep a filter always on the lens is a frequent subject for arguments. Especially when in the backcountry, I like having something to protect my expensive lenses. Replacing a filter is a lot cheaper and easier than replacing a lens. It depends on the lens exactly which filter, though usually a skylight filter, an 81A warming filter, or a UV filter.

I only buy B&W or Heliopan (which are a little harder to find than B&W). I find B&H is the best place for buying filters. They have good prices and the best selection. I rarely use a polarizer. However, In certain conditions, a polarizer will do wonders for eliminating glare on the water or allow the sky and clouds to come out in the photo the way I'm seeing them. For instance, there's no way I could have achieved these two photos without a polarizer:

http://www.sonic.net/~words/Images/Prec ... orning.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.sonic.net/~words/Images/Moon ... -Trees.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

LMBSGV wrote "Especially when in the backcountry, I like having something to protect
my expensive lenses", I read this a lot too, and I deal with this by keeping my lens
cap on, which is even cheaper than a filter.
If you have a UV filter on you will weatherseal your lens, if the body is all ready
weathersealed, and it alleviates smudge marks on you glass, but the cap will do, and
I clean my glass after a shoot anyways.
If I dropped a lens the filter is not going to protect the glass, from a sharp piece of granite.
My camera goes on a tripod, and then the lens cap comes off, and then the hood goes on.
Of coarse this works for me, and I understand everyone has their own individual style.
Luckily I have never dropped my camera or lenses, and I try to avoid rushing by scouting
out the best locations during the day so I can avoid rushing which could lead to an
expensive mishap.

I only have one filter, a Hoya HD cp filter and I bought mine online here: http://maxsaver.net/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I've heard good things about the Hoya HD PC. Great price there! Thanks.

Sierra Maclure wrote:I've heard good things about the Hoya HD PC. Great price there! Thanks.

I bought mine last year and I'm pretty happy with it so far.

here's an interensting review on a new Hoya Polarizer - expensive, but not as bad as some of the boutique filters (e.g. Sing Ray)

http://dpnow.com/6797.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.kenrockwell.com/hoya/hd-filters.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

hoya definitely wins the durability contest

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cT6wBQR7iqE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I've been shopping for a new polarizer after scratching up my old one - the maxsaver price is probably reason enough to get the Hoya HD

Marumi also gets good price performance ratings - here's an example
http://lenstip.com/115.4-article-Polari ... mmary.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

costs about half of the Hoya HD that wasn't in that test (nor Sing Ray, which is almost $300)