Top rated filters?

[JeffW98]

I need to get a couple more filters for my lenses. I would like a UV and a CP. Although, some say filters degrade the image. I don't really want to spend $100.00, but I would like something fairly descent. Any suggestions.

I have been thinking about going with B & W...

[tirediron]

Can't go wrong with B+W. The multi-coated Tiffen and Hoyas are good too.

[Barefoot]

I need to get a couple more filters for my lenses. I would like a UV and a CP. Although, some say filters degrade the image. I don't really want to spend $100.00, but I would like something fairly descent. Any suggestions.

I have been thinking about going with B & W...

What may be the deciding factors for me would be (1) will the filter be on a $200 kit lens, or will it be on a $2000 pro lens. (2) Is the filter stamped from a sheet of glass, or cut from a cylinder of glass. (of those two methods, which do you think will provide superior performance?)

A friend of mine shared this info just a few weeks ago, and it may be of some use to you here. She posed a question to B&H Photo in regards to the comparisons between B+W and Heliopan filters and the response from B&H is as follows below:

Mare: Here's the response I received from B&H Photo when I was trying to compare the Heliopan and B+W CP filters:

B&H Answer: Deciding between B+W or Heliopan is difficult. They are the best and which ever you go with, your choice will not be a bad one.

There are 2 types of wide angle filters(?); Slim and Wide.

Slim filters have slim rims with no front treads. They do not accept traditional snap on lens caps. They require larger slip on caps. "Wide" filters are wider than the lens filter threads. Wide filters can prevent you from using your lens dedicated lens hoods.

I was notable to find a Heliopan Kaeseman Slim filter. B+W's 77 mm Kaeseman Circular Polarizer Extra Wide Glass Filter B&H# BWKCP77EW has a Front Filter Thread and Cap Size of 95mm's.

Polarization filters are constructed with dichroic sheets of laminated polymers that are cemented between protective glasses. B+W Käsemann polarizing filters have a very high degree of elimination, are cemented with plano-parallel high-performance glasses, ground to an exact plano-parallel shape and lacquered at the edges as protection against environmental effects.

You would use a Kaeseman filter if working in harsh enviroments with extreme weather conditions.

From any uncoated glass surface, about 4 to 9% of the light is reflected depending on the refractive index difference between air and the glass. The reflection of light not only causes a loss in intensity but also generates ghost images and stray light which reduce the image quality in an optical system.

Their are several different types of anti-reflection (AR) coatings that minimize the residual reflection per surface.

MC filters have a standard single layer MgF2 coating for the visible wavelength range.

(MRC) coating is a broadband multilayer AR coating for the visible wavelength range that is hydrophobic and features an extreme high resistance to mechanical and environmental stress. Since this process is "cold" it can be applied to heat-sensitive materials such as plastic! substrates or polarization filters based on polymer films cemented be tween protective glasses. In addition, the (MRC) coating's extraordinary hardness minimizes scratching

The B+W MRC Coating transmits 99.5%
SH-PMC is Heliopan's 16 layer multi-coating for their filters.Heliopan SH-PMC coating passes 99.9% of the light striking it to the image plane.

[Marko]

Thanks for posting that barefoot!

Just wanted to point out that the filter is a bad pace to skimp, the lens is a bad place to skimp. The lens focuses the image and the filter in front of it needs to be high quality. The CAMERA is the perfect place to skimp especially for newbies. Cameras are stoopid. They are just boxes with flaps.

I don't have any singh-ray filters but i have heard good things about them. They make both square and round filters.
In my experience, Hoyas are OK filters but harder to clean. I always find I leave streaks after cleaning.