Lens filters: what brand do you use?

[DingDingDao]

So I got a new lens, and I'm going to get a new set of filters (UV, ND, Circular Pol, B&W enhancement filters). What brand do you all use? B & W, Hoya, Tiffen? Any opinions on which company makes the best filters, or are they all fairly similar in quality?

 

[n yusef]

I use B & W NDs, and Hoya Circular Polarizers. I find UV filters useless, because I usually have a circular polarizer, ND, or lens cap on.

If you want the best, then get B & W and Heliopan, but they cost a lot more. Personnally, I try to get the cheapest name brand multi coated thing I can find. For the NDs, the B & Ws were on sale, so I got them, but I usually find that Hoya and Tiffen have the best bang for your buck.

 

[Anubis]

Heliopan, they are the best ones you can buy, they are more solid and use a higher quality glass then the Hoyas and B&W filters, Super high quality corrected glass set in solid brass mounts, man they are nice

Currently have these all heliopan all 77mm
Circ Polorizer
Red #25
80a
81c
Neutral Density 4x
prob get a Graduated ND filter soon also
I have Hoya R72 IR filter its the one non Heliopan filter I own, only because they dont make a IR filter

if your gonna buy some online get them from Adorama, they are cheaper then at B&H

I have 2 67mm Heliopan filters for sale actually
red 25 and a 4x Neutral Density

 

[Wallydraigle]

I only employ UV filters when conditions call for them, so the only filter I use at all frequently is my polarizer, which is B+W, but it came with a lens I bought used. If I was buying new I'd probably go Heliopan, because Heliopan kicks ass.

 

[Doggiedog]

I have Tiffens but I understand they may be crap. I believe J&R sells B&Ws for cheap so I might switch to them.

 

[DingDingDao]

Originally posted by: Anubis
Heliopan, they are the best ones you can buy, they are more solid and use a higher quality glass then the Hoyas and B&W filters, Super high quality corrected glass set in solid brass mounts, man they are nice

Currently have these all heliopan all 77mm
Circ Polorizer
Red #25
80a
81c
Neutral Density 4x
prob get a Graduated ND filter soon also
I have Hoya R72 IR filter its the one non Heliopan filter I own, only because they dont make a IR filter

if your gonna buy some online get them from Adorama, they are cheaper then at B&H

I have 2 67mm Heliopan filters for sale actually
red 25 and a 4x Neutral Density

Thanks for the offer--unfortunately, my lens uses 52mm filters. :beer:

 

[vi edit]

I've got a Tiffen circular polarizer. It was $50. It was 1/4 the price of a B&W filter for my 77mm lens.

At some point I may drop the jack and upgrade, but for now it appears to be doing the trick.

 

[Lucky]

The differences between quality brands are pretty minute. After breaking a few 77mm heliopans and B&W's that I kept on my pro lenses, I got sick of paying $80 a pop to replace them. Hoya HMC's have proven to be just as good for the work I do.