Help choose a good CPL Filter (also a reliable seller online)

[musoo]

I am looking for a 52mm circular polarizing filter for my Nikon D60. I was checking it out in broadway camera. they carry only one brand -hoya [hows the brand] it cost 45 bucks plus tax. I found the same one on amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Hoya-52MM-Circ...2011554&sr=1-1
which costs only 14.95 bucks, but it has a really bad review. I am not sure if it is a reliable seller. Can anyone give me some suggestion? thanks.

[Etnies]

You have to pay attention when buying filters, there are a lot of different varieties out there and it's easy to overlook something such as multi coated and other "features." Can you post a link to the one on Broadway camera? I have a feeling it may not be the same filter.

I have a Hoya starter kit, which came with a UV, CPL, and a warming filter. I tend to just use the CPL and have gotten good results with it. In case you didn't know (a lot of people don't), CPLs rotate to get lighter or darker tones, so be sure to play around with that when you get one.

B+W is one of the better filter brands out there, but Hoyas are pretty decent.

[TurboFan]

Hoya isn't bad, but make sure it's multi-coated. You don't want to put a cheap filter in front of a good lens, because the picture is only going to be as good as the cheap filter. You don't need to spend $$$ to get a good CPL, but I wouldn't be surprised at ~$60. Make sure you're always comparing apples to apples (some CPL's are also warming filters). I like B&W filters, although I do have a couple of the better Hoya filters.

Stick to B&H photo and Adorama for your online research. Then compare against Amazon. I buy a lot of stuff from Amazon, but I don't put much stock in their reviews or information. I don't trust many online sellers for camera equipment, as scams outnumber real dealers something like 5 to 1 when you're looking at camera equipment.

Check out http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?o...y&cat1=Filters

This would be my choice: http://www.adorama.com/HY52CPLSM.html for the money.

This would be better if you're doing any wide angle work: http://www.adorama.com/BW52CPLWM.html

[musoo]

Originally Posted by Etnies

You have to pay attention when buying filters, there are a lot of different varieties out there and it's easy to overlook something such as multi coated and other "features." Can you post a link to the one on Broadway camera? I have a feeling it may not be the same filter.

I have a Hoya starter kit, which came with a UV, CPL, and a warming filter. I tend to just use the CPL and have gotten good results with it. In case you didn't know (a lot of people don't), CPLs rotate to get lighter or darker tones, so be sure to play around with that when you get one.

B+W is one of the better filter brands out there, but Hoyas are pretty decent.

thanks for your advice. this is the link: http://www.bccamera.com/index.php?ma...roducts_id=359

[musoo]

Originally Posted by TurboFan

Hoya isn't bad, but make sure it's multi-coated. You don't want to put a cheap filter in front of a good lens, because the picture is only going to be as good as the cheap filter. You don't need to spend $$$ to get a good CPL, but I wouldn't be surprised at ~$60. Make sure you're always comparing apples to apples (some CPL's are also warming filters). I like B&W filters, although I do have a couple of the better Hoya filters.

Stick to B&H photo and Adorama for your online research. Then compare against Amazon. I buy a lot of stuff from Amazon, but I don't put much stock in their reviews or information. I don't trust many online sellers for camera equipment, as scams outnumber real dealers something like 5 to 1 when you're looking at camera equipment.

Check out http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?o...y&cat1=Filters

This would be my choice: http://www.adorama.com/HY52CPLSM.html for the money.

This would be better if you're doing any wide angle work: http://www.adorama.com/BW52CPLWM.html

thanks for your advice and the website. BTW, does the multi-coated you are talking about mean when it is on the lens, it can be rotated to vary the darkness?

[Kalin]

Sort of... they just changed their website, but B+W used to have a great page that explained circular polarizer filters... here's a good PDF I found: http://www.schneiderkreuznach.com/pdf/filter/p17.pdf

Turning it and the 'darkness' is related to the angle of light hitting the lens. There's methodology to having the sun at an angle when using a CP filter to maximize its benefit.

[vachss]

The folks on dpreview give good reviews to hvstar.net. Good prices on Hoya (good) and B+W (better) filters. Personally, I use B+W or Heliopan filters on all my lenses, but I've heard good things about the high end Hoya Pro-1's. Don't buy a no-name filter - you will notice the difference.

[TurboFan]

multi-coated is the anti-reflective coating on the glass.

[musoo]

thank all, folks~~ you guys rock~