Nikon Circular Polarizing Filters

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
4.80 of 5,
5 votes

Price Paid:  $220.00 from Dinkel, Munich

Summary:
This is an excellent built polfilter. The first time you see it, it appears to be more a lens than just a filter: heavy, huge (I have the 77mm version). Even though it is very expensive, it is worth the money. I use it with lenses from 17-200 mms in slide photography. Overall, the polfilter for people who want it all and don't care much about the price.

Strengths:
* strong polarizing effect (adjustable) * built quality * optical quality

Weaknesses:
* big, heavy * need to order special lens cap for the filter

Similar Products Used:
Hoya, B+W, Hama

Customer Service:
never needed

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5,
5 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Note this is for the Nikon linear polarizer, most what I say here should apply to the circular kind as well. There are a couple things unique to the Nikon polarizer: larger front diameter, limited rotation (180 degrees). The larger front diameter is to reduce vignetting with wide angle lens. The limited rotation makes much easier to take the filter off or put it on (you only need to rotate polarizer half way, the effect of the other half is duplicated by the first half). A couple of other things I''ve noticed anout the polarizer: it''s single coated on both side (and probably the inner surfaces as well), nevermind Hoya''s claim that single coating is of no use on a polarizer. It also seem to transmit 1/3-1/2 stop more light than the circular polarizers I have (tiffen, hoya).

Strengths:
1) larger diameter 2) limited rotation helps with handling 3) coated surfaces 4) possibly higher light transmission rate

Weaknesses:
the larger front diameter is non-standard for most sizes, forcing you to get a nikon hood (more $$$).

Similar Products Used:
Tiffen, Hoya

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5,
1 votes

Summary:
I am using this after so much disappointment with the Hoya. Use on both my Nikon AF-D 28-105 and Nikon AF-ED 70-300, and provide good results.

Strengths:
1) Good Glass
2) Good Coating
3) Durable
4) No Vignet

Weaknesses:
1) Very expensive

Similar Products Used:
Hoya

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5,
1 votes

Price Paid:  $130.00 from Adorama

Summary:
When I first opened the box on this filter, I just about sent it back. Do not buy one of these if you want to use your standard lens hood since the two will likely not work together. I find the prospect of buying even more Nikon hoods than I already have a laughable proposition. Nikon doesn't make a special hood that would work with my 18-35 Nikkor zoom and their polarizer anyway.

Even with the oddities, I kept the filter. If I bought a slim polarizer I could mount my lens hood, but I couldn't turn the filter ring (realistically). I decided to use a separate source of shade (a hand, a hat or the handy Flarebuster product that I bought). I may as well take advantage of the nice knurled ring on the Nikon filter.

Strengths:
Wide gripping area for rotating filter. High quality. Step-up front element prevents vignetting on wide lenses.

Weaknesses:
The "system" approach rapidly breaks down since the hoods Nikon offers for these filters don't work with many Nikon lenses.

Similar Products Used:
Hoya, Tiffen

Customer Service:
n/a

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
3.67 of 5,
3 votes

Summary:
The Nikon circ. pol. isn't just a filter - it's one part of a SYSTEM that includes the hood. With the filter AND the Nikon hood, you have a very flexible set-up that can accommodate any focal length lens, without vignetting, and while providing adequate shade coverage. With just the filter, you have a top-quality filter that requires a special hood! So, buy the hood and filter together. I've downgraded it one star for value now that there are other thin-ring solutions out there - when I went shopping for a wide angle pol, the Nikon was just about the only choice I had!

Strengths:
Won't vignette, because the outer element and ring are oversized.

Tough multi-coating: cleans easily in the field, reduces reflections and increases contrast.

The hood is a weakness and a strength. It's a weakness because you really need it, but you have to pay extra for it. It's a strength, because it comes in two parts, so it's suited for both wide angles and telephotos. Consider the cost of the hood when thinking about buying this filter.

Weaknesses:
Odd-sized outer ring requires the Nikon-specific two-part hood.

Similar Products Used:
Hoya HMC (very fragile multi-coating, thicker ring), B+W (wonderful build but massively huge ring).

Also, the usual Tiffens and standard Hoyas (good values).

Customer Service:
Not needed.