B+W Polarizers

I bought the b+w F-PRO version (circular polarizer, 77mm). I use it on my EF 17-40 f/4L to accentuate landscape shots. So far, I love it. Makes colors more saturated, gets rid of reflections and other disturbing elements concerning light and color. It's a bit prone to smudging (when reaching for the ring when looking trough the viewfinder)

Great build quality, smooth ring, easy to use (WYSIWYG as with all circpols), great color and contrast enhancer.

Price, vignetting at ultrawide (17mm), prone to smudging, thick (eats f-stops).

Tiffen and Hoya Polarizers

None required to date.

I own a 62mm B&W circular polarizer that I use on my Olympus E 20 digital camera. I use this filter a lot. Most often, I am shooting landscapes. Everyone knows a CP filter is a good idea. Why get a B&W? Quality. I've read other reviews that seem to indicate a quality problem. I have had no such experience. Heliopans are good too. No doubt some like Hoya too. Tiffen makes a less quality filter but they can do the job. It goes drastically downhill from there. What to look for in a filter? Precise machining of the threads. Glass that will clean up without difficulty. In the case of a CP, which needs to be rotated on the lens, smooth operation. Something that sticks will infuriate you. If you can't get quality, in my opinion, don't use a filter for shots. They are OK for protection.

Mounts are brass. Glass is exceptional.

Price. As always you need to pay for what you get.

Tiffens and Hoyas.

Not needed.

Over the years, I have had a chance to buy/use/evaluate various brands (all high quality) : B+W, Nikon's, Hoya ... I have NEVER been disappointed buying B+W (twelve different models, size 52 and 77mm, mostly MRC type). Coupling some to my Hasselblad lenses or Nikon's with "step up" rings. I enjoy using them in various kind of outdoor projects.

Well built (quality manufacturing threads, rings, Schott glass)

None perceived. Price? You paid what you get.

Nikon (several), Hoya (just a few)

Not needed, yet (more than 3 years use)

This review is for the B+W 58mm Circular Polarizer (MRC) This is the worst piece of junk I have ever bought. After a month some sort of oil or grease started leaking from the filter, which contaminated the glass. I got the filter exchanged. The second one was in very poor shape on arrival. The coating was very uneven and I even saw small holes where it looked like the coating was missing. In fact I could see the uneven coating through the matte box the filter came in. Fingerprints seem to be hard to remove from this filter as well. So much for $93.50. Perhaps I was unlucky to get two defective filters, however I think B+W needs a better quality control. I will not recommend B+W’s polarizers to anyone. I have the B+W UV filter (MRC) as well. This filter does not have any of the above problems.

Smooth turns

See review

This review is for B+W''''s 77 mm slim circular polarizer. It is not the MRC (multicoated scratch-resistant) one, however, I believe it is mono coated on each side. I ordered this and a heliopan slim polarizer (mono-coated) and shot a roll of film using both to see which one was better. My initial observations were that the B+W is about a mm thinner. The heliopan felt sturdier and more solid in my hand, although both are very well crafted and rotate smoothly. I really prefer the brass rings on these compared to the aluminum ones found on Hoya fliters. The B+W comes with a plastic filter cover, which is a big plus. The heliopan has numbered markings around the rotating ring to measure/guide the amount of polarization. I didn''''t have a problem removing fingerprints from either filter. On print film, both polarizers noticably sharpened my photos. The heliopan seemed to have a little warmer tint, and the B+W a cooler one, with slightly truer colors. Both had the same amount of glare when shot directly into the sun. The B+W vignetted around 20mm and the heliopan around 21-22. The B+W has just a hair lighter and more neutral gray. In the end, I kept the B+W just because of the very slight edge in truer color. I don''''t think you can go wrong with either of these quality polarizers. Both are made with Schott glass and solid brass rings, and will improve the crispness of your photos dramatically.

Schott glass brass ring smooth rotation comes with storage box and lense cap

Not cheap for 77mm

Hoya Thin UV