Singh-Ray, B+W or Hoya Polarizer

[MorrieC]

I need to buy a new polarizer filter and have been considering a LB Warming Polarizer from Singh-Ray but they cost considerably more than a B+W or Hoya filter.

Is the Singh-Ray polarizer worth the extra cost and is going to a warming filter for landscapes a good idea?

I now Moose Peterson promotes his warming polarizer which is made by Hoya to be the next best thing.

Your comments will be appreciated.

Morrie

[haibane]

Morrie, I think the two most usable Filters are the IR and Polarizer because most everything else can be easily replicated in an editing software for the most part. I have had a Hoya filter in the past, but I dropped my camera and the 50 f1.8's plastic ring grabbed hold of the metal Hoya. Hoya was fine lens was fine, but it took me hours to break the Hoya so I could get it off. I ended up having to cut into the metal on the hoya with a jig saw and then to pry it off piece by piece. So if build quality is the issue, I have no problems recommending a hoya.

[Kevin]

I'm not sure a warming filter would be needed with digital. You can always accomplish that in the RAW converter or PS.

[MorrieC]

Morrie, I think the two most usable Filters are the IR and Polarizer because most everything else can be easily replicated in an editing software for the most part. I have had a Hoya filter in the past, but I dropped my camera and the 50 f1.8's plastic ring grabbed hold of the metal Hoya. Hoya was fine lens was fine, but it took me hours to break the Hoya so I could get it off. I ended up having to cut into the metal on the hoya with a jig saw and then to pry it off piece by piece. So if build quality is the issue, I have no problems recommending a hoya.

I have always used Hoya or B + W filters and have found both to be very good. I am somewhat interested in the Singh- Ray due to it reputation as being very good. Then on the other hand more than likely you may not be able to tell a difference in the photo with any of these filters.

I'm not sure a warming filter would be needed with digital. You can always accomplish that in the RAW converter or PS.

Kevin I agree with you about adjusting the colors in Raw or in PS so a warming filter might not be worth the extra $$. The following is from the Singh Ray web site.

[NEW LB Warming Polarizer delivers big improvements over our previous Polarizer Plus

* "Lighter, brighter" density lets you choose faster shutter speeds for sharper images OR smaller lens openings to add depth of field
* You also gain a brighter viewfinder image
* Its polarizing power, optical resolution and color fidelity are as remarkable as ever
* True circular polarizer
* Greater light transmission improves camera's autofocusing and metering in low light
* Brighter viewfinder images helps you position Graduated ND Filters
* See Singh-Ray's LB "ColorCombo" Filter that combines this LB Warming Polarizer with the new LB Color Intensifier. Click here
* Lower filter factor using the LB Warming Polarizer adds only 1-1/3 f-stop to your exposures !]

I can see some advantages but is it worth the extra cost? Moose Peterson sells a warming filters but if I remember correctly they are less than $100.

I need to do some more reading.

Morrie

[Paul Burwell]

Morrie,

I highly recommend, and use, the Singh-Ray filters.

I don't think anything speaks higher of their filters than the list of well known pros on their web pages pages that use them.

Of course, it depends what your budget is and how important it is to you to have what I consider to be the best filters available. But other than sticker shock, I promise you won't be disappointed.

Like others have mentioned, if you are shooting digital, warming an image is a realtively easy matter via your favourite RAW converter.

[ahockenberry]

I have a question....I know that Singh-Ray has an amazing Gold and Blue Polarizing filter. I have seen some amazing shots taken with this.

Question 1: Is a warming filter the same as a Gold and Blue Polarizing filter?
Question 2: Can I get something from Cokin or one of the other manufacturers which is the same thing or will I be disappointed with the quality?
Thanks

Ashley

[Desert Rat]

Regarding filters either go with the Singh-Ray poloarizer not the warm version or get a B+W circular polarizer...

The warming effect I have found pretty useless for digital.. I just adjust the WB in camera or in the RAW converter...Much easier to control that way instead of spending the extra $$$ on the filter...


Cokin used to make a Blue yellow ploarizer which I have one of, but otherwise some CCokin filter are good and some are bad...

[Ak Photos]

I would say get the MRC Circ Polar from B+W or Heliopan. They are ground glass and a lot better in optics than the standard window glass used in most other filters. I found it out after I had 2 hoya hmc Circ Polar.. I have replaced them and love the B+W and the heliopan. I prefer the B+W a tad but if you get a slim, go Heliopan, as they have threads, B+W dont, so no lens caps fit... The quality is noticable in the threads as well as they dont seem to bind up or get stuck/locked like the others. I think its because they use brass.

Thanks

Kevin