CP Filter Inquiry from New member

[Bob Rutherford]

Hello,
My Name is Bob Rutherford and I am an inspiring photographer. I have a used setup with a Nikon D3000 and a Tamron 28-200 lens. I am looking for some information on purchasing a polarized lens and after searching the internet the price range is huge between $15-$250. Can you please steer me in the right direction as to what brand I should purchase and the best bang for my buck...Thank you...Bob

[MattNQ]

My suggestion would be to go for the middle ground. You should be able to get the likes of Hoya & Cokin for $60-$100

Stay away from the $15 evilbay specials - you'll often find issues with IQ & colour cast

[NorthernFocus]

Ditto the first response, Bob. Mid price range should work for you.

Hello,
...I am an inspiring photographer...

Can't wait for you to share some of your inspired photos with us. Get to posting!

[Manfred M]

I have some expensive (B+W) , some mid-range (Sigma) and some low end (Tiffen) cPols. They all do the job. Unless I get into a situation with a lot of strange reflected light, they give me pretty well identical resutls. If the lighting is a bit strange the high-end multi-coated filter works best.

[tclune]

The usual comments about filters include to get water glass (the cheap filters are usually "green" glass, which imparts a color bias to the photograph; get brass for the fitting (aluminum, which is used in less-expensive filter fittings, can expand and contract in hot or cold weather in a way that makes the filter hard to remove); and get multi-coating on all surfaces of the filter glass (uncoated or single-coated surfaces can create problems of glare and reflections off the filter surfaces.) Beyond that, there are no general guidelines that I know of for choosing a filter. There was a very nice round-up of then-available CPLs at LensTip.com a few years back ( http://www.lenstip.com/115.1-article...ters_test.html ) I don't know how current it is, though. FWIW

[DanK]

Good advice from Tom. If you check the lenstip review he cites, you will find a relatively uncommon and moderately priced brand, Marumi, rated very highly, right up with B+W, which is one of the most expensive brands. If you are in the US (you did not put that information in your profile) and can't find them locally, you can buy them from http://www.2filters.com/. Most of the filters I have purchased recently have been Marumis, including two circular polarizers. I have been pleased with them. I am not certain, but I think they are aluminum, but AFAIK, most filters are, unless you buy a premium brand. My experience has been that as long as I don't over tighten, aluminum has worked fine, although I would prefer brass if the price were similar.