Filters

[rico]

I think a polarizing filter is the next thing on my list. Comparing very similar shots taken by me and a mate with a polarizer. It really does bring out the colours.

He was using a standard Mess-ups one which was around £20 he said. I'm not giving that company any more cash after the useless way their staff failed to help me. London Camera Exchange (TOP SHOP!!!) have them for £35.

Basically... is a polarizer the same whatever the make. Or are there different grades and qualities?

Cheers

[ehasler]

rico said:

Basically... is a polarizer the same whatever the make. Or are there different grades and qualities? Cheers

Generally speaking, you get what you pay for, although I seem to remember reading in a magazine test a few months ago that the Jessops filters actually scored very highly compared to the more expensive Hoya etc... filters.

[maxf]

I've got a jessops one. I'm finding the results a bit hit and miss - I used it in the snow and am not too sure about the results (see the 'snow' thread). I really wanted it to bring out the sky in the amazing spring we are about to have!

[te51cle]

I've always used the Cokin ones and had consistent results. If you're using an autofocus SLR you'll need to get a "circular" polariser rather than the old fashioned standard one otherwise the camera won't autofocus properly.

[bilko2]

I bought a Jessops one and the manageress told me that they were made by Hoya. Don't know if that's still the case though.

[beano500]

rico said:

Basically... is a polarizer the same whatever the make. Or are there different grades and qualities?

With one proviso

There are "circular" polarisers and "linear" polarisers.

Guess what - you want the (usually) more expensive one - the "circular" polariser for autofocus systems to work.

Otherwise - like most things in life - you get what you pay for.

Why go for a quality lens and then compromise with an "inexpensive" polariser and risk degrading the image quality?

It's a bit like sticking cheap tyres on a performance vehicle - it can be done, but would you want to?

[simpo two]

I got mine new via eBay and saved loads. Hoya is a decent brand.