Filters

Who makes the BEST filters? Hoya? Tiffin? Lee? Cokin? Someone else?

I've looked for reviews on filters but can't seem to find any.

Which do you use, and why?

Mike,

I have tried most of the brands in over 30 years of photography and have found that the screw-in B&W Pro series filters provide the best results for me. They are brass and have excellent multi-coated glass. They are made in Germany by Schneider Optik, the same folks that make excellent large format lenses.

For square or rectangular filters (used with a holder) I use Singh-Ray ND Grads and Lee filters in the 81-series (warming). I have not used HiTech flat filters, but understand their quality is excellent, as well.

These are the filters I use in my work with large format color transparency film, so your mileage may vary.

-PB

I'd say that B+W, Hoya and Singh-Ray are the top players in this field but that's just my personal preference.

I've used Nikon, Tiffen, Leica, Harrison, Hoya, Kodak (wratten) and a bunch of other no-name filters. For the money, I find the Hoya multi-coated hard to beat.

Note that not all B+W filters are multi-coated or even coated. Only the MRC line is. I use both B+W mrc and Hoya SMC filters and can't tell any difference between them at all. The big difference for me seems to be that the filters are multi-coated. I photo a lot of trains, and when those bright headlights shine directly on the lens they will ghost & flare like crazy if not multi-coated.


Kent in SD

For round filters, Heliopan and B+W. For rectangular filters, Singh-Ray.