Posted by Jim Greenwood on October 14, 2013 at 12:09 PM
Tiffen, Hoya and Singh-Ray all make quality filters. The Singh-Ray variable neutral density filters are significantly more expensive than Tiffen and Hoya. The 77mm for example (from the B&H website):
I've never bought a Singh-Ray filter. Why (at least in this case) is the Singh-Ray so much more expensive? Are Singh-Ray filters more expensive in general? Are Singh-Ray filters of higher quality in general, enough to justify the significantly higher price? Based on a comparison of the features among these four 77mm variable neutral density filters, it seems to me that Hoya gives more bang for the buck.
Jim, to answer your question in short answer, Yes, Singh Ray filters are more expensive with most all filter types compared to the other brands. I've used their ND filters in the Lee wide angle holder unit for years. They are excellent. In fact, the 2 stops, soft & hard edged, are seeing age with long time usage now, but still do the job for me quite well.
I've not bought any of their screw in size filters, and typically bought Hoya 77mm size in CP, 81B, etc. Most recently I bought a set of HiTech reverse grads as slide in filters for the Lee holder too. I'd like to say you cannot beat the Singh Ray for quality overall, but they sure cost significantly more too. If longevity offsets price then maybe they are better overall in the end.
Hopefully others will come along and share thoughts on the variable units out there. I've not needed that in my arsenal to date.
Posted by Bill Chambers on October 14, 2013 at 2:22 PM
I can't speak about the variable neutral density filters since I don't own one but, yes, Sing Ray are generally a good bit more expensive than Tiffen and/or Hoya. I use Singh Ray for all of my grad ND's and have been very pleased. It's my understanding that many other brands have a tint to them, usually a purplish one from what I've heard. Don't know how true that is since I can't speak from personal experience there. I can say the Singh Rays are absolutely neutral in tint.
While I have no experience with the Singh-Ray variable ND's, I do have a set of their ND-Grads. As Bill says, they are absolutely neutral and very high quality.
I have the Singh-Ray VariND. I recommend it highly as a top-of-the-line product. I use it to control exposure time for waterfalls and lake or ocean water. I cannot compare it to the others as I have never seen them.
Posted by Mark Seaver on October 17, 2013 at 3:34 PM
Jim, I've got a 10 stop ND from B&W and a 4 stop ND from Hoya. With the Hoya, I don't notice any color shifts. With the "big stopper" everything comes out distinctly brown and needs a lot of temperature and tint adjustments to get the colors right. I didn't get Sing Ray because of the price and that seems to be fine with the 4 stop filter, but not good with the 10 stopper. I bought the 10 stopper first for motion blur of water but haven't used it since I got the 4 stopper because 4 stops gets me the amount of blur that I like (or I can add my polarizer for 2 more stops). As long as I'm not working at the short end of my 24-70, there's no vignetting with the 2 filter combo.
Well, i use Hitech and Lee filters [GND and ND], and i have that Sigh Ray Vari-ND filter and also i bought Singh Ray Reverse GND 3stops, i only tested that Vari-ND, there is 2 pros and 1 big cons
Pros:
1. High Quality glass
2. Vari ND stops from 2 up to 8 stops, good for different applications.
Cons:
1. I ordered the thin one, and i used it alone on a lens, and i see annoying vignetting, so i hate to use it at all on ultra wide angle lenses, for 24mm and above it is fine, but i can't use any other filters with it, so this is the only reasons i don't use it much.
LEE GND filters are high quality as well, s that i don't know why that over priced of Singh Ray equivalent, HiTech is not much great when stacking filters, i get that Magenta cast with 2 filters stacked together, and about ND, i bought another brand 3rd party ND glass and didn't see any color cast, so the only filters i will buy from Singh Ray if necessary are their LB Warming filter and that Reverse GND [even another brands started to have those reverse GND filters as well], buying Vary-ND glass screw in filters will not have a big color cast or quality degradation regardless of which brand, i don't think that only Singh Ray in the world will have the best glass for their filters, i bought different brands filters and i will give them more test to confirm it, for now, the only GND filters i will recommend are from LEE and Singh Ray and Schneider, the cheaper is LEE and decent quality, ND is open as i only choose to go with glass ones over resin ND ones.
Discussion
6 repliesTiffen - $149.95
Hoya - $199.90
Singh-Ray - $340.00
Singh-Ray (thin mount) - $390.00
I've never bought a Singh-Ray filter. Why (at least in this case) is the Singh-Ray so much more expensive? Are Singh-Ray filters more expensive in general? Are Singh-Ray filters of higher quality in general, enough to justify the significantly higher price? Based on a comparison of the features among these four 77mm variable neutral density filters, it seems to me that Hoya gives more bang for the buck.
Opinions? Feedback? Thanks in advance.
I've not bought any of their screw in size filters, and typically bought Hoya 77mm size in CP, 81B, etc. Most recently I bought a set of HiTech reverse grads as slide in filters for the Lee holder too. I'd like to say you cannot beat the Singh Ray for quality overall, but they sure cost significantly more too. If longevity offsets price then maybe they are better overall in the end.
Hopefully others will come along and share thoughts on the variable units out there. I've not needed that in my arsenal to date.
--P
Pros:
1. High Quality glass
2. Vari ND stops from 2 up to 8 stops, good for different applications.
Cons:
1. I ordered the thin one, and i used it alone on a lens, and i see annoying vignetting, so i hate to use it at all on ultra wide angle lenses, for 24mm and above it is fine, but i can't use any other filters with it, so this is the only reasons i don't use it much.
LEE GND filters are high quality as well, s that i don't know why that over priced of Singh Ray equivalent, HiTech is not much great when stacking filters, i get that Magenta cast with 2 filters stacked together, and about ND, i bought another brand 3rd party ND glass and didn't see any color cast, so the only filters i will buy from Singh Ray if necessary are their LB Warming filter and that Reverse GND [even another brands started to have those reverse GND filters as well], buying Vary-ND glass screw in filters will not have a big color cast or quality degradation regardless of which brand, i don't think that only Singh Ray in the world will have the best glass for their filters, i bought different brands filters and i will give them more test to confirm it, for now, the only GND filters i will recommend are from LEE and Singh Ray and Schneider, the cheaper is LEE and decent quality, ND is open as i only choose to go with glass ones over resin ND ones.