Filter Brand Recommendation

I seem to be facing some rotten luck getting a protective filter for a new lens I recently purchased. Based on the specs and the many great reviews, I ordered the Hoya HD2 UV filter in the 82mm size but to my surprise I found the filter to be extremely dirty when it arrived. Although it was inside a sealed case there was lots of dust, fibers and other particulate matter stuck to both surfaces of the filter. I used every trick I know of to clean it but had no success getting rid of that gunk. I therefore returned that filter and ordered the new Hoya HD3 UV filter instead. This is apparently the new and improved version. Guess, what? Same story all over again.  It had to go back too. I don’t recall ever facing such a problem when buying Pentax filters for my P67 lenses. Each of those filters came in a nice strong case and was perfectly clear, i.e. not a spot of dust anywhere on it. Of course, that was more than 10 years ago so perhaps times have changed and I am still living in the past.

I am curious to hear of other brands that folks are using. Any and all suggestions are welcome.

Regards,

B&W (Made in Germany) and Formatt-Hitech (Made in the UK). These are the only brands I use. You can't go wrong with either of them.

This is disheartening! I haven't purchased protective filters for quite a long time, but have never had trouble with Hoya's. That is about all I have.
Did you talk with the place you purchased them for some kind of explanation?
Sandy  

I use nothing but Tiffen filters for 3 reasons:
1) the quality is good
2) their prices are reasonable
3) they are made in the USA

BTW - for simply protecting the lens, you may save a little by purchasing clear glass instead of UV.  I've read many sources stating that UV really does nothing, or at best not as much, with digital as it did with film.  So you're paying for coatings that do nothing for you. 

Here is the Tiffen clear glass I use on all my lenses:
Tiffen Digital HT Ultra Clear

I have been doing some research on filters and quality and price do play a significant factor when buying filters.  Breakthrough filters are excellent, but pricey. Their X4 UV 77 mm runs about 99 bucks. Alberto suggests B&W and Formatt-Hitech which are excellent filters as well.  Newer filters are thinner and are made from Schott or other types of high quality glass plus have newer types of coatings that protect and improve optical quality. John is correct in that the usefulness of a UV filter is questionable when used for digital photography.  Through the years, I have used Tiffen and Hoya filters and they worked well for me.  Good luck and I hope that you are successful in your hunt for an excellent protective filter................................................Jim

Anil, I am curious as to the source of the funky filters you received. Just a SWAG on my part, but it is entirely possible that someone gunked them up, and they were returned and repackaged. I have used Hoya filters for years and have never had such an issue.

I will second B&W. They are excellent, and are built to last, but they are pricey. Tiffen are also pretty decent, and they are priced competitively.

I rarely use filters these days. I will use a polarizer when needed, or I will use a UV for protection from water or blowing dust.

Have a Happy and Prosperous New Year, my friend!
--P

I've been very pleased with my B&W filter. The quality is excellent. 

Anil, I strongly caution you against saving a few dollars with Tiffen filters. The times I did that I ended up regretting it. All of the Tiffen filters I bought came covered with some sort of gunk/fog, which you can clean after some considerable amount of work. But, you let them stand for a few weeks and the fog comes back on its own. They all ended up in the trash can. This never happens with B&W or Fornatt Hitech. You receive them pristine and they stay that way. If you accidentally smear them, they are easy to clean and stay that way indefinitely. And yes, the Tiffens were stored in the same place as the other filters and used in the same way. They are just inferior quality glass, coating and construction. More generally, I can't see the logic in saving 30 dollars on a piece of glass that you put in front of a lens that may have cost you over $1000, not to speak of how much you paid for the best sensor you could afford. Regarding UV vs. clear protection, all glass is opaque to UV to a considerable extent (that is why you don't get a sun tan behind a window). UV protectant filters may be made of glass doped, or coated, with some material that makes them less UV transmittant. The importance of a good multi-coating is in preventing spurious reflections and flare off the filter. Ideally it would be best not to use any filter, as Preston points out, but if you are "accident prone" as I am, it is better to put something in front of the lens. And if you do, then go with optical quality glass with the best possible anti-reflection coating. Only B&W and Formatt-Hitech fit this description - you get what you pay for.

Thanks for all the wonderful replies. It is appreciated very much.

@Sandy & Preston: I purchased the filters from B&H (Hoya HD2 UV) and Amazon (Hoya HD3 UV). Unfortunately, they were not able to provide any explanation. I was just glad that they processed the refund without any fuss. Personally, I believe the problem is due to all of the coatings. They just end up acting as a magnet for dust and debris. I am still surprised through that a brand new filter can have so much gunk on it.

@Alberto & Igor: There are so many offerings from B+W. Do you have any specific suggestions? I think the X-Pro series should do the trick, however, they offer both a clear option and one with UV filtering.

Regards,

Hi Anil,

I also do not understand how a brand new filter could have that much gunk on it, either. It is possible that QC missed cleaning the filters before they were packaged.

A UV will remove a certain amount UV and haze, which could be valuable for grand landscapes. The clear glass would have no effect, except to protect the front element and the filter threads.

I have some B&W Pro and X-Pro filters. Both are very high quality. One thing I like about them is the ring is brass, so the filter can take more abuse.
--P

Anil,

I agree with Preston, their quality is unbeatable. I typically use their 010 UV MRC filters. The XS-Pro series have slim rims which are better at preventing vignetting in ultra-wide lenses (say 21mm or less in full frame format). Otherwise the optical characteristics are the same as the regular UV MRC filters.  

Hi Preston and Alberto,

Thanks for the additional information. I guess I will try out the B+W XS-Pro UV MRC 010 filter (82 mm).

Regards,