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[Filters] Which UV and Pol. filter for MF?


slecoanet

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Hi!

 

As a newcomer to MF I think I should take care about UV (intended as

protection layer) and polarizing filter's quality.

 

I wouldn't like to ruin the lens' performance with poor quality

filters.I use a Mamiya7 so I thought about linear polarizing since

they seem cheaper.

 

It seems Heliopan is among the best but they are not easy to find in

shops (i'd like to see the filters before buying it)

 

What about BW? Are they much better than Hoya or Tiffen?

 

In other words, is the extra money worth it?

 

I'm interested in your feedback (I'm interested in landscape shooting

with Mamiya 65mm for M7)

 

Thanks in advance for your answers

 

Stephane

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Hello Stephane. I use both Heliopan and B+W filters for black and white photography. Be

prepared because mf filters of high quality are not cheap. Many swear by the B+W mrc

(multi resistant coating) filters. I wanted protection for my Zeiss glass and was willing to

pay for the B+W mrc filters. Heliopan and B+W are German and I beleive both are

constructed from Schott glass. Very good quality. Google for the "filter connection". This

site is informative and they carry several manufacturers.

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Heliopan and B+W are the best. Multicoating is worth it, in my opinion, for filters you will use frequently. Heliopan rings are better than B+W, and if you like to stack filters with caps for storage, you're better off with Heliopan, because the filter type is engraved on the side of the ring in the normal way. B+W puts the filter type on the retaining ring, though, so those are easily visible if you prefer a filter wallet, though it's usually pretty obvious what the filter is in a filter wallet, since you can see the filter.

 

Both are made to high standards, and mail order houses that are serious enough to carry them will accept returns if they are defective.

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When I first started serious filter shopping I ran across B+W and wasn't familiar with them either. Then I noticed that B+W filters are made by Schneider - Kreuznach, which I was VERY familiar with. Enough said... they're EXCELLENT filters, heads above Hoya/Tiffen/Promaster/yadda-yadda.

 

I do like my Heliopan filters as well, but you'll be pleased with B+W also.

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I echo others' positive responses about B+W, and have two of

their polarisers. Heliopan, though optically very good have

proved to offer poor build quality - glass coming apart from rings;

rings binding etc and certainly here in the UK they seem to take

an age to get if what you want isn't in stock.

 

All that said the best polariser I have is a Hoya Super Pro 1- a

slim polariser with front thread . To be fair it isn't a cheap filter

and may cost about as much as a B+W multicoated anyway. I've

run tests of this looking at the colour rendition of clear blue sky

vs B+W polarisers and find the Hoya to give a more vibrant and

naturally coloured image.

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