B/W Filters - Importance of Quality

[michael gordon httpwww]

In the past, I've only purchased Hoya or B&W MC/SMC filters for all

my color work. I'm wondering how important brand quality is in the

b/w scheme of things; are the MC/SMC coatings equally as important

for b/w, or will Tiffen or Sunpak uncoated yellow/green/red filters

produce the same results as Hoya or B&W? Does anyone have tested

experience between MC and non-MC color filters? The savings on just

one filter can buy another.....Thank you.

[peter_langfelder]

I can't see any reason why uncoated filters would be any better for B&W than they are for color photography. Stray bouncing light will always decrease contrast, obscure shadow detail and/or produce flare spots, no matter whether the film is color or b&w.

[ole_tjugen]

For a single filter, coating doesn't realy matter. If you stack two or more, you will see the difference.

If the lens in uncoated or single-coated, buy MC/SMC filters - these lenses don't need any more reflections...

[joseph_verdesca]

There are numerous threads on this topic - search "multicoated filter", for example.

 

The following threads appear to be responsive to one or more of your questions:

 

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=000Vya

 

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00014k

 

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0001SH

 

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=000S9w

 

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=000Hhe

 

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=000byv

[david_floyd]

I realize that your posting is an older posting, but I just recently found it. My response focuses on the lense but equates to the filter. People often ask me what kind of camera I shoot with. I find this question odd since my first question would be about the lense they are using. The reason is that the glass of the lense is the first piece of equipment that the image passes through. The higher the quality of the lense the higher the quality of image when it hits the film. With a lower quality lense the image is slightly distorted with is more obvouse under enlargements and paying close attention to the detail. This is why profesionals use higher quality lenses which are also more expensive.

 

Getting back to your filter question. With a filter, this piece of glass becomes the first part of the camera that the image passes through, hence the first peice of glass that can alter the image. I always use the best equipment can afford and that includes lenses.

 

In defense of my statement, magazines analize lenses and film for image quality and camera bodies are analized for features.

 

I hope this helps.

David