Filters (color and graduated)

[1kgcoffee]

I'm interested in acquiring some filters.

Of course, I don't want to waste $$ on garbage that will degrade image quality, nor spend $$$$$$$ for a name that is not that much different, or worse than something that comes out of the same factory but doesn't carry the same name.

Looking specifically for color filters (screw on type) and soft/hard graduated ND to be used in holders.

For color filters, how are the old soviet ones compared to brands like hoya or tiffen or B&W?

How are inexpensive Chinese brands like Zomei?

Thanks in advance
-1kgcoffee

 

[Bill Burk]

Get the Galen Rowell filters from Singh-Ray. Wow on adorama they're only 35 dollars used. But careful, one I looked at was used-D while others are used-E and used-E+

 

[Jim70]

I'd invest in quality filters, Hoya, B&W, Singh-Ray, Cokin, etc. Cheap filters can have optical imperfections and may scratch very easily. Anything you put in front of your lens impacts the image you capture.

 

[jim10219]

The only problem I’ve experienced with cheap filters is they’re not multicoated. So flare can be an issue, especially if you don’t use a lens hood. I’ve read horror stories on the internet, but have never experienced bad results from cheap filters.

Another thing to consider is there aren’t that many filter making plants in the world. So often times the cheap filters are going to be made by the same machines as the expensive name brands. They may not have the multicoating applied, but other than that, they will often be the same.

I have at least 100 filters from all kinds of different brands. A lot of them look identical outside of the writing and the box they came in. A lot of them perform identically in real world conditions. However, one issue I have had with the cheaper brands is quality control. I have purchased two or three of the cheaper filters that came with defects from the factory. None of my B&W, Hoya, Tiffen, or Cokin filters have come with factory defects. I haven’t owned any Singh-Ray filters, so I can’t comment on them. But I could buy maybe 7 cheap filters for the price of one expensive one, so even with the defective ones, I’m still saving a ton of money.

So that’s my experience. Which ones I buy often depend on what I’m going to be using it for. If I plan to use them regularly, I’ll get a better brand with multicoating. Multicoating can come in handy from time to time. If I don’t plan on using it often, or it comes in a filter size for a lens I rarely use, I’ll save the money and get a cheap one.

 

[btaylor]

As a cheapskate, I have often been tempted with new cheap filters. But before I buy any I’ll take a look at eBay and www.filterfind.net and I always find the filters I am looking for in top brands for very little money. So I don’t know if low priced new filters have poor optical quality and I don’t need to bother finding out! That’s assuming you’re okay with used filters.

 

[jeffreyg]

One thing I look for beside quality glass is brass mounts. The aluminum mounts tend to jam more in my experience. I've had good results with B+W and Heliopan. For rectangular and square filters check Lee. I even made some graduated filters many years ago using Lee clear blanks with Rit dyes.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/