What is your favorite filter brand?

[Daniel Stone]

I'm very fond of the telephone pole filter. It matters not the make, but they sure come in handy!

ain't that called a chainsaw ?

-Dan

[Two23]

I use a polarizer quite a bit. After trying all the usual brands, (B+W, Hoya, etc.) I've come to like the Marumi Super DHG the best. I also use colored filters since I only shoot b&w when using film. I use Hoya coated filters. I sometimes use a HiTech ND grad or two. I have some coated ND filters to slow exposures down so I can use my Petzval lens in daytime. Other than that, I don't use filters. My favorite filter is the Marumi polarizer--I'm a polarizer addict with color photos outdoors.


Kent in SD

[Brian Ellis]

I agree with Frank that in most cases the best filter is none at least for b&w photography. Using a filter may accomplish something good but will often have a downside that's as bad or worse than the effect that would have been produced without the filter (e.g. a red filter may turn a blue sky black which some people seem to like but it often will also turn any green foliage that's in the scene black, which isn't usually desirable).

The main reason I used to carry red, orange, yellow, green, and blue filters was to create tonal separation between two colors that would merge in a b&w photograph if a filter wasn't used. Today I can easily create the desired separation in Photoshop so I don't carry those filters any more, I only carry polarizers. The polarizers I have are made by B+W though I've also used Tiffen and Hoyas. I can't distinguish a photograph made with a B+W polarizer from one made with a Hoya or a Tiffen but they have nice solid feel to them and in the overall scheme of things their cost is minor.

[rdenney]

I've used all the major brands, and they all work fine. I've been told I have low standards, though.

I'm with Frank that I have to have a reason to use a filter, and much of the time I don't.

I do like to be able to use a polarizer, but that is a little more challenging on large format and I've not done it much. But I am waiting for delivery of a Sinar polarizer frame, which allows me to swing the polarizer into a viewing position, adjust it, and then swing it back in front of the lens, all in a way that maintains the polarized effect.

I experimented with Cokin filters once upon a time, and I did have problems with those. They just aren't field-tough, and they are too thick for the short lenses I sometimes use.

Rick "thinking the polarized effect can be grossly overdone if used indiscriminately" Denney

[Jehu]

Lee.

I don't have anything against any other brands but it takes a few iterations to get to know any adjustment. When shooting film, that means much more time and materials so any consistency in workflow I can get is important to me. I prefer to stick with one brand with a wide selection.

It is true that, in a digital darkroom, you can apply the ND grad filter but if you start with one in the field then there is more detail to work with so a well used filter can aid in digital processing. It's difficult to bring back detail from a blown out sky. A three stop filter can make it more workable without losing shadow detail.

[Leigh]

I agree with Frank that in most cases the best filter is none at least for b&w photography. Using a filter may accomplish something good but will often have a downside that's as bad or worse than the effect that would have been produced without the filter (e.g. a red filter may turn a blue sky black which some people seem to like but it often will also turn any green foliage that's in the scene black, which isn't usually desirable).

I absolutely agree... If you don't know what you're doing, you shouldn't do it.

- Leigh

[Brian Ellis]

Lee.

I don't have anything against any other brands but it takes a few iterations to get to know any adjustment. When shooting film, that means much more time and materials so any consistency in workflow I can get is important to me. I prefer to stick with one brand with a wide selection.

It is true that, in a digital darkroom, you can apply the ND grad filter but if you start with one in the field then there is more detail to work with so a well used filter can aid in digital processing. It's difficult to bring back detail from a blown out sky. A three stop filter can make it more workable without losing shadow detail.

I agree that if using the Photoshop ND filter was the only way of dealing with blown out skies in Photoshop ND grads in camera would be better. But I don't generally use the Photoshop ND grad filter to deal with potentially blown out skies. I make multiple exposures in camera and then merge them in Photoshop or Photomatix. That way I don't have to worry with ND grads and I can get a perfect exposure for the sky and a perfect exposure for the foreground ("perfect" just meaning an exposure based solely on each element in the scene, not that I do that or anything else to perfection).

[Steve Barber]

Lee 100mm filter system and B+W for the threaded filters used with it, such as the 105mm Polarizer on the threaded adapter ring on the outside of the foundation kit.

[Jehu]

I agree that if using the Photoshop ND filter was the only way of dealing with blown out skies in Photoshop ND grads in camera would be better. But I don't generally use the Photoshop ND grad filter to deal with potentially blown out skies. I make multiple exposures in camera and then merge them in Photoshop or Photomatix. That way I don't have to worry with ND grads and I can get a perfect exposure for the sky and a perfect exposure for the foreground ("perfect" just meaning an exposure based solely on each element in the scene, not that I do that or anything else to perfection).

In short... HDR?

[Bob Salomon]

I use a polarizer quite a bit. After trying all the usual brands, (B+W, Hoya, etc.) I've come to like the Marumi Super DHG the best. I also use colored filters since I only shoot b&w when using film. I use Hoya coated filters. I sometimes use a HiTech ND grad or two. I have some coated ND filters to slow exposures down so I can use my Petzval lens in daytime. Other than that, I don't use filters. My favorite filter is the Marumi polarizer--I'm a polarizer addict with color photos outdoors.


Kent in SD

You do know that there is a new type of polarizer out now?

http://www.largeformatphotography.in...ad.php?t=72519