Are there noticeable differences between filter manufacturers?

[Jdub1107]

I was looking at getting Hoya S-HMC 52mm Polarizer and Hoya double coated UV filter. I was wondering if it was worth the money to buy Hoya brand, or would it be smarter to get the random brands sold on eBay?
Also, what's the difference between linear and circular polarizer?

Thanks.

Edit: I need this for a Canon S3.

[Sintares]

Get the best you can afford, the cheaper ones can change the color of the image or introduce distortions.

The people who buy those cheap filters on ebay (or the cheap x3 tcons etc) are the same people who go

"Gee honey, a nice man emailed me telling me I had won a million bucks, just have to send him $50 in cash and he will release the check to me, cool ! "

Linears are cheaper and can be used on most cameras excluding Dslrs, circulars are more expensive can be used on all cameras, but if you don't have a dslr or are not planning on getting one, might as well save some bucks and buy the LP.

For the precise physical differences and why a Dslr needs a CP, well thats complicated, be much better to google it if you are interested.

[Jdub1107]

Thanks! Glad I posted here before buying the circular polarizer. I have a Canon S3, so I guess I only need a linear one. That'll save me some money that can go toward other accessories.

[Vich]

Thanks! Glad I posted here before buying the circular polarizer. I have a Canon S3, so I guess I only need a linear one. That'll save me some money that can go toward other accessories.
Here's the S3 specifications. (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelTechSpecsAct&fcategoryid=144&modelid=13077). It does TTL (Through The Lens) auto focusing, it is digital (obviously), so it should be subject to the LP interference issue.

[RAGEous]

Just wanted to add one thing. I have an S3 also and I purchased some Hoya multicoated filters for it. The Hoya MC filters are a royal pain to keep clean! You can try anything, soft towel, lens cleaning cloth(microfiber)...it doesnt seem to matter. It just smears the lens. You need to come back to the thing and rub it down for a couple cleaning sessions before you get it to an acceptable level. Even then, my Hoya HMC UV filter still has smudges on the outer edges.

I saw an article online about this, but I didn't save the link. If someone else knows where it's at, maybe they can post the link. The guy that wrote the article said he basically only buys B+W filters now, even though they cost more. But his conclusion was that you don't really need the multicoated ones(which cost a lot more). I have since bought a cheap ($10) canon non-MC UV filter and I've had no problems with it.

Anyway, I just wanted to warn you about the Hoya multicoats. Overall, they are good filters....just don't get them dirty!

[Jdub1107]

Rageous, have you noticed any difference in your pictures between Hoya and Canon filters?

[RAGEous]

I just got the canon UV filter and I haven't had a chance to take any really well lit shots with it. I should be able to let you know after this weekend.

I held both the hoya and canon UV filters up to a light source side by side and I saw no difference. Neither one seems to have a color cast or anything like that.

Maybe I'll try taking the same shot with each filter and see if there's a difference. I'll keep you posted.

[BowerR64]

When i get an eye for seeing the difference between a $30. filter and a$5. filter ill get the good one. For now im just using them as protection for the stock lens. I would rather wipe a cheap filter and then replace it every so often then to spend the money on a good one and trash it in 6 months.

What does a filter do that you cant do with photoshop?

[AlexMonro]

What does a filter do that you cant do with photoshop?

Polariser.

[GaryS]

What does a filter do that you cant do with photoshop?

With a Neutral Density filter, you can use a slower shutter speed to get blur on shots, that you cannot easily replicate with Photoshop....

With a polarizer, you can remove glare from plants, windows, or the sky. This is not easy to replicate in PS.

[AlexMonro]

With a Neutral Density filter, you can use a slower shutter speed to get blur on shots, that you cannot easily replicate with Photoshop....

With a polarizer, you can remove glare from plants, windows, or the sky. This is not easy to replicate in PS.

You might sometimes be able to replicate motion blur effects in PS with a _LOT_ of time and effort, but yes, good point, an ND and slow shutter is probably much easier.

[mcenut]

Are there noticeable differences between filter manufacturers?

Simple answer is yes. You do get what you pay for.

On the other hand, it depends on what type of filter are buying. When it comes to polarizer and UV filters don’t skimp on quality and buy the best you can afford. But for ND, colored and close-up filters quality may not matter that much. I decide what level of quality I will be happy with and buy accordingly.

I'm very happy with my bargin basement ND and close-up filters I bought on eBay.

[BowerR64]

I knew i would get heat for not excluding the polarizer. I use the UV more then the polarizer though just for protection more then for any kind of effect.

Maybe i just dont know what they are good for. I thought ide use a polarizer for reflections but they dont seem to work like i thought they would.

[Radio63]

Any camera which uses through-the-lens metering or through-the-lens automatic focusing needs a circular polarizer. A linear polarizer can negatively effect both your focus and your exposure if you have through-the-lens focusing or metering. I believe the S3 has both, doesn't it?

When I used to work in a camera store, we discovered that the biggest difference between filters was not the glass but the quality of the housing. Better filters usually had sturdier housings, more smoothly manufactured threads, etc. Be sure your UV filter has an outer retaining ring; this is important for getting it off the lens should you ever damage the fillter (in the camera shop, we saw at least one broken UV every day). The quality of glass in a filter is unlikely to be significant enough to affect a photo unless you're shooting in macro modes; multicoated lenses, however, are less prone to pick up reflection.

[XaiLo]

I am curious when talking about problems with cleaning Hoya filters are we refering to the front or the back multicoated side of the filter. I've smudged the front of my Hoya pro1 CP while trying to secure a "Clip-In Lens Cap w/ molded in loop" the clip in worked great except it kept slipping off the adapter. It was becoming rather annoying having to worry about it every time I was taking a shot. So I shortened the loop by using a small zip tie there my tip of the day. ;) But the smudge took less than a second to remove with a piece of lens paper. So is it only an issue with the back of the filter? I chose Hoya over B&W because form the information I gathered Hoya high end filters were comparible to B&W only issue was cleaning. I can not say whether or not a cheap CP filter is of equal quality as an expensive one I was not inclined to find out. Filters have been around for a long time and in this industry I have to presume if there wasn't a real difference then you would have quite a few professionals balking at the prices... I have found in life for the most part you get what you pay for. I find it much easier to accept that I might have paid a little more for something of quality rather than finding out what I paid for was worthless.

[Jdub1107]

Looks like I'm going to be getting Hoya filters. I'll probably buy them off of eBay.