Which Circular Polariser should I buy?

[flying-giraffe]

Hi!

I am hoping you guys can help me out, I'm a complete novice at digital photography so need some help picking my Dad's birthday present (who is pretty into his photography).

He has asked me to get him a good quality 58mm circular polariser for his Canon 350D

What would you all recommend I get for him?

(I am willing to spend about £50 - £70)

Thanks for your help in advance!

[coldrain]

Well, not sure for what lens... kit lens I am guessing? The polarizer will be more expensive than the lens ;).

Very good polarizers are the ones from B+W. If you can not find those, circular polarizers form Canon and multicoated ones from Hoya are also very good.

[flying-giraffe]

i would guess it is the kit lens yeah... not 100% sure, I know he borrows a better lens from his friend who has some serious kit from time to time but i am pretty sure it would be bigger than 58mm

would you suggest getting something slightly cheaper then?

p.s. thanks for the quick response!

[Rhys]

Cheap polarisers just aren't very good.

Avoid cheap makes like Sunpak, Tiffin and Quantaray. They'll polarise but will blur the image as well if you're unlucky.

The cheapest reasonable filters are ProMaster but to be quite honest why buy an uncoated Promaster filter when you can by a coated Hoya for the same price. Make sure the filter is multicoated. Try looking here: http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_attrib.php?form_keyword=58mm+circular+polar izer+-moose+-slim+-kit+-sunpak+-tiffen&topcat_id=&page_id=584&lo_p=0&hi_p=0

[DonSchap]

I've recently had a few go rounds with Circular Polarizers and have found...

the Hoya HMC CP (see link below)

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=details&kw=HOCPMC58&is=REG&Q=&O=productlist&sku=116779

to be the best choice for the expense. If you want to spend more... the B+W CP is an excellent choice. But... you want to really pop your "present money" in the right direction... get your father a:

Canon EF 28~105mm f/3.5-4.5 USM II

13285

along with that 58mm HMC polarizer on it. ($225 lens & $70 filter). Now, that's a gift that keeps on giving and a heck of a bargain, too. This may be one of the best starter lenses out there and kind of a sleeper, too. Here it is... mounted on your father's camera... how about that?

13286

Hey... even if you do not buy it... please mention it to your dad or your mom for their consideration.

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelDetailAct&fcategoryid=149&modelid=7442

You could buy it here...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=206434&is=USA&addedTroughType=search

Here is a good review on that particular lens:

http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/canon_28105_3545/index.htm

BTW: Be careful not to get the Canon EF 28~105 f/4-5.6 as it may be a $100 cheaper... but, acts like it, too. Cheap is not always a bargain... especially in lensing. :)

[flying-giraffe]

Thanks for the help guys, all very useful.

What is the shipping like between those sites and the UK though? as I only have 6 days before I need to head back home for his birthday.

The selection seems to be very poor on UK sites... or have I just been looking in the wrong places? (they also seem to lack much description as well)

I have found this on a UK site but with no real desciption on it.. so I don't know how good it is etc.

But guessing from what you have said and the price it is, it wont be as good as the ones you were suggesting.

Thanks again for all the help.

[Rhys]

For the UK, try 7dayshop.com or Jessops.

[MikeKS]

Thought i would ask on this thread instead of starting a new one.

UV filters, is it really worth purchasing an expensive one? I actually have a tiffen UV filter but i have until this sunday to return it or exchange it. Should i shell out a little more loot and purchase a hoya or b+w brand UV filter?

[DonSchap]

I haven't noticed any serious problems with UV filters on lenses.

Polarizers, on the other hand, can really flake out your autofocus. Believe me... I've been experiencing this with some of my newer lenses, trying to use cheaper polarizers. You may get away with it on short focal lengths... but over 50mm and you will start seeing the effects, if there are any.

[Rhys]

UV filters like any other need to be good and need to be multicoated in order to enhance your photography rather than detract from the quality. And polarisers must be circular rather than linear with AF cameras.

[XaiLo]

I just purchased a Hoya SMC Pro 1 52mm Circular Polarizer "perfect for digital" it's $92US for the 58mm. The short time I've had it I have no complaints and no issues with it, does it's job quite nicely now if only the sun would cooperate. Try http://www.2filter.com/prices/specials.html they have the best prices I have found on the web and they ship international. Ignore the initial prices you see there all reduced once you click on it to see the check out price. B&H has mine priced $23 more than I paid... ;)

[flying-giraffe]

OK well after a lot of searching I think I have narrowed down my choices

B+W Circular Polarizer Multi-Resistant Coating (MRC) 58mm:
http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.asp?sku=322474

B+W Circular Polarizer Slim, 58mm:
http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.asp?sku=322480

Hoya Super HMC PRO-1 Digital Circular Polarising Filter:
http://www.morrisphoto.co.uk/ProductDetails~man~Hoya~productID~5845~categoryid~ 191.html


annoyingly, i think the ideal one to get woule be a B+W Circular Polarizer MRC Slim... but I can't find one of those except in wide-angle!

Does slim make much difference? or is it purely just an aesthetic thing?

[coldrain]

The slim line is for lenses that are constructed in a way that when you put the filter on you will see dark corners in the photo. Only some wide angle lenses would have that danger, most are designed to take a normal filter height. The flt line should work on any lens with the same filter diameter, they are not especially for wide angle lenses.

[Rhys]

Slim filters only make a difference with ultra-wide lenses or when you're stacking filters. I have it on good authority that Tamron's 17-35 is built to be used with a single standard filter. The 18-55 is not quite as wide and should therefore also be able to be used with a single filter. I have never been tempted to buy a filter for it though.