b + W filters (b plus w)

slip · 01-29-2013, 04:01 AM

our local photo place is really trying to push this brand... is it as good as hoya?

thanks

randy

Anvh · 01-29-2013, 04:55 AM

It's better in some ways.
In the USA they are bit more expensive though then here in the EU so not sure it is worth the price.
Plussides are brass metal, so the filters are easier to remove and the MRC coating is one of the best out there and they are very easy to clean, something that is a problem with some Hoya filters i hear....

I've only B+W filters and i'm ready to pay a bit more for them then for Hoya.

**Fries** · 01-29-2013, 05:02 AM

Yes, and easier to clean.

**Ron Boggs** · 01-29-2013, 07:37 AM

B+W filters are made from cut glass which assures parallel surfaces. The top brands like B+W and Heliopan do this. Less expensive filters are commonly made with molded glass (or at least used to be).

tabl10s · 01-29-2013, 10:15 AM

Just get one and forget about it. I have 10 lenses. Six have B+W, one has a Schneider which is the same as B+W and the last two will have as soon as I can afford a '67 and '77.

Docrwm · 01-29-2013, 10:23 AM

Brand is NOT the main differentiating factor any longer. It might have been years ago. Great companies can, and do, make really bad filters. That said, B+W are among the most expensive and rate higher in tests but brands like Marumi rate just as high and are typically considerably less expensive.

Pontax · 01-29-2013, 03:42 PM

Your local photo place is right, B+W is absolutely the best. In EU the price is less then Hoya IMO. Check out their site. They also make great hoods.

slip · 01-29-2013, 06:33 PM

Originally posted by Pontax

Your local photo place is right, B+W is absolutely the best. In EU the price is less then Hoya IMO. Check out their site. They also make great hoods.

In Canada for a 67mm both Hoya pro and B+W are the same price. Sounds like I am going to give b+w a try. Both are 79 dollars at that size.
UV or skylight filter? Both the same?

Thanks so far,

Randy

MegaPower · 01-29-2013, 07:03 PM

By class, B+W > hoya = kenko > marumi. (only because marumi is a newer company)
By rating, B+W = Hoya = Kenko = Marumi.

I have all of them, you will not see real life difference.

Of course, you need to compare their highest series line.
Most of them made cheap filter (i.e. non-coated glass) which has bad results.

Pontax · 01-30-2013, 12:48 AM

In Denmark B+W Pro F cost 56Can$. Hoya is less sorry I was wrong. UV is 1,0X and Skylight is 1,1X the difference is very little.

Anvh · 01-30-2013, 04:37 AM

UV does nothing for your photos while skylight take away the haze slightly more and making the sky slightly deeper.
Anyway get the MRC version, you really want to have the coating

**gofour3** · 01-30-2013, 10:41 AM

Originally posted by slip

In Canada for a 67mm both Hoya pro and B+W are the same price. Sounds like I am going to give b+w a try. Both are 79 dollars at that size.
UV or skylight filter? Both the same?

Thanks so far,

Randy

A skylight filter is mostly used with colour slide film to reduce a bluish tint that can happen in certain lighting situations. It also works as a UV filter.

B+W filters sold in North America are pricier as they are the better brass filters. You can also get the B+W “made for Asia” alloy filters that are a bit cheaper online. They are the same glass (MRC and regular) but the metal is the difference.

B+W also have a line of excellent Kaesemann polarizers.

Phil.

Laurentiu Cristofor · 01-30-2013, 04:54 PM

B+W MRC coating is harder than glass so it is harder to scratch. I scratched a Hoya HMC filter while cleaning it and since then I only purchased B+W - I have not scratched any of them. The Hoya HD filters are supposed to be improved, but by the time they showed up I was already buying only B+W.

I would only use UV filters for protection on expensive lenses - as a thumb rule, if the filter ends up costing 10% of the cost of the lens, I don't get one for that lens. You may also want to have a look at this article in which I dumped other useful information about filters.

tabl10s · 01-31-2013, 09:30 AM

Originally posted by Laurentiu Cristofor

B+W MRC coating is harder than glass so it is harder to scratch. I scratched a Hoya HMC filter while cleaning it and since then I only purchased B+W - I have not scratched any of them. The Hoya HD filters are supposed to be improved, but by the time they showed up I was already buying only B+W.

I would only use UV filters for protection on expensive lenses - as a thumb rule, if the filter ends up costing 10% of the cost of the lens, I don't get one for that lens. You may also want to have a look at this article in which I dumped other useful information about filters.

My Tammy 70-200 cost $625 used. It's going to get a B &W UV which might cost me $150(got to protect the investment).

stormtech · 01-31-2013, 12:49 PM

I never use any filters except for polarizers and now possibly getting a ND. I have a B+W Kaesemann Cir Polarizer in 67mm that fits a few of my lenses, but want one for my DA* 16-50 now. Just having a hard time parting with $115 for one right now........

01-29-2013, 04:01 AM	#1
slip Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 2 hours north of toronto ontario canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,535	b + W filters (b plus w) our local photo place is really trying to push this brand... is it as good as hoya? thanks randy

01-29-2013, 04:55 AM	#2
Anvh Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 4,616	It's better in some ways. In the USA they are bit more expensive though then here in the EU so not sure it is worth the price. Plussides are brass metal, so the filters are easier to remove and the MRC coating is one of the best out there and they are very easy to clean, something that is a problem with some Hoya filters i hear.... I've only B+W filters and i'm ready to pay a bit more for them then for Hoya. Last edited by Anvh; 01-29-2013 at 06:13 AM.

01-29-2013, 10:23 AM	#6
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Brand is NOT the main differentiating factor any longer. It might have been years ago. Great companies can, and do, make really bad filters. That said, B+W are among the most expensive and rate higher in tests but brands like Marumi rate just as high and are typically considerably less expensive. Last edited by Docrwm; 01-29-2013 at 03:51 PM.

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01-29-2013, 05:02 AM	#3
Fries Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Gauw Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,582	Yes, and easier to clean.

01-29-2013, 07:37 AM	#4
Ron Boggs Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: MT Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,349	B+W filters are made from cut glass which assures parallel surfaces. The top brands like B+W and Heliopan do this. Less expensive filters are commonly made with molded glass (or at least used to be).

01-29-2013, 10:15 AM	#5
tabl10s Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Sacramento(formerly from B'Ham, England). Posts: 1,424	Just get one and forget about it. I have 10 lenses. Six have B+W, one has a Schneider which is the same as B+W and the last two will have as soon as I can afford a '67 and '77.

01-29-2013, 03:42 PM	#7
Pontax Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Bornholm Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 160	Your local photo place is right, B+W is absolutely the best. In EU the price is less then Hoya IMO. Check out their site. They also make great hoods.

01-29-2013, 06:33 PM	#8
slip Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 2 hours north of toronto ontario canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,535 Original Poster	Originally posted by Pontax Your local photo place is right, B+W is absolutely the best. In EU the price is less then Hoya IMO. Check out their site. They also make great hoods. In Canada for a 67mm both Hoya pro and B+W are the same price. Sounds like I am going to give b+w a try. Both are 79 dollars at that size. UV or skylight filter? Both the same? Thanks so far, Randy

01-29-2013, 07:03 PM	#9
MegaPower Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Hong Kong / Irvine, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 636	By class, B+W > hoya = kenko > marumi. (only because marumi is a newer company) By rating, B+W = Hoya = Kenko = Marumi. I have all of them, you will not see real life difference. Of course, you need to compare their highest series line. Most of them made cheap filter (i.e. non-coated glass) which has bad results.

01-30-2013, 12:48 AM	#10
Pontax Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Bornholm Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 160	In Denmark B+W Pro F cost 56Can$. Hoya is less sorry I was wrong. UV is 1,0X and Skylight is 1,1X the difference is very little.

01-30-2013, 04:37 AM	#11
Anvh Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 4,616	UV does nothing for your photos while skylight take away the haze slightly more and making the sky slightly deeper. Anyway get the MRC version, you really want to have the coating

01-30-2013, 10:41 AM	#12
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,091	Originally posted by slip In Canada for a 67mm both Hoya pro and B+W are the same price. Sounds like I am going to give b+w a try. Both are 79 dollars at that size. UV or skylight filter? Both the same? Thanks so far, Randy A skylight filter is mostly used with colour slide film to reduce a bluish tint that can happen in certain lighting situations. It also works as a UV filter. B+W filters sold in North America are pricier as they are the better brass filters. You can also get the B+W “made for Asia” alloy filters that are a bit cheaper online. They are the same glass (MRC and regular) but the metal is the difference. B+W also have a line of excellent Kaesemann polarizers. Phil.

01-30-2013, 04:54 PM	#13
Laurentiu Cristofor Banned Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: WA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,055	B+W MRC coating is harder than glass so it is harder to scratch. I scratched a Hoya HMC filter while cleaning it and since then I only purchased B+W - I have not scratched any of them. The Hoya HD filters are supposed to be improved, but by the time they showed up I was already buying only B+W. I would only use UV filters for protection on expensive lenses - as a thumb rule, if the filter ends up costing 10% of the cost of the lens, I don't get one for that lens. You may also want to have a look at this article in which I dumped other useful information about filters.

01-31-2013, 09:30 AM	#14
tabl10s Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Sacramento(formerly from B'Ham, England). Posts: 1,424	Originally posted by Laurentiu Cristofor B+W MRC coating is harder than glass so it is harder to scratch. I scratched a Hoya HMC filter while cleaning it and since then I only purchased B+W - I have not scratched any of them. The Hoya HD filters are supposed to be improved, but by the time they showed up I was already buying only B+W. I would only use UV filters for protection on expensive lenses - as a thumb rule, if the filter ends up costing 10% of the cost of the lens, I don't get one for that lens. You may also want to have a look at this article in which I dumped other useful information about filters. My Tammy 70-200 cost $625 used. It's going to get a B &W UV which might cost me $150(got to protect the investment).

01-31-2013, 12:49 PM	#15
stormtech Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: In the boonies (NW Penna) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,744	I never use any filters except for polarizers and now possibly getting a ND. I have a B+W Kaesemann Cir Polarizer in 67mm that fits a few of my lenses, but want one for my DA* 16-50 now. Just having a hard time parting with $115 for one right now........