- #TIFFEN OR VIVITAR LENS FILTERS WHICH BETTER FULL#
- #TIFFEN OR VIVITAR LENS FILTERS WHICH BETTER PRO#
A few years ago I threw the whole box away. I could never bring myself to sell them because it would have been unethical. I found that only 4 of the 50 filters were OK enough to use. This was the event that led me down the path to filter testing. The moment I started putting them on my various nikon autofocus lenses I knew I was in trouble.
#TIFFEN OR VIVITAR LENS FILTERS WHICH BETTER FULL#
I had opportunity to buy a whole drawer full of them from a dealer in NC that was selling out. Some really bad, some really good and some in between.Īt one time in the film days I was enamored with the Singh Ray filters dedicated to either Kodachrome or E-6 films. Tiffen filters are overall not very good, with terrible quality control. I have tested tiffen and singh ray filters that were so poor they impacted autofocus. But add longer focal length lenses, or ultrawides to the equation and suddenly it is a different story. If you shoot moderate focal lengths between 40-135mm you can often shoot blissfully for years without noticing filter issues. The best glass in the world is meaningless if it is askew in the frame.Īnd now image quality issues not only include the lens but the camera body as well. There are 2 major factors in determining filter quality. So expensive that the few dollar difference between Hoya and BW is somewhat irrelevant. And now the higher end Hoya filters are quite expensive. My only Hoya gripe over the years has been cleaning issues. Hoya deserves to be included in the top tier with BW and Heliopan. I even tested some examples of real low end filters like Samigon, Rokunar, Vivitar that were quite superior to Tiffen. Because Hoya filters are so superior to Tiffen filters it is not even funny. Like they are the second tier of filter behind BW and Heliopan. Too often Hoya and Tiffen are mentioned together. The reason choose BW over Hoya is that BW filters are in better frames than Hoya. A good Hoya filter was every bit as good as a good BW, Heliopan, etc. Hoya had excellent quality control, on average 7 out of 10. I found that BW, Heliopan and Nikon had excellent quality control. And always try to buy multicoated filters. BW are better only because generally they are easier to find and less expensive. My advice to you would be to stick to BW and Heliopan. I could literally write pages on what I learned. I tested literally hundreds of these filters when I had access to the proper equipment, AND camera dealer friends (who were still in business) that were dealers of the various brands. Primarily Tiffen, Hoya, BW, Heliopan, Nikon, SinghRay. I have done extensive testing of filters. Steve, I am not sure if the 16mm is wide enough to cause the effect but wide angle lenses cause blotching with Polarizers because of the changing angles and you have to fix it in post.
#TIFFEN OR VIVITAR LENS FILTERS WHICH BETTER PRO#
I haven't tried the pro line of Hoya so I am not sure how it fits in but I form habits / loyalty and B+W has been primary for quite a few years. You can see that holding the filters in your hand and comparing them.
![tiffen or vivitar lens filters which better tiffen or vivitar lens filters which better](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2560/2536/products/Tiffen_52DVSEK_52mm_Special_Effects_1232673689_248580_800x.jpg)
I have a Tiffen that is rather scary, and performance, the better coatings don't create flare or ghosting. Some filters I have seen (there is a pile in one of my office drawers) is they have a slight color to them. I have seen some resolution tests that show the filters have a higher lines / mm than most Canon lenses. The reasons I prefer them are primarily resolution, color, and performance.
![tiffen or vivitar lens filters which better tiffen or vivitar lens filters which better](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/GQQAAOSwEeFU68sG/s-l400.jpg)
They are schott glass (as is Heliopan) (zeiss for contax lenses are made out of schott such as the famous zeiss 21mm).
![tiffen or vivitar lens filters which better tiffen or vivitar lens filters which better](https://cdn3.focuscamera.com/media/product/55d/tiffen-77mm-uv-protector-lens-filter-77uvp-306.jpg)
I prefer B+W for UV / protection filters over Hoya / Tiffen.