Value Filters for B&W

[Randy_Va]

About six months ago I though I had a great Idea, buy a couple of filter adapters so I can use 58mm filters on my small set of 35mm Pentax lenses and grab the appropriate filters from the used selection of the stores in the area.

So far the ONLY filters I have found are K2 (yellow) and only for 49mm. Luckily that covers the lens that is on my camera 70% of the time. The local stores have BOXES of UV filters, but not much else. I went so far as to start searching for crap cameras with filters on eBay before I came to my senses and realized that these are most likely scratched.

However now I have come to the conclusion that I am going to have to buy these new (Yellow-Green, Orange, Red, 2 and 4 stop ND, and Polarizer).

It looks like B+W Filters from Adorama are the cheapest available, but is the quality decent, and are there other "value" brands or places to purchase grey market that I should consider?

[Focus No. 9]

i'm new to the game so i bought some used filters from b&h. you might check out KEH online as well. both rate their used merchandise. I also bought some from ebay...46mm to fit my old school point n shoots.

[Nicholas Lindan]

Try the used camera shows in your area. In this area they go by the name of 'Photorama' - I think the shows get to Virginia.

[jeffreyg]

I have B+W filters they are well made from high quality glass in brass rings. Heliopan filters are also made from Shott glass in brass rings.

[Rich Ullsmith]

Keep looking, Randy. They are out there, and not so expensive. Analogue photography goes hand-in-hand with those other addictive passtimes: garage-saling, storage-unit auctioning, Craiglisting, and general scrounging.

[rthomas]

I agree with Focus No. 9 above - you should look at KEH. They have an enormous and usually very cheap selection of used filters.

[Roger Thoms]

Randy, Here is a source for NOS filters. Tim sells at photo fairs here in the BayArea and online.

http://www.filterfind.net/Whats_News.html

Roger

[mopar_guy]

B+W filters are not a "value" brand, but a high quality brand of filters made in Germany by the same people that make Schneider lenses. Some B+W filters have better coatings and are more expensive.

[Tim Gray]

B+W is a good brand, but even the cheaper brand multicoated filters will outperform an expensive brand of single coated or non-coated filters.

I periodically throw in a nice B+W MRC filter to an order when I can spare the $40. That way I slowly build my filter collection.

[36cm2]

B&W, Formatt and Heliopan are all top notch and are all I'll use.

[elekm]

I've bought quite a few older filters and generally most are soiled but not scratched. I've gotten some that were ruined, but for the most part they've been fine.

And for some oddball sizes (40.5mm), buying used is the way to go except for those specialist filters (infrared, etc.).

[Rick A]

Why not just buy a Cokin series A set with the adaptor rings for all your lenses. I use both the A and P series that fit all my 35mm and med format, except my Yashica TLR. I have red, yellow, orange, green, polarizer, some special effects, and nd's . Its probably the cheapest way to go in the long run.

Rick

[elekm]

Cokin, yes, excellent suggestion. Then you simply buy the correct adapter ring.

[fschifano]

Cokin filters are pretty good, but be aware that the filters themselves are NOT glass, they are plastic. As such, they are relatively fragile and will scratch easily. Also note that using the Cokin filter holder and filter precludes the ability to use a standard screw in type lens hood, something that should always be used to reduce flare. Cokin does make a modular lens shade that works with the filter holder, but when you start adding up the cost, it's not so inexpensive any more. It is a good solution though if you're going to be using the filters on a wide variety of lenses.

You can also check out what this seller (http://www.camerafilters.com/default.aspx) has to offer. The site is not the easiest to navigate, but the prices are good and even the low priced filters on offer are good.

[Chiron]

I would recommend you check out Filter House (http://www.filterhouse.com/). I bought 67mm Kenko K2 filters at an excellent price. When they didn't have enough to fill my order, they just substituted the next more expensive filters so they were all the same vs. just substituting for the ones not in stock. They did this at no charge. Plus, they also threw in a decent lens cleaning kit as an apology. They have pretty much earned my business from now on, period. If nothing else, take a look around. I highly recommend the Kenko Multicoated line especially since Hoya=Kenko (in Japan they only go by Kenko I'm told by a Japanese friend).

BTW, I have no association with them. I was just highly impressed and satisfied.

Chiron

[Randy_Va]

The prices at Filter House are right at the value point I was looking for. Thanks.