B+W Kaesemann-Type Polarizing Filter Question

[JeffD]

Recently I have begun to upgrade some of my cheaper Black and white filters to B+W brand. The last filter to be upgraded was a Hoya circular polarizing filter. I found a good deal on a B+W Kaesemann circular polarizing filter, and bought it.

I noticed when I received the B+W filter, that the cut-off seemed much milder compared to the Hoya- pointing at a saturated blue sky, and turning the filter seemed to have a much less pronounced darkening effect with the B+W brand compared to the Hoya.

I am certain that the B+W brand is of greater quality, but the milder polarizing effect is a little bit of a concern. I usually use a polarizer for darkening skys (I don't shoot much color).

Has anyone else with one of these filters noticed it? I may keep the Hoya in case I need a more pronounced polarizing effect but use the B+W in other situations...

[Tom Duffy]

Can't give you a good answer, but I wonder if one of your filters is a circular filter and the other linear. I made a similar observation as yours, years ago, but I don't recall the details.

[JeffD]

No, they are both circular. Don't think that explains it....

[Tim Boehm]

I just got 2 B+W Circular Pols, 1 is a Kaesemann, the other isn't, and a friend got 1 B+W Kaesemann, and we noticed the same thing you mentioned in all 3 filters. I don't know why they're made like that.

[cowanw]

I have always used the B+W filters, but recently got an old 63mm polarizer for a Hasselblad 50mm wide angle. I was stunned at the darkening of the sky with the older polarizer. Maybe newer is not better.

[Dave Miller]

I'm interested to know why you are certain that B&W filters are better than Hoya.

[JeffD]

I'm interested to know why you are certain that B&W filters are better than Hoya.

superior multi coating with greater scratch resistance, schott glass, better seals on the rotating bezel, superior brass mount, kaesemann process polarizing elements, and, honestly, I trust German quality control better than products made in the Philappines.

[Don12x20]

superior multi coating with greater scratch resistance, schott glass, better seals on the rotating bezel, superior brass mount, kaesemann process polarizing elements, and, honestly, I trust German quality control better than products made in the Philappines.

Kasemann design refers to a completely sealed edge on the polarizing materials -- you'll never have water entering that layer.

Add: both glass surfaces coplanar (never seen this guaranteed on hoyas). Higher quality German glass. For non-polarizing filters, B+W glass contains filter colors rather than sandwich of glass and filter layer (I saw a friend's yellow 08 Hoya delaminate on a river rafting trip in Utah). Hoya filters use plastic press-fit retaining ring while B+W/Heliopan uses screw-in brass ring (you'll never have a B+W/Heliopan filter glass 'drop out' of the front while mounted on the lens.)

But the superior brass mount is key - I've never had a pair of B+W or Heliopan filters seize when stacked. I had several Hoya aluminum mounts seize on a trip back in the late 80's...I dumped the Hoyas and moved up to Heliopan (with a few B+W). Not much difference between B+W and Heliopan...just the 105 and 135 sizes were easier to order from Photomark).

But one good thing about Hoyas -- they are a step up from the plastic filters available from Cokin, et al.

YMMV