Auteur: Arthur Delabie
Date: 26-05-2005 16:31
Raphaël,
J'ai été confronté au même problème pendant un moment avant de me décider pour des filtres Lee en 100x100 mm, en 2 mm d'épaisseur, dont je suis parfaitement satisfait.
Ci-dessous, un échange de courrier entre Robert Monaghan et moi-même sur cette question de choix entre les filtres. Cela m'avait aidé dans ma recherche.
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Hi Arthur,
Roger Hicks in Brit. Jrnl of Photogr. articles on filters some years back reported minimal differences between filters of similar type (e.g., glass), but didn't report specifics by brand. See http://home.c2i.net/jostein.oksne/Utstyr/filters.htm for a report on MTF tests of filters; again, glass filters are pretty similar and minimal impact. Erwin Puts, noted Leica lens tester, estimated MTF impact at 2% or so for a good filter, circa 10% for a bad one. By contrast, a fingerprint can cut contrast by 25% or more!
Filter prices vary hugely, depending on where you buy them, markups demanded, etc. They are among the highest markup items you can buy in photography, which is saying something ;-0) Some of the most costly brands here in USA/Canada are the cheapest brand in Germany (B&W..), and vice versa.
As your pricing indicates, the big gap is between plastic and glass filters; the plastic/resin ones are less quality than the glass ones, again see MTF testing article cited above.
You might consider starting a forum on www.photo.net/ on the topic, but you will probably not get more detailed or specific test results than I've cited above, just more opinions ;-) There are some related notes at http://medfmt.8k.com/bronfiltersp.html (note the "p" for long page version with latest updates). I'll add your note to the above URL on the next set of monthly updates, in case someone has more definitive info too?
the good news lately is that many custom hassy filters (B60..) are now being sold off rather cheaply along with all things medium format, so it is a good time to pick up what you want at relative bargain prices.
good hunting! bobm
-----Original Message-----
From: Arthur DELABIE [mailto:Arthur.DELABIE@wanadoo.fr]
Sent: Sun 11/14/2004 5:00 AM
To: Monaghan, Robert
Cc:
Subject: Question to insert in forum please
Dear Sir,
I am interested in purchasing a series of square filters (4x4 inches) for my Hasselblad ProShade. So, I would like to know if reliable and objective information exists about who makes the best filters.
On the internet I could find a number of pages and forums about filters, but no tests and reviews comparing various brands and makes.
What I found were mostly conflicting (and confusing) opinions from users and never ending debates about resin vs glass, single/multicoated vs uncoated, sandwiched gelatine vs dyed in the mass glass, cheap filters vs expensive ones, japanese vs german, real filters vs photoshop job, filters vs no filters, etc. These were users opinions or makers selling points. No definite and independent reviews and tests conducted over a large spectrum of brands.
Here is a comparison of some prices (in euros) for a particular 4x4 filter, from the cheaper up to the most expensive:
1) Van Diemen (resin):50
2) Cromatek (resin):54
3) Lee (resin):57
4) Van Diemen (glass):88
5) Harrison & Harrison (glass):97
6) Format (glass):95
7) Tiffen (glass):120
8) Schneider (glass):156.
This is not a comprehensive list (Cokin, Heliopan, Singh-Ray, HighTech, BW, among others, are missing). But that list is good enough to show that the price is tripling. So, the decider is : Are we getting what we pay for?
Thank you very much in advance for your contribution.
Arthur Delabie
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