New B+W XS-Pro Digital Filters

[Lord Soth]

Finally, B + W is releasing new SLIM filters with MRC and with front threads!

B+W XS-Pro Digital Filters have front threads for mounting additional accessories such as filters, screw on shades and lens covers.



More details may be found here.

http://www.schneideroptics.com/news/110308_XS-Pro.htm

Currently, only the Clear Type filters have been released for sale.

I can't wait to get my hands on their XS-Pro polarisers!

[Randius]

I had read about this and was totally put off by the price. You wanna get one? Just take a look at the price and decide for yourself. For me, I will stick to my Nikon CPL which is pretty thin too.

[Lord Soth]

The retailers normally sell B+W filters for much less than the manufacturer's recommended retailer price.

To each his own but I prefer B+W over Nikon filters because the MRC coatings from B+W are

1. slightly more resistant (or rather less adhesive) to water droplets. Water just seems to glide off them!

2. Also much easier to clean than other filters, eg. Hoya.

[Snoweagle]

If i change for my 17-40, it'll cost US$259. That's nuts!

[KY1977]

Sorry if I sound like an idiot. When slim filter is mentioned, they meant the glass or the brass ring?

[StrifeYun]

Originally Posted by KY1977 Sorry if I sound like an idiot. When slim filter is mentioned, they meant the glass or the brass ring?

the thinkness of the filter from the side view

[StrifeYun]

Originally Posted by Snoweagle If i change for my 17-40, it'll cost US$259. That's nuts!

what about 82mm thread !!

[Lord Soth]

What about the super top of the line B+W Kaesemann Polarizers?

hee hee....

But seriously speaking, many photographers out there claim that the Kaesemann filters really blow the competition away.

The technological prowess of the German scientists have always been awe-inspiring.

[ExplorerZ]

Originally Posted by Lord Soth What about the super top of the line B+W Kaesemann Polarizers? hee hee.... But seriously speaking, many photographers out there claim that the Kaesemann filters really blow the competition away. The technological prowess of the German scientists have always been awe-inspiring.

u can have the best coating in the world, but does it justify the purchase or do one even need such top of the top end filter?
i believe 99% of us can't even see the difference in 99% of the situation when not comparing side by side at pixel level

[yyD70S]

Sometimes, it's not just the quality.

In this case, I suppose the slimness of the package matters to the TS.

He could be using a wide or a wide zoom on a 35mm DSLR and is trying to minimize vignetting?

At a cost, of course.

[ExplorerZ]

thats y i mention about coating rather than slim profile...

and btw there are slim-profile filters out there in the market that perform close to that of the B+W MRC at less than 1/2 the price

[Randius]

Even though the retailers normally sell at a cheaper price but at MSRP 259USD, the street price won't be pocket-friendly at all.

Speaking of KSM filter, I had a KSM CPL which was scratched by a lens pen when I just lightly brushed it...

[Lord Soth]

Originally Posted by Randius Speaking of KSM filter, I had a KSM CPL which was scratched by a lens pen when I just lightly brushed it...

OUCH!!!

Before I use the lenspen, I always use a blower on the lens/filter to remove any dust particles.

So far, have not scratched any of my B+W filters (even my old Hoya ones).

[KangS]

From a personal view, I do think B+W filters are over-rated and over priced. Optically, i do think the Hoya HMC and Super HMC ones are of better quality.

I've tried a friend's B+W CPL compared to my Hoya HMC CPL, if you talk about performance, and if its anything to go by, a comparison between the 2 found the Hoya to have a more significant polarising effect when used. Also, at a given aperture, the shutter speed was higher (slightly 1/125 vs 1/160) on the same lens on the same camera. Implying that there was less light loss on the Hoya!

GRanted that the B+W seems easier to clean but is that the real reason you're willing to pay 'extra' for a filter ?

[ExplorerZ]

Originally Posted by KangS From a personal view, I do think B+W filters are over-rated and over priced. Optically, i do think the Hoya HMC and Super HMC ones are of better quality. I've tried a friend's B+W CPL compared to my Hoya HMC CPL, if you talk about performance, and if its anything to go by, a comparison between the 2 found the Hoya to have a more significant polarising effect when used. Also, at a given aperture, the shutter speed was higher (slightly 1/125 vs 1/160) on the same lens on the same camera. Implying that there was less light loss on the Hoya! GRanted that the B+W seems easier to clean but is that the real reason you're willing to pay 'extra' for a filter ?

not sure about CPL, but for UV, the MRC seems to be optically better than the SHMC, but at the price it is commanding, it better be better.

[KY1977]

Originally Posted by ExplorerZ not sure about CPL, but for UV, the MRC seems to be optically better than the SHMC, but at the price it is commanding, it better be better.

But then again, we could be paying for the conversion rate, which is higher for Euros.

[Snoweagle]

Originally Posted by KangS From a personal view, I do think B+W filters are over-rated and over priced. Optically, i do think the Hoya HMC and Super HMC ones are of better quality. I've tried a friend's B+W CPL compared to my Hoya HMC CPL, if you talk about performance, and if its anything to go by, a comparison between the 2 found the Hoya to have a more significant polarising effect when used. Also, at a given aperture, the shutter speed was higher (slightly 1/125 vs 1/160) on the same lens on the same camera. Implying that there was less light loss on the Hoya! GRanted that the B+W seems easier to clean but is that the real reason you're willing to pay 'extra' for a filter ?

I still do think the B+W's are better as experienced from past using Hoya Pro1s. The cleaning part of Hoya can really make u pek cek. Sometimes the more u clean, the worse it becomes. But on B+W, no such problems at all.

[Hacker]

There is an equivalent version of the MRC for Hoya.

"WATERPROOF / SCRATCH & STAIN RESISTANT MULTI-COATING
Specialized coatings that are not just water-proof to repel water spots but also hardened to be scratch and stain resistant. Of course these coatings are from HOYA so they are greatly reduce reflections off the surface of the glass allowing you to capture more light in your photos."

http://www.hoyafilter.com/products/hoya/HD-01.html

[zhaowei]

Since the pricelist is not updated, as a reference, I got the 77mm XS-PRO Clear filter for about S$148 at CP yesterday.

[chalib]

Originally Posted by Hacker There is an equivalent version of the MRC for Hoya. "WATERPROOF / SCRATCH & STAIN RESISTANT MULTI-COATING Specialized coatings that are not just water-proof to repel water spots but also hardened to be scratch and stain resistant. Of course these coatings are from HOYA so they are greatly reduce reflections off the surface of the glass allowing you to capture more light in your photos." http://www.hoyafilter.com/products/hoya/HD-01.html

Any idea how much does it sell for 77mm CPL?