Hoya HD CPL vs B+W Slim KSM MRC CPL?

[ralliart12]

Hi fellows. I'm in the market for a new 52mm slim CPL & I'm undecided between the reputable B+W Slim KAESEMANN MRC CPL & the new HD series of Hoya's CPL.

Factors afflicting my dilemma include:

Qn1. Slimness of frame/mount:

I understand the Hoya HD CPL have 5mm frame from 1 of the sales thread in the forums. However, when I search for the specific "Slim KAESEMANN MRC CPL", I couldn't get any useful information. (re: its frame thickness).

In fact, when I visit B+W's official site, I found the following results:

But not a CPL from the official B+W site with "slim" & "KAESEMANN"??? Nonetheless, I went thru the 3 likely entries and the thickness was not revealed on the site as well.

So does anybody with a "Slim KAESEMANN MRC CPL" from B+W comment on its frame thickness?

Qn2. Price:

The Hoya HD CPL(52mm) is supposedly going for $72 from forum threads whereas I couldn't find the price of the 52mm B+W Slim KAESEMANN MRC CPL. The closest I can find is the 77mm version from 1 of the mass sales thread, which is $2xx. Does anybody know the price of the 52mm version (B+W)? I dun think I can do a linear calculation right? As I heard price of glass increases exponentially when we are discussing abt 77mm range.

Qn3. Ease to clean:

Anybody with the new Hoya HD CPL can comment on its ease to clean(or not) as compared to the B+W's MRC coating? This is 1 of the primary reason I'm getting these line of filters.

UPDATE: found some further information after reading thru 11pages of this thread:
HD ease of cleaning info on LAST 2 pages

Qn4. Front thread?

Does B+W Slim CPL have front screw thread to snap a lens-cap on? If not, does a new piece come with its own push-on lens-cap?

Qn5. When I visit the "usual" shops to ask for price, how do I tell if the model they show me(& hence the price they quote me) is the "Slim KAESEMANN" version? Bcos from the outside(of the packaging), all the B+W box looks alike.

Disclaimer: I have search in this forum b4, & I couldn't get any definitive information, esp. for qn1, 3 & 4. I have also googled for the key phrase, "B+W slim KAESEMANN polarizer Hoya HD polarizer" & still I couldn't get any definitive answer for most of my questions either. The Hoya HD vs. B+W MRC CPL discussions on dpreview forums are either largely colored by posting members of retail or deteriorate into displays of fanboyism.

Hence the impetus for me starting a new thread here. I do hope to get some fruitful responses to my queries.

Thanks in advance.


UPDATE: found this site:
Seems to be an illustrated answer to most of my qns, except pricing & thickness

UPDATE: found another discussion thread; very useful but LAST post raises a very crticial qn, i.e. less effective as a polariser?
last post on THIS page

UPDATE: another post in another discussion thread abt the HD's slightly-"less polarising effect":
direct post

 

[HeiPiGu]

Seriously, do you really need a KAESEMANN version of the CPL?? If not, the normal slim type will be a cheaper option. Non-slim one even cheaper.

 

[sinned79]

Seriously, do you really need a KAESEMANN version of the CPL?? If not, the normal slim type will be a cheaper option. Non-slim one even cheaper.

for CPL, slimmer is better so wun have vignetting issues. Thats what i read.

personally i think i go for CPL HD... its cheaper then KSM...

 

[ralliart12]

Seriously, do you really need a KAESEMANN version of the CPL?? If not, the normal slim type will be a cheaper option. Non-slim one even cheaper.

Nope, seriously I dun "need" a premium brand filter at all; but I'm in a market bcos I "want" one. Just seeking opinions.

for CPL, slimmer is better so wun have vignetting issues. Thats what i read. ...

That's what I understand too.

...personally i think i go for CPL HD... its cheaper then KSM...

Yup, currently I'm favouring the Hoya HD too, cos even if I take a price of a 77mm B+W Slim KSM MRC CPL and factor it downwards by 0.6753, the B+W CPL will still cost at least $151.94, at least if u calculate linearly...compared to $72 for the Hoya HD CPL...& now I know the B+W slim KSM MRC CPL has no front thread...so lens cap another issue to consider.

 

[chalib]

I am using non slim CPL. No vignetting with 17mm focal length on FF cam due to ring problem. (I am repeating again "due to ring problem").

So why u need slim?

But i am still getting vignetting due to uneven polarizing on UWA which is common.

 

[HeiPiGu]

for CPL, slimmer is better so wun have vignetting issues. Thats what i read.

personally i think i go for CPL HD... its cheaper then KSM...

But isn't the vignetting issue more to do with wide angle lens?

KSM is more for extreme weather conditions.

 

[Wzierbovsky]

See if this helps:

http://www.lenstip.com/115.1-article-Polarizing_filters_test.html

 

[yrh0413]

I have a B+W 77mm XS-pro UV filter (slim type) on my EF-S 10-22mm. Slapping my B+W 77mm Slim KSM MRC CPL does give vignette...

 

[ExplorerZ]

another sugguest is the marumi super dhg, sld cost you ard 150sgd for the 77mm from ebay.
slim profile with front thread and tested to be water repelling and said by some of the cser that it is easy to clean as well. but so far not much direct comparison is made on the more popular brand.

found a site having review for it

 

[Wzierbovsky]

You could also try the Marumi DHG Circular PL(D). It's cheaper than the super DHG version but seems to do well according to the Lenstip article. I've got this filter for the 72mm, and am pretty happy with it.

 

[SeAnCoLd]

Hello,

what lens are you using the filter on? If its not a UWA, I doubt a normal (non-slim) filter's gonna cause any vignetting.

 

[sinned79]

But isn't the vignetting issue more to do with wide angle lens?

KSM is more for extreme weather conditions.

yup. thats why if using a non slim CPL... will make things worst especially if u using UWA? thats what i feel. cos previously on my 18-200... i get vignetting problem on a normal non HD Hoya CPL filter (non slim)...

 

[ralliart12]

...i get vignetting problem on a normal non HD Hoya CPL filter (non slim)...

Wait, I'm confused, u mean for Hoya HD series, there are slim & non-slim versions of their CPL?

 

[SeAnCoLd]

Wait, I'm confused, u mean for Hoya HD series, there are slim & non-slim versions of their CPL?

Nope. All filters in the Hoya HD series have a slim profile.

 

[HLL]

Slim is always better.

I am lazy and on my 18-55mm kit lens, I can stack my slim 52mm B+W cir-pol over my UV filter and no vignette.

This way I never have to take off the UV filter.

BTW, my 52mm slim B+W cir-pol is the earlier MC version not the MRC or KSM version. It is hard to clean and the MC coating marks easily...

And it has no front thread so I had to buy a slip on rubber lens cap for it separately.

 

[ExplorerZ]

You could also try the Marumi DHG Circular PL(D). It's cheaper than the super DHG version but seems to do well according to the Lenstip article. I've got this filter for the 72mm, and am pretty happy with it.

current im using the dhg(non-super) 77mm myself, and imho it better to go for the super DHG for the ease of cleaning, more scratch resistance, water/oil repelling(i seen china web comparing this and the B+W MRC, the super DHG seems to be slightly better in terms of repelling to water and fingerprints)

 

[sinned79]

Wait, I'm confused, u mean for Hoya HD series, there are slim & non-slim versions of their CPL?

talking about non HD version... there is slim and non slim ones.

 

[ralliart12]

I suppose more or less I'm fixated on the Hoya HDs. Does anyone know where 52mm CPL versions are available & their approximate price?

 

[sinned79]

I suppose more or less I'm fixated on the Hoya HDs. Does anyone know where 52mm CPL versions are available & their approximate price?

check out henessy and eugenep MO thread. i might get my 77mm one from them but waiting for cathay photo and mscolor price quote first.

 

[Akira Fudou]

Im quoted $150 for a 67mm Hoya HD CPL...issit reasonable? i find it very hard to trust the salesperson.. they simply just jeck up the price based on individual