Tiffen filters

Dupont24

Are Tiffen filters a good brand and quality?:):

Scott_Quier

Not really.

Better choices (in not particular order): B+W, Hoya, Heliopan.

Keep in mind, with filters you usually get what you pay for and pay for what you get.

claudermilk

See here: http://www.kenandchristine.com/gallery/1054387

It seems general consensus says Heliopan/B+W, then Hoya & don't bother with anything else. I am quite happy with my B+W. An ebay seller at maxsaver.net carries B+W and Hoya at excellent prices; many users at FM (myself included) have bought filters there with no trouble.

hgernhardtjr

Dupont24 wrote:

Are Tiffen filters a good brand and quality?:):

FWIW, my personal feeling is Tiffens are just fine. I have been using them since the early 60's and even my oldest are still useable (except for the two I dropped many years ago). Tiffen, founded in 1938, is an old, well-established company with an outstanding track record IMHO.

Tiffen filters use a technology which results in outstanding consistency and long life (they're made somewhat like a car's windshield, the "ColorCore" is laminated between two perfectly flat pieces of glass), and like their web site states:

"Tiffen precision-made filters are so superior, we back them with a 10-year warranty against manufacturing defects. Unlike ordinary batch-dyed glass filters in which color can be uneven, our unique lamination process allows complete control over color and density for maximum consistency. Tiffen has been honored with two Technical Achievment Awards from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, for its unique lamination process and innovative product design. Tiffen has also been awarded an Emmy, from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, for its engineering excellence."

While I have, like, and use several different Hoya filters, I see no reason to sniff and snurl my lip at Tiffens. In fact, my most recent filter purchase was a TiffenTMC UV to "protect" my Bigma front element (86mm thread) — and at less than half the price of other name brands it works just fine and has produced no detrimental or unwanted effects.