I am having trouble finding an appropriate circular polarizing filter for my 28mm PC R lens. I have a 67mm EW B+W Kasemann filter but this is not MRC (multi-resistant coated). Will the 67mm SLIM B+W circ polar MRC filter be adequate for this wide angle lens and not result in vignetting?

-- Albert Knapp MD (albertknappmd@mac.com), March 02, 2002

Answers

Multi-coating is a double-edged sword on polarizers as it intereferes to some extent with the polarization. If you want an MRC polarizer for the 28 PC I would suggest a 72 or 77 and a step-up adaptor.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), March 02, 2002.

I agree with the stepup idea for a wide angle. I got a step up ring 48-55 for my 28 R lens so I can use the E55 polarizer and graduated neutral density filters that fit all the rest of my R lenses and as a bonus it doesn't vignette. I think I paid around $7 for the stepup ring at B&H. Best luck.

-- Don (wgpinc@yahoo.com), March 02, 2002.

Jay- thank you so much for the step up idea. I think I will approach the problem this way. I am quizzical about the MRC interference of polarizers. If this is really so, then why are all the filter makers producing and pushing the MRC polarizers? Surely, there must be some advantage to MRC polarizers???

-- Albert Knapp MD (albertknappmd@mac.com), March 02, 2002.

I don't know Albert. Hasselblad's polarizers are not multi-coated but their UV-Haze filters are. I remember reading that Hasselblad felt that multicoating interefered with polarization but I confess that it's beyond the scope of my knowledge. I have some polarizers that are not multicoated and some that are (Hoyas mostly)and can't tell much difference other than that multicoated filters except the B+W MRC's are a pain in the a** to wipe down. My Hoya MC's smear and scratch.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), March 02, 2002.