I am looking for a 77mm CP and have these two in mind....the B+W slim and the Hoya Pro1
On the site below they are priced this way and B/H actually has the Hoya as more expensive. Anyway. Opinions anyone?
Let me say the B+W are better made and the brass filter rings don't seize like the aluminium ones can and optically the MRC F-pro filters are superb. I used to get Hoya, but the top line B+W are actually cheaper than the top line Hoyas. I'd also get Heliopan ahead of Hoya.
I'd go with the B+W (and have). I don't see a need for the slim version though. Your 20D won't vignette on anything, and I doubt the 17-40 will on the 1Ds--double-check on that though.
The Hoya CPLs are known for falling apart, the B+W don't.
Some of the B+W filters HVStar sells are not brass, but aluminum. Last time I was there they had started listing "brass" on the filters that were brass.
The slim is actually a bit of a PITA if you don't need it to be slim. Because they don't have filter threads on the front you can't use a traditional lens cap. The cap they provide is useless.
I have an 82mm Slim B+W, and a 77mm regular B+W, both are top-notch
How about the Nikon CPL? They are pretty well made, although recently I have been purchasing B+W filters and the brass rings are very well constructed.
