Polarizing filters buying advice - Value for money options?
Hi everyone,
I have recently been looking for a polarizing filter and despite having done some research on what do buy, I am still not entirely sure.
Reading multiple threads on Reddit, it seems that the following brands are often recommended:
Nisi (the safe option with good quality)
B+W (the no compromise option but pricey)
Hoya (comparable to Nisi)
K&F (the "budget" option although controversial as there are reports of quality issues and also the Nano-X line is not that cheap)
All these brands have multiple product lines and there is no meaningful way to compare them all (aka real world results). I usually read reviews but in this case they are scarce and I would appreciate some help to pick.
I am looking for a solid value for money filter that will last. I am basically an amateur photographer that is budget-concious, but I also prefer to buy once.
In my market, Nisi seems to be more expensive than Hoya for similar products. I considered K&F but would rather spend a little more and get a filter from a reputable filter manufacturer. The 2 options I am considering:
Hoya Antistatic Next CIR-PL (hits the spot I think between quality and price and the anti-static property looks like a nice thing to have)
B+W MASTER KSM HTC-POL MRC Nano
Is the B+W worth the additional 20 EUR over the Hoya? Should I consider other options? Am I overthinking it and would a 25 EUR filter be all I need?
Cheers!
PS: I also keep an eye on the used market, but it's rather underwhelming in my geography at the moment.