Tiffen 77mm 80A Filter

The UV protective filter came in a ziploc bag. Looks like a used/returned item! The filter also has dirt and a scratch on the metal ring! On the other hand the Polarizer filter was packaged well and in a Tiffen filter "wallet". Now I have to find Amazon's complaint department to see what can be done with the UV protective filter :(

I've been using Tiffen filters for while and it hasn't disappointed. This filter set contains everything you need to make your pictures have extra pop and saturation. I use the UV filter to protect my lens 24-7 and depending on the situation the circular polarizer and warming filter is also used. I've noticed a significant difference in my pictures and I spend less time on photoshop. If you want to start using filters, this is the set to get.

Super filter, just love the ability to tame the light. Wish it were thinner because vignetting becomes a problem if stacked.

The product condition was ok in general ... but arrived without a box (already open and used ) though it said in the initial advertisement that it is NEW!

I am really not one for writing negative reviews, in fact out of the 105+ reviews I have written this is only the 2nd or maybe the 3rd negative review I have written out of all of them. Its not that I don't have negative experiences with products, its just that I usually don't have such a negative experience that I feel compelled to tell people about it. Well this is certainly one of those times. In fact I have not had good experiences with a lot of Tiffen filters. Their Cinema filters and their 4x4 filters are outstanding but their standard line of circular filters could use some serious improving. Your much better off going with some of the other companies out there like B+W.

I am not one of those people who use polarizers and UV filters as a protective layer for your front lens element. Every time light goes through a layer of glass the image quality gets degraded, period. It doesn't matter if its the highest quality filter ever made. This is just the way the light works. Light scatters as it passes through even the finest of glass. Because of this I do not use a filter unless I am going for a specific look that a filter can give me. People who are using this type of filter to protect professional series lenses should have their head examined. Why buy a professional series lens and throw a cheap piece of glass in front of it??? It makes absolutely NO sense.

Anyways I don't even own this filter. One of the photographers I share a studio with owns it and he let me borrow it for a couple weeks as I was headed down to Costa Rica for 12 days and I figured I would give it a go as I was curious what the difference would be from my polarizer which is not made specifically for digital. To say that I was unimpressed is a massive understatement. Not only is the quality of the filter itself shoddy but the quality of the picture themselves just were not impressive at all. My B+W Kaesemann MRC Circular Polarizer absolutely destroyed this thing. Given the B+W costs about twice as much as this filter but when you stop and think about it would you rather pay 200 to get mediocre quality or would you rather spend an extra 200 and get outstanding quality?? If you already have a professional series lens than it should be a no branier.

As for those people suggesting that this is a good value for average performance, are you kidding?? You can spend a little bit more and get a much better filter from B+W.

The bottom line - Tiffen does make some very good filters, unfortunately they also make some really weak filters. If your buying thier 4x4 or cinema series filters then your in the clear. If its anything else I would look into other companies like B+W. They just make far better quality filters. Yes you will usually wind up paying a bit more but this is a case where its absolutely worth it especially if your using pro glass. Again the worst thing anyone can do is stick a filter like this on a pro series lens.

Definitely one of the weak ones!! I am sticking with my B+W polarizer.