On Tue, 30 Jan 2001 01:33:12 GMT, "Mike Kujbida" wrote:
[...]
>> >I personally use the Tiffen line
>> >myself (corporate TV producer) but that's only because a lot of companies
>> >that make good filters for 35mm. cameras don't make them in the lens
>> >diameter I need for a broadcast-grade camera (I also pay a lot more for
>> >them too!!).
>> >Mike Kujbida

>> From my experience with Tiffen filters for 35mm camera
>> lenses, I try hard to avoid them... The filter rims are
>> unusually deep, sometimes causing vignetting (especially
>> if more than one filter and/or accessory is used), the
>> glass is often uncoated (rare, these days...), and worst
>> of all, they spontaneously fog (regardless of storage
>> conditions), making it advisable to clean them just
>> before use to avoid problems (I have forgotten this, with
>> unfortunate results...). Better, and around the same price,
>> are Hoya filters (metal-rimmed single-coated version), and
>> these are available in all the odd smaller camcorder sizes
>> (though not always in every variety - the ONE reason for
>> occasionally buying Tiffen filters for me [and I then
>> often remount the glass in better rims, and try to
>> remember which rims have Tiffen glass in them and so may
>> need cleaning before use...;-]). For the odd larger
>> camcorder filter sizes, Tiffen may have the advantage,
>> but I would first look elsewhere...
>> David Ruether

>Sorry David. Guess I didn't make myself clear. I'm using the Tiffens
>(Pro-Mist, Soft FX, polarizer) on a Hitachi 2/3" 3-chip TV camera (77mm.
>diameter). I went with Tiffen on the recommendation of Bill Farnsworth (I'm
>sure you recognize that name) with the thinking that what's good enough for
>him is good enough for me.
>Mike Kujbida

Tiffen has been a standard-brand for pros in both film and
TV for some time, and Tiffen does produce filter types
not found in other filter lines - BUT, compared with filters
made by the other main-line filter-makers (like Hoya, B%W,
Nikon, and others), the Tiffens are "bottom of the heap",
being generally uncoated, often "sandwiches" of a gel and
two sheets of glass instead of a single sheet of dyed glass,
with poor-quality rims, and most annoying, that self-fogging
problem (store one uncleaned for 6-months or so, then look
through it with a bright light behind it... - I have never
seen any other filter-make do this). They may be good enough
for BF, but not for me...;-) As I said, I prefer to look
elsewhere for most of my filters, and buy Tiffen only when
I must - and most standard brands do offer the 77mm
size...;-).