Polarizing filters test 2015

Have you rated your lenses yet?

1 November 2015

Szymon Starczewski

5. B+W KSM HTC-POL MRC XSP

Another company with tradition and reputation which has to be defended. In our first test of filters high prices of their products were usually followed by good results but there was one slip-up too. Today we are taking a closer look at 4 filters you can find the current line-up of B+W.

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Results of the test:

Transmission and extinction coefficient

Red color extinction coefficient: 2.03e-2; Score: 0.5/4
Green color extinction coefficient: 3.95e-4; Score: 3.5/4
Blue color extinction coefficient: 5.50e-3; Score: 1/4
Mean transmission of the whole spectrum: 44.52% Score: 3/3
Score: 8 / 11 pts

Flares

Without filter

With filter

Score: 7.125 / 7.5 pts

Scattering

Luminance: 6.81
Score: 5 / 5 pts

Vignetting

Vignetting difference: 3.15%
Score: 3.81 / 5 pts

Homogeneity

Without reservation
Score: 5 / 5 pts

Final score: 28.9 / 37.5 pts (77.2%)

Overall ranking: 4th place
Econo-ranking: 17th place

Design, usage and summary

The only B+W model with a slim ring; its surface is covered by broadband coatings easy to clean. The filter moves with even, moderate resistance and most likely it is glued. You can hear slight whirr during the turning and there are practically no slacks.

The transmission characteristic is the same as in the case of the B+W KSM HTC-POL MRC model.