Customer Reviews

Sigma AFL-950 46mm EX DG Circular Polarizer Filter

5 star:		(147)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I've bought many UV filters for my cameras, from Hoya and B&W to Promaster and I must say that the Sigma EX MC is the best one. Although most companies claim that their UV filters cut down haze, in reality my experience has been that they really don't. However, I found the Sigma UV filter to noticeably cut down haze and produce very clean, sharp images without altering picture quality in any way. I strongly recommend this filter to protect your camera lens and reduce haze that can ruin your pictures.

My previous filters from a cheap set I purchased off ebay. They did the job just fine, but had obvious reflections and all at times. When my Sigma arrived, I held it in the light beside my previous filter. There were practically no reflections on the Sigma!

Do yourself a favor, get a decent filter! Multi-coated is the way to go. Eventually reflections will disrupt your photos.

Flat-out, the Sigma EX DG ultraviolet filter is hands-down the best UV filter I have ever used. I've had a handful from Hoya, Tiffen, and Zeikos...and always truly believed that it was just to protect the lens, and the clarity of picture was changed in such minute ways, that it was more or less unnoticeable. However, just holding this lens up next to any of my other UV lenses side-by-side, and you can genuinely see the difference. While $20+ does seem just a little on the steep side for just a UV filter when there are so many out there for less than $5, it's good knowing that unless something tragic happens to this one, I'll never need another. I fully intend to buy one in each diameter I need to cover all my lenses.

PROS:
+ Amazing quality UV filter
+ Excellent finish on the entire product
+ Reduces haze noticeably by simple sight, as well as in all pictures

CONS:
- $20+ may be more than some people are willing to pay for a UV filter

I've tried many MC UV filters with my two 12x zoom cameras, from Promaster to Hoya to B&W. The Sigma however, was the one which gave me the best results. It cut down haze more than any other UV filter I used and colors were accurate. I definitely recommend this filter and you can not beat the price.

I bought this filter for my Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX/DC/HSM lens (used with the D200). It replaces a plain UV filter that I had purchased strictly for the sake of protecting the lens. What I didn't know at the time I bought the filter is that the plain UV filter happens to pick up reflection from lights at night. In my case, I had been getting reflections from street lights and cars in my city shots. Lots of Photoshop work to undo those relfections. Bottom line: I've come to know that the protective filter is more than a convenient alternative to the lens cap itself. So, I began looking for coated filters - even for everyday use to protect the lens. The Sigma filter has resolved my issues with relfection. And why Sigma as opposed to a cheaper product? I'm a loyal guy. I've had an incredibly positive experience with the Sigma lens I bought. Very impressive product. And the filter has totally met my expectations. The glass is just beautiful. Asthetically, the black matt finish and gold lettering on the outer ring really round it out for me.

In August 2008, I was going to buy the B + W F-Pro UV 010 Double Coated filter for my new Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM lens. But, the salesperson suggested I try the new-to-his-store Sigma DG 58mm Multi-Coated UV Filter for $10 less than the B + W. If I wasn't happy with the results, he would exchange it for the B + W.

After a couple of weeks of shooting, it wasn't necessary to switch. I have used Hoya, Tiffen, Nikon, and B + W UV glass filters of varying threaded diameters in the last 4 decades. Surprisingly, this Sigma is the best threaded glass UV filter I have owned.

After removing the item from the packaging I initially thought they had sent me a ring without a lens. I waved it around and held it up to several different lights but could not for the life of me see the glass.

It wasn't until I flipped it around and looked at the side that faces outward that I could see light reflecting off the lens.

On the camera (a Canon HF S10) it's much the same story. The lens certainly doesn't degrade the quality of what you are recording. But stray light is now a thing of the past.

I am happy with my purchase and have decided to leave the filter on all the time.

I'm updating my review a few weeks later to re-iterate what a great filter this is. I was reminded just how much light noise this little gem cleans up when I swapped it out for a new wide angle lens I received (from another manufacturer). The wide angle lens had lens flaring and aberations galore.

By contrast I have yet to experience any lens flaring at all in practical shooting conditions with this filter on.

I wish Sigma made a 58mm wide angle lens.

This Sigma is better at dispersing reflections than the Tiffen UV filters I've been using. Just looking at a reflection on both filters shows the difference: the Tiffen shows a bright white reflection of a window, while the Sigma shows a dim green reflection, much like the lens of a camera. The threads also seem to be better machined, as the filter goes on and off more smoothly than the Tiffens.

Any sort of cleaning seems to remove part of the multi-coating. There was a dust-like spot on a brand-new Sigma, and when neither a Rocket Blaster nor a Lens Pen could remove it, I tried ethanol lens cleaner with both a cleaning cloth and a Pec Pad. Some of the multi-coating came off and smeared: I bought three of these filters, and could compare an untouched one with the cleaned one. The untouched one has a "greener" reflection than the cleaned one. Both are still a lot better than the Tiffen.

Turns out that cleaning the second Sigma filter with just a Lens Pen also removed some of the multi-coating, so maybe it wasn't the ethanol. I could try water or soap-and-water on the third one, but am not anxious to do so until necessary.

The filter is crystal clear and works perfectly. I would put this against any of my B&W filters any day.

It's funny, I ordered this as I needed a 72MM pol filter in a rush and I couldn't find a B&W 72MM in stock at that time. I was going to "settle" for this until I could get a B&W to replace the sigma filter. I have since purchased three other sigma filters and love them all.

Great filter at a good price.

Purchased this filter to go on my Sigma 10-20mm wide-angle Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras and it works perfectly. This filter was designed with this lens in mind or at least it would appear that way. Vignetting is minimal. Great unit.