B+W XS-Pro HTC 'High Transmission' Käsemann circular polarizing filters

[Deleted member 91053]

Just being nosy but would you mind letting me know where you got it? I am interested to see how the price compares to the Formatt Firecrest.
Thanks.

 

[lastcoyote]

Just being nosy but would you mind letting me know where you got it? I am interested to see how the price compares to the Formatt Firecrest.
Thanks.

I got it from a seller direct on amazon.de
Thing is it was from a seller called GEOPHOTO who no longer have it listed. There was only 2 in stock when I ordered mine. It was €123.88 plus €7.90 delivery which converted to a total of £99.59. Arrived to UK in 4 days. Pretty good price!

 

[Eagle Eye]

I strongly suspect it's the same XS-Pro filter with new marketing. My regular Kaesemann polarizer says it blocks "approximately 1.3 stops" of light. My XS-Pro polarizer says the same. The marketing materials for the "new" HT polarizers says 1-1.5 stops. That sounds an awful lot like "approximately 1.3" to me. And no, they don't lose any of their polarizing capabilities; B+W Kaesemann are the best in the business.

I've just received my new 77mm B+W XS-Pro HTC Käsemann filter now. It's definitely not just new marketing. When I hold it up next to my 82mm XS-Pro Käsemann its easy to see its not quite as dark tinted.
I've done a brief test and it's just as effective which is great. Usual super smooth turning of outer ring. The structure of it is identical, low profile with front threads still. Just using new high transmission foils.

Got it at great price too straight from Germany. Good exchange rate for me on euro at the moment.

Given that the data lists the regular XS-Pro as reducing light 1.3 stops and the HT version reducing 1-1.5 stops, I'd be curious to know your real world experience.

 

[lastcoyote]

The latest B+W literature just says this regarding the new HTC filters:

"The new generation of Käsemann High Transmission (HTC) polarizing filters is fitted with a new polarizing foil which has higher translucency (transmission), yet still provides outstanding effectiveness. The filter extension factor is only 2 to 3, equivalent to approx. 1 to 1.5 f-stops."

Im not going to get much of a chance until July really to properly test out the filter and compare with my previous generation Käsemann.

 

[Deleted member 91053]

Thanks Lastcoyote, I will keep an eye out.

 

[andrewflo]

I strongly suspect it's the same XS-Pro filter with new marketing. My regular Kaesemann polarizer says it blocks "approximately 1.3 stops" of light. My XS-Pro polarizer says the same. The marketing materials for the "new" HT polarizers says 1-1.5 stops. That sounds an awful lot like "approximately 1.3" to me. And no, they don't lose any of their polarizing capabilities; B+W Kaesemann are the best in the business.

I've just received my new 77mm B+W XS-Pro HTC Käsemann filter now. It's definitely not just new marketing. When I hold it up next to my 82mm XS-Pro Käsemann its easy to see its not quite as dark tinted.
I've done a brief test and it's just as effective which is great. Usual super smooth turning of outer ring. The structure of it is identical, low profile with front threads still. Just using new high transmission foils.

Got it at great price too straight from Germany. Good exchange rate for me on euro at the moment.

Glad to see there's a discussion on this going. I was just pondering the same thing about what the deal is with these new HTC CPLs from B+W the other night.

lastcoyote any chance you could do a quick test of exposures from various degrees of polarization? Curious to know if there truly is a noticeable difference that could be worth the extra ~$30 cost.

Thanks!!

 

[lastcoyote]

I strongly suspect it's the same XS-Pro filter with new marketing. My regular Kaesemann polarizer says it blocks "approximately 1.3 stops" of light. My XS-Pro polarizer says the same. The marketing materials for the "new" HT polarizers says 1-1.5 stops. That sounds an awful lot like "approximately 1.3" to me. And no, they don't lose any of their polarizing capabilities; B+W Kaesemann are the best in the business.

I've just received my new 77mm B+W XS-Pro HTC Käsemann filter now. It's definitely not just new marketing. When I hold it up next to my 82mm XS-Pro Käsemann its easy to see its not quite as dark tinted.
I've done a brief test and it's just as effective which is great. Usual super smooth turning of outer ring. The structure of it is identical, low profile with front threads still. Just using new high transmission foils.

Got it at great price too straight from Germany. Good exchange rate for me on euro at the moment.

Glad to see there's a discussion on this going. I was just pondering the same thing about what the deal is with these new HTC CPLs from B+W the other night.

lastcoyote any chance you could do a quick test of exposures from various degrees of polarization? Curious to know if there truly is a noticeable difference that could be worth the extra ~$30 cost.

Thanks!!

I'd love to be able to do some tests for you andrewflo but I'm currently out of action for some time as I'm having a bad flare up (IBD). So rather unwell....again! :-\ Hoping to be well for my trip to South of France in July.

 

[Deleted member 91053]

Thanks for the info lastcoyote.
Your "Flare up" sounds nasty, hope it clears up soon!