Tiffen 52mm Photo Essentials Filter Kit

Decent quality graduated neutral density filter
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
A graduated neutral density filter can be extremely useful when taking photographs. It can go a LONG way to improving photographs of a bright sky with a medium foreground. Without this if you set your camera for a properly exposed sky the foreground will be too dark and if you expose for a properly exposed foreground the sky is all washed out with no detail. With a graduated neutral density filter like this one, though, you can rotate the dark part of your filter to cover the sky and leave the clear part on the foreground. When you set your exposure for the foreground the darker neutral density top part of the filter tones down the sky so it appears properly exposed, too. It’s a fantastic addition to the filters you need for a lot of outdoor photography.

Excelent quality and presentation.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The first thing was opening moement, a nice package to hold and protect this filters, nice presentation, the fit, materials and effects are nice.

Excellent filter for B&W and infra-red photography
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I had initially bought this for infra-red photography, but I use this filter all the time for regular black & white photography with excellent results. It really enhances your image if it contains blue sky and/or clouds. Another plus: it comes in a nice, sturdy carrying case, which is very handy.

Digital Ultra Clear NOT an upgrade over UV Protector
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Do not be fooled by the implication that the Tiffen Digital Ultra Clear is somehow better than a standard UV filter or a higher end filter. I got horrible glare from the filter on my EF 35mm f/2, the same as I got with the basic UV Protector. At the end of the day, both are cheap filters and should not go any any lens if image quality is important.

I have since learned that multi-coated filters are the way to go and I went with B+W MRC filters due to the higher quality and outstanding reputation.

A good purchase
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I am certainly happy I bought this filter kit. For a starting photographer, the price was right, and I have not noticed any quality issues. The UV filter stays on a lens at all times, as it’s cheaper to replace the filter, than it is to have a scratched lens element repaired.

The light polarizer is very handy, and also works very well, cutting down greatly on glare.

I have not yet had the occasion to use the warming filter yet.

The filter case is a nice extra, it fits right in my camera bag, and is out of the way untill I need it.

Excellent Digital Starter Kit
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This was an outstanding value. The kit includes three often needed filters as well as an excellent filter wallet. The wallet itself, along with the included Tiffen Booklet is an added extra value. I found it to be a great value for the money. You get all three for less than the price of one filter and the filter wallet is an added bonus.

Good filters at affordable price, works with D60
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Pros:

- 3 filters together at very affordable price.

- Can be threaded on the D60 lens

- Filters can be threaded over one another. (Polarizer on the UV filer)

- Carry case included in the price. Good for handling the filters without risk of scratching.

- Improves image quality a lot depending on the type of filter.

- Guide book supplied is also useful to decide which filters to use in what situation.

Cons:

- none so far

Stunning value on good quality filters
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Amazing value on these filters. If you are thinking about getting them, don’t hesitate, just buy them. The polarizer alone is worth the price. I have some generic filters that these replaced, and they are much better. I don’t know how they compare to other more expensive filters, but these were much cheaper than the generic ones I had and they are better as well.

What a dissapointment!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I purchased these filter for a simple Nikon 50mm lens. Advertised is that the kit includes UV protector, Neutral density 0.6 and FL-D filter, which is true, but the box says it includes circular polarized filter which is not.

The case is horrible and arrived in bad conditions, filter were full of dust and the FL-D filter came with a very big fungus that can’t be removed, because it’s inside the glass.

I think that this is my last purchase of Tiffen filters. Have many others for my 6 lenses, and I have something to tell about each one. Very bad quality. I’ll try B&W and Hoya next time. Save your money and buy something else.

Great Filters, Great Price, Fabulous Value
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Being new to the world of filters, I thought I’d give these a try, what a difference they made. I took photos without them, then with them and there is simply no comparison.

I’m an amature photographer and I believe these filters are just the thing for my type of photography.

Great Value
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The quality is excellent, the most used lens for me is the circular polarizing filter. It’s great for digital cameras, especially the canon a620 with its lens attachment. Don’t recommend this for professionals though. Came with a nice lens pouch, but it’s not compact.

great tool for landscapes!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
An excellent tool for enhancing the sky in your landscapes. By being graduated (and rotating) I can put the filter right where I need the effect.

Essentials Kit – inexpensive for a reason.
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
Not bad really, just on the cheaper side. UV does what is says, although there can be some excessive flare if not careful since it is not coated. 812 I have not used (not really needed these days on Digitals), Polarizing feels somewhat gritty when turning.

All in all it’s a get what you pay for scenario. Probably fine for casual shooters, but I have already decided against buying Tiffen in the future…in fact I have bought several Hoya Multi-Coated UV’s and the difference is night and day. I may return these depending on the process – they came from a third party vendor and it may not be worth the trouble.

Summary – they work, but if you really care about your pics and gear step up to Hoya or Heliopan or similar.

Tiffen photo filter kit
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Great kit! I haven’t used any filters before but I can tell that I’ll be using these quite a bit.

Great and effective
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I really like this filter. It does a great job at adding warmth to flesh tones…especially when photographing people who are pale.

Just what you need
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
The three filters here are what any new photographer needs. Nothing fancy about them. They just do what they are supposed to do. Get a UV filter for every lens.

Wrong item in reviews!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
All of the reviews for this product are for a set of three filters– UV, polarizing, and something else. THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH A SET OF 3 CLOSE-UP LENSES, which is what this prouct is, so in that regard, all of the reviews are worthless.

Photo in high definition
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I am surprised with the result. The photos are with an excellent appearance. Excellent result. The light of the flash always leaves the object photographed clearly (cace with white spot). With the filters this does not happen. It seems to be a photo in high definition.

Great Lens set
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I received the lenses and they were all good quality. The case that comes with them is also very nice. I was worried about the polarizing lens not working after reading the other reviews,but mine worked fine.

Misleading description
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Amazon’s product description is misleading. While this may be a great filter for B&W film photography, I would not recommend it for color pictures or for digital photography. Effects on B&W digital pictures are not as dramatic as the manufacturer claims. No mention is made that the filter may not produce the same effects on digital pics, so perhaps it doesn’t work as well as claimed for film, either. And it does not produce good results with color pictures at all, unless your intent is for the colors in your picture to show up as many different shades of green. Might be a good product, but be careful what you intend to use it for.

Great filter
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This filter not only protects my lens, it makes my pictures more vibrant. I notice the biggest change when I photograph flesh.

Great for beginners
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
These three lens were one of my best buys. A note for beginners, I use the clear filter as a sort of lens cover just to be on the safe side. It’s a lot cheaper to buy a new filter than a new lens.

Great quality, great effect
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I got this for landscape work to use in conjunction with a polarizer.

It’s quality is great and I don’t foresee having any problems with it.

Outstanding Bargain!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Despite some of the negative comments I’ve read here concerning the quality of the Tiffen 52mm Photo Essentials Filter Kit, I went ahead and ordered it anyway, and am perfectly satisfied with the Kit, in all ways.

The item was shipped direct from Adorama; the filters were extremely well packed and arrived swiftly.

I use them on my Nikon D40 with the Nikon kit lens (a 18-55mm zoom) and they fit it perfectly and perform even better than I had hoped for…the Circular Polarizer in particular is a delight to use and worth the price of the kit alone. If you’ve never used a decent polarizer filter before, trust me…it’s a fantastic asset to any outdoor photographer’s outfit and if you don’t use one, you don’t know what you’re missing.

Besides, the use of the filter to remove or greatly minimize glass and water reflections is something that simply cannot be done *properly* in software editing packages.

The Tiffen padded carrying case (it came with 3 filters and there is plenty of room for others) is attractive, sturdy, and much better than I had imagined.

Tiffen also included an interesting and informative booklet detailing their products for photo and video filters and I am delighted to add it to my collection of reference materials.

I heartily recommend the Tiffen 52mm Photo Essentials Filter Kit to anyone interested in improving their photographic endeavors!

Great set for the money
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Set arrived BEFORE Amazon said it would! And it is peak Xmas shopping time now. Amazon is great.

Only complaint is that two of the filters had finger prints on them . . . but at least that meant someone had done QC at Tiffen before shipping them out. Easy to clean.

The case they come in is worth half the price. I store the retaining ring from my Canon S3 in the case when I have the extension tube on with the filter. The 812 warming filter is also great for overcast rainy days. For the price, you can’t really do better.

Oh, and the polarizer filter did work fine when I checked it against my computer monitor. Thanks to the person that suggested how to check it! Pictures of my Koi are now possible.

Easy, cheap, quality is lacking
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I’ve never had a problem with a Tiffen product in the past as usually the filters come in plastic containers which help protect them during the shipping processes from the manufacturer to the customer. This package was a deal – until I discovered to my horror that the 3 filters come loose in 3 netted pouches in its carrying case. I had to do extensive cleaning to each filter before I could use them as they arrived with smears and what appeared to be scratches upon opening. Luckly the scratches were really just more dirt that I was able to clean away with a soft cloth.

While the price for this product is good – the chance that it might be damaged before you get it due to bad packaging really is something to be on the lookout for.

On a positive note – they filters all work great for what I needed them for.

great deal!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
These are great filters and especially for the price! I was looking for just one UV filter, and after stumbling upon this set which was not much more than the price of one filter, I bought it. These are great lenses. I especially like the polarizing filter, but all 3 are great.

definitely a worthy buy!

I don’t know how to rate this item ….
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I was supposed to get this with two day shipping from DHL… Five days later and still have not received…

Don’t be in a hurry to get this or any item shipped by DHL

Good Deal for the money
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I use these with my Nikon D60 and they are worth the money, protects the lens and gives good pictures too, either you are shooting in the open or under light the pictures turn out to be very good.

Three Great Filters for a Great Price
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
You could easily spend $30-50 on just one of these filters. I’ve been extremely happy with mine so far. I especially love the circular polarizer. Ever wonder how photographers get that brilliant blue sky with perfect white clouds? Try that polarizer (you do have to rotate the filter to get results, mind) and see the difference!

A nice starter set of filters
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This is a great starter set for those looking for some filters but not looking to spend too much. The set comes in a nice soft case that has four pouches for filters. They work just fine with all of my Nikon lenses. I may have been expecting them to have a greater effect on my pictures, and I don’t use them too often. If you are a professional, I would look to high-end filters, but for everyone else, this is a good place to start.

Very pleased with this purchase
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The filters arrived in perfect condition and are exactly as advertised.

Tiffen FL-D Filter…Works Great!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I use this filter with a High Definition (HD) Pocket Camcorder to get rid of the greenish color cast created by indoor fluorescent lighting.

Good filters, even if some redundant
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This kit comes with four things:

- Circular polarizer: the filter that most people looking at this kit are interested in. While it is difficult to make a “bad” polarizer (it either works or doesn’t) this one certainly is among the good working ones. Makes the sky look awesome, and takes away reflections from water and windows. Polarizer is a definite must for photographers of any level.

- UV filter: if you read reviews online, the Tiffen UV filter is generally not effective at blocking out UV. So most people just use it as an additional layer of glass, for protecting their lens. My personal philosophy is “why bother”, but you may find it interesting.

- Warming filter: this is really more for the “authentic field” photographer who wants their picture to look right the first time. Any decent software can mimic this effect, so I also say “why bother”.

- A four-filter pouch: there is a single pouch to store all three filters. Since polarizer is a little thicker, in effect, it’s just perfect for three. Since there no individual wrappers, and I only really use one filter, this pouch just sits at home.

Overall, for a bit more than what the polarizer is retailing alone, you get some extras. I don’t really find their all that valuable, but nevertheless worth the extra couple of dollars.

Regarding the build quality: I am not discerning enough to tell any aberrations in the glass. The plastic frame, though, is a bit rough along the edges, and the printed labels aren’t sharp, but doesn’t really affect the performance. But basically, it doesn’t *look* expensive. Made in USA.

Also comes with a promotional brochure, but it’s interesting ’cause it explains the effects of all current Tiffen filters, so good reading material

Great Deal For The Price!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I purchased this set after seaching high and low for the best deal. I was about to just go to my local photography store when, low and behold, I found these here at Amazon. You certainly can’t complain about the price!! I priced JUST the UV-Haze filter at my local photo shop, and was rather suprised at the price… JUST FOR IT!! When you considerd that you are ALSO getting a polarizing filter AND, the warming filter, that’s when this deal really hits home.

So, if you’re in the market for a GREAT starter set of filters, I can highly reccomend this set.

The right thing for the price
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
It’s just what i need for the price i was expecting to pay. Saying more its unnecesary.

A little further insight…
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This is one of the best bargains that i’ve seen, “essentially” you get 3 filters for the price of one. The image quality with these filters is great, the 812 (warming) filter is by far a favorite giving back the color richness that flash photography so often washes out, that is unless you have the patience for constantly tweaking your flash power. Aside from the 812 the UV protector is basically a clear protective filter. While it obviously has advantages over clear glass, I tend not to think of it as any different. This too is a great filter which I use about half the time because it doesn’t affect color hues or change f stop values too greatly while it takes the worry out of carrying the camera around ready for any candid shots that may occur. Finally included is the circular polarizer. This filter adjusts the amount of uv light entering the camera by spinning the filter to the direction the uv rays are entering (or turning the thingy till things look better). This lens is great for sunny days and will take surface glare off lakes and glass making them transparent again. It also makes colors more crisp in general when photographing buildings and other large “reflective” man-made things. So things sound great so far, but now to why I only give this item 4 stars. While Tiffen is known to be one of the best at photo and video filters, they have quality control issues that do no live up to thier reputation. In my case the 812 filter arrived with a discoloration in the glass. While it was didn’t hurt image quality, with the flaw being towards the edge of the filter, I none the less didn’t want to find a situation in which the flaw would diminish quality. Seeing as it was not amazon’s fault my first e-mail went to Tiffen for a replacement which they said they would gladly do, but only after I send them the filter and they recieve it would they ship my replacement (not an option in my circumstances). Instead Amazon’s wonderful customer service shown through again, and within 3 days they had replaced the entire set. The second set arrivided without flaw but since my other two filters were in perfect condition I traded just the 812. I havn’t had any other issues and i’m very satisfied with my filters. The only other word of warning would be to that of the circular polorizer. While I recieved 2 that were flawless occassionally I have read in reviews customers have received ones that were assembled backwards making the lens useless. A quick way to check to see if your CP is working correctly is to hold it, thread facing yourself, and look at an LCD monitor or TV and spin it until the picture dissapears(obviously working correctly). I still wouldn’t pass up this deal knowing what I do now, chances are everything will show up perfectly but none the less if you’re concerned order it before you need it and check everything over carefully. Amazon is always the best for returns and will often ship a replacement the next day with overnight shipping.

And a little further insight…

I was recently doing some black and white film photography, and decided to use my 812 warming filter as a protective lens as I was carrying 3 lenses with me. Just thought that I would mention that using this filter will produce a “White” sky in some outdoor photographs. The shots were taken with a gradient blue sky to which the entirety showed up white, even on bracketed sets, that should have shown something in one of the series. While itself was a interesting effect for some shots, it mostly just caused me frustration in the darkroom. I just wanted to add this as fair warning. I discovered this on accident, so I don’t know if it applies to all sky conditions as I didn’t do a lot B&W sky shots, I might test it using Photoshop later as I see they have the 812s effect built in. Anyways, good luck and have fun photoing.

Returned
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
Out of the box one of filters had a defect of coating. like a underpainted blob.

Thanks Amazon for no hassle return.

Essential indeed
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I am very pleased with the quality and usefulness of these filters. Not they’re great lens protectors, both the circular polarizer and warmth filter works flawlessly, and for such econo-friendly price. Totally worth the money you’re contemplating (if you still are at this point) on spending.

Polarizer is a permanent lens company for me.

Great filter
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’m fairly new to the world of photography filters, but of the 10 that I have experimented with, this one is my favorite. Without a doubt, I see improvement in the overall colors of the pictures I have taken. It enhances skin tones but also helps enhance colors in the surrounding area too. Definately a good buy in my opinion!

looks cheap
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
There are some scratches around the rings, and dust on the filter surface. I bought brand-new but they looked USED to me.

Still, tried them on, didn’t see any difference between pic taken with filter and the one without.

I returned them the next day.

not useful
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
the words on the side are blurred, just like toys for kids

Perfect addition to a 50mm lens
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Three essential filters for an essential lens (50mm). Every photographer should have one, and this set of filters is not only required, but at this price, is more than a bargain. i felt guilty purchasing it. The only reason for four stars and not five is that the pouch can hold more than three lenses. they should have filled it, and even with a little higher price, this item would still have been a bargain.

tiffen filter
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I am very pleased with the filter that i ordered. it arrived in great condition and several days before I thought it would

Plain glass – lots of reflection at night
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
In spite of the fairly positive reviews I’ve read here at Amazon about these filters, my experience differs. I returned the filters almost immediately after buying them. I was planning to use them the Nikon 50mm f 1.4D AF Nikkor lens I use with a Nikon D200. I was planning to use the UV filter primarily for protection of the lens. However, the filter glass is not “multi-coated” to reduce reflection. From my perspective, a filter – particularly a UV filter used to protect a pristine lens like my Nikkor – is absolutely worthless (underscore the word “worthless”) if I’ve got to take it off the lens in the field in order to get a decent shot without reflection. As an aside, I thought the Tiffen filters looked and felt cheap. Additionally, they arrived somewhat smudged in their holder. Not a problem: Amazon allowed me to return them. In exchange, I purchased a Sigma multi-coated UV filter which cost roughly $19.00. Beautiful glass; great product; no reflections. Worth the price. ‘Nuff said.

Uses for CC20Y color correction filters for Color and Black and white photography
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
CC20Y = 20 Color Correction units. Often used to make color corrections to transparency film, that comes out Blue after being processed. Can be used separately or with other warming filters to improve shin tones on people, as ,most people look pasty white when photographed. Another use for CC20Y is with black and white film. For example, if the subject being photographed is yellow, when using the correction filter, the yellow portion in the image will be slightly lighter or less muddy looking.

USA Quality for Great Low Price!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
These filters are great. Made in the USA and still affordable. They perform fantastic on my Nikon D40X and the pictures are super. Many made in China filters out there are good too (even Nikon makes most of their equipment in China now also)but I was really happy with this purchase. It comes with a case for holding the filters which is also very nice quality and can fit on a camera bag strap.

Tiffen 52mm close up lens set
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I use it with my Nikon Digital SLR camera. If you don’t have the money for a 600.00 dollar close up micro lens. this is the next best thing. have taken some close ups of my flowers. came out great.

Horrible Customer Service
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Based on the past reviews, the product seems to be a great deal. However, I am writing this review based on the customer service of ADORAMA. I haven’t had the oppurtunity to use this product yet, due to the poor customer service of ADORAMA. Therefore, this review is to inform you about their service, and NOT about the filters.

I purchased this item on Oct. 13 and waited anxiously for the product. When the box arrived at my front door, I didn’t hesitate to open it. To my surprise, the box was empty. There was no product in the box! There was an invoice, but no filters. So I called ADORAMA and they gave me a bit of a hassle. Finally I got them to ship me out a new filter set. When I got this new set (a week later) I opened the box and found my filters. However, when I looked at the filters, one of them had a big crack on the glass. They sent me a used set!!! This definately upset me, but I was able to keep my cool and call customer service. They told me that they would pay for the filters to be shipped back, and once received, they would ship me out a new set. I asked how long the process would take, and they said about 2 weeks. Now, I was already upset that so much had gone wrong, but I decided to be a nice customer and wait out the two weeks.

Well, it is now Dec 12, and I still have no filter set! I called ADORAMA today and told them of my problem. The representative put me on hold for a minute then came back and said, “okay, I have placed another order for you, thank you.” There was no apology given, nor any offer of a speedy shipping. I then started to get politely heated (upset, yet still kind)and asked to speak with a manager. The customer service rep told me to hold, and then….click, they hung up on me. Now I can understand that as a customer rep, they must receive hundreds of rude customers, but I have in no way been rude to them. This company needs to work on their customer service skills. I don’t think its fair that they charge me (back in Oct.) for the product, yet I still have nothing to show for it today (in Dec.)

STAY AWAY FROM ADORAMA!!! THEY ARE A HORRIBLE COMPANY WITH NO CUSTOMER SERVICE SKILLS.

Misleading description
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Amazon’s product description is misleading. While this may be a great filter for B&W film photography, I would not recommend it for color pictures or for digital photography. Effects on B&W digital pictures are not as dramatic as the manufacturer claims. No mention is made that the filter may not produce the same effects on digital pics, so perhaps it doesn’t work as well as claimed for film, either. And it does not produce good results with color pictures at all, unless your intent is for the colors in your picture to show up as many different shades of red. Might be a good product, but be careful what you intend to use it for.

worth getting
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Just got mine, perfect condition, no problems with the vendor. I appreciate the other reviewer’s comments concerning the Circular polarizer filter and making sure it was working the way it should, never would have checked if it wasn’t for the comments. Can’t beat the price, for $25 you get 3 filters and a case to boot!

You get what you pay for!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I purchased this set, and upon arrival, I found the circular polarizer to be defective. Amazon quickly replaced the set, and this polarizer did not work either! I returned the set, as I am not going to waste any more time trying to get a polarizer that works. I’ll pay more, and get a quality product from a different maker. I will say that Amazon is second to nobody for customer service. I appreciate that, and will continue to be an Amazon customer. However, I can’t say the same for Tiffen.

Causes a reflection off of the actual lenses
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
The polarizer works well but the UV filter causes a reflection of lighted objects to appear. Most of my photos are taken at twilight or at night and this reflection has ruined many a shot.

Filthy Filters
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I purchased this filter pack with high hopes. Granted, it’s a low end pack of three filters, so I didn’t expect world class optics. What I did expect is that I’d be able to use these filters out of the box without having to clean them. Straight of the box, they were covered in dust, pieces of cardboard, and in some cases even grease and fingerprints. (Literally, you could have used the prints on one of the filters to convict someone)

After cleaning, and drying with a very soft, clean cloth, I discovered a number of scratches.

I contacted the company via email and a very nice, very polite rep got back to me. WONDERFUL service (which is the only reason this review isn’t a 1 star), but unfortunately the second, and then the third replacement they sent me were also filthy and scratched. On the first and second rounds, the black filters actually had multiple dings in the metal, revealing the underlying silver color.

The service rep told me each time that he had personally inspected the filters before sending them out. Each time, they’ve arrived less than expected. The last time around, he promised a nice gift I was sure to like. For a company who makes filters as a primary business, I expected he’d drop me an extra filter or two. Instead he send me a garment bag marked from some photographer’s organization. Very strange.

I finally gave up after round 3. I’m accepting them. Lesson learned – don’t buy Tiffen.

Tiffen 52mm Photo Essentials Filter Kit
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Sent in a timely manner. Lense came in a nice case. Would definitely recommend product. I would also recommend purchasing from Amazon.

works well
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I bought this a few weeks ago. I have never used one of these before. It works very well. I take a lot of landscapes. So far I have only used it at dusk to capture the evening moon rising over the moutains. Without the filter the sky was over or the mountains under exposed. With the filter, both are exposed properly. Cool.

My only complaint is that it costs $40. Seems like it should be cheaper.