B+W Kaesemann Circular Polarizer Review - Part 1

I finally decided to get a circular polarizer.  They are supposed to help kill reflections, make blue skies bluer, and make water look more...watery.  

Here's a little snippet from B&H:

The B&W 77mm Kaesemann Circular Polarizing Multi-Resistant Coating (MRC) Glass Filter is constructed from select polarizer foils and especially prepared optical glass. Kaesemann ("encased") filters are completely edge-sealed for maximum durability under extreme climatic conditions. 

Polarizing filters are used to select which light rays enter your camera lens. They can remove unwanted reflections from non-metallic surfaces such as water or glass and also saturate colors providing better contrast. 

The effect can be seen through the viewfinder and varied by rotating the filter. The filter factor varies according to how the filter is rotated and its orientation to the sun.
Note! Circular polarizers are specifically designed for use with auto-focus SLR cameras (They will also work on manual systems without problems).

• This filter eliminates ultraviolet rays to remove haze from outdoor shots as well as polarizing the light to remove reflections, and increase color saturation, without affecting the overall color balance
• This filter is especially effective in areas of great temperature and humidity extremes
• Use it indoors (museums, galleries) and outdoors
• Effective for making a blue sky bluer, making clouds stand out or increasing (or decreasing) the color saturation of water

There are three different grades of B+W Circular Polarizers:

1. Standard Circular Polarizer (B+W page)
2. Standard with Multi-Resistant Coating (MRC) Glass - The Multi-Resistant Coating (MRC) is harder than traditional B+W glass. This helps prevent scratches as well as being water and dirt repellent.  It also helps to minimize reflection at the filter surfaces which reduces flare and ghosting (B+W page).
3. Kaesemann Circular Polarizer with MRC - Same as #2, but uses special "neutral" polarization filters and has special weather/dust sealing (B+W page).

I think the MRC (#2) is a good starting point.  But I decided to go with the Kaesemann considering it was only about $15 more.  Considering the operation of the filter involves rotating two halves (see below), I thought the sealing was important to have.

The filter itself:

Comes in a nice 80's style packaging

But is pretty well protected in a plastic case with foam padding

"Hergestellt in Deutschland"

The operation of the filter is pretty basic.  The filter is actually made of two separate halves (another reason to get the Kaesemann, you get better sealing between the halves).  Basically  you just spin the end of the filter to vary the effect of the polarization.  If you look at the above photo, you would spin the part that says "Made in Germany", while the ribbed ring and the rest of the filter stays still.  

Note that because of the fact that you rotate the filter to change intensity, lenses that rotate the front element while focusing can be VERY annoying.

Here's a quick sample of the effects of the polarizer.  All photos are straight from the camera without edits.

Minimum Effect

Maximum Effect

I think the filter does a great job of enhancing the sky.  The blue is bluer and the clouds are more apparent (check out the streaky clouds on the left).  It also balances the photo a bit better.  The trees and houses aren't as dark with full polarization.

Check out how it can eliminate some ugly cloud haze to reveal some nice sharp cloud lines:

Haze B Gone

I'll post some examples of water and reflection cancelling, but I have to find some water first (part 2).
Check out another review at one of my go to sites, www.thedigitalpicture.com
If you're interested, heres a page that ranks a few different circular polarizers.  B+W is at the top: http://www.lenstip.com/115.4-article-Polarizing_filters_test_Results_and_summary.html

Buy it from Amazon or B&H or Adorama