77mm CPL filter

[Lynton]

Hi there,

Am currently looking for a 77mm CPL filter - and have resorted to eBay........

Seems a Hoya bought uk is about £70-£80 or so, or from Hong Kong - about 1/2 that - is that due to a load of fakes? Are filters faked? Sorry for a numpty question, but play a lot of golf (12 yrs opposed to about 2 months with a DSLR) - and in golfing terms wouldn't touch anything from China.......

Also some UK stuff on there for very little compared to a Hoya - i guess it's you get what you pay for though????

Any comments / advice would be helpful.

Thanks


Lynton

 

[happysnappy]

Not sure how good it is, as haven't had chance to try it yet, but I bought a Cokin one from Jacobs last week for £50.99, which I thought was fairly reasonable given the size

 

[Gonetae]

Lynton you may find this thread of interest.

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=145846

Tommy.

 

[HoppyUK]

This is the best polariser you can get, £100 in 77mm from UK supplier, actually a very good price. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hoya-Digita...PMGS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1246615378&sr=8-1 You are paying extra because it only reduces light by about one stop, compared to most others at getting on for two stops. It is also multi-coated (v important IMHO) and in a slim-line mount. Nikon and B+W do something similar, but more expensive (Nikon version is probably made by Hoya anyway).

The slightly cheaper Pro1-D is similar quality, but of the darker variety (I use that one, as the HD version was not available when I bought - I'll sell it to you if you like, so I can get the HD ).

Kenko filters 'look' identical even down to the packaging and surely come out of the same factory. Not 100% certain that they are in fact the same, but based on Kenko's reputation I would go for it it if the price was right.

Not sure I would risk any other brands except B+W but they are even more expensive. That's not to say that others aren't any good, or not good value, but nobody really does reliable filter tests so I tend to play safe. Get a good filter and you'll be using it happily for ever.

I have not heard of any fake filters. Or any other fake photo equipment TBH. There are some Chinese and Indian copies of stuff, mainly tripod fittings, but they make no attempt to conceal their originas and seem to be well regarded.

 

[Kryptix]

You considered the 'budget' Hoya range?

I use them on my L glass and never noticed a difference in quality. You can get 77mm Hoya filters for £20 from Kerso (Ian).