Do Circular polarizers wear out?

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Simon
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Not sure if this a stupid question, but my much used Hoya Pro-1 circular polarizer front glass element has become quite loose, much more so than I remember when I first had it a few years ago. You can wiggle it up and down from side to side if that makes sense.

Do they actually wear out over time and does the looseness of the front element effect it's performance?

Thanks - Simon.
 
I would say like everything else after a time they do start to wear out,if they are used a lot and alway knocking around in your photo bag.
Does this effect pq i would say it more important how the glass is :)
 
The looseness will only be a problem if it rotates of it's own accord, or light leaks between the glass and the metal rim.
Some filters can be manually disassembled by unscrewing two parts of the rim - might yours just have worked loose?
 
The filter is in good condition otherwise. It doesn't seem to want to screw back together so it is tighter.

Does it effect the picture quality? I'm not 100% sure. It certainly doesn't seem to work as well as the Marumi Circular Polarizer I have on my G1X, but that could be because the Marumi filter is a better filter?

I can lift the glass so there is about a 1mm gap between the glass and the ring. Does that sound excessive? If you shake it while fitted to a lens/camera you can clearly hear it rattling.

Thanks - Simon.
 
WOW! A 1mm gap between glass and ring is MASSIVE! Should there be an O ring or gasket? With that much movement there might be some angle change altering the effect.
 
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