Hoya Filters

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Hi everyone,

I know this is a commonly debated topic but i am looking to buy some Hoya filters for our Canon lenses and i am struggling to work out the difference in types and therefore which ones to get.

I can see that Pro 1's are at the upper end of the range but is that the best option for me?

Then, there are ones in green packaging called the Green Series and some in grey packaging called HMC UV (C). They are similar in price but i don't know if one is better than the other.

I have four 58mm lenses, 2 x kit lens, a 55-250 and a 75-300 and a nifty fifty which is 52mm, and i am looking to use filters to protect them; am i right to be looking at UV ones as i have also seen clear ones described as protective filters?

Finally, as we know, Canon do not supply hoods; should i get these as well or even instead of filters?

Thanks guys,

Tracey
 
Go for good quality filters and get hoods.

I got 4 Hoya Pro1 protective filters from One Stop Digital this week (just made it in before air travel was hit). Very big saving compared with UK suppliers.
 
personally, i wouldn't bother getting high-end filters or even hoods for the cheaper lenses. spending £50 on a filter for a lens obtainable for just slightly more doesn't make sense to me.

for hoya, the HD (newer) and Pro1D series of filters are the best and cost the most. these have thinner profiles that don't cut into the frame and cause vignetting on wider-angle lenses. they also have coatings that practically eliminate flare and resist various things e.g. smudges.

outside of these, you have "general" filters with various coatings. i'm not sure of the colour-coding they use, but generally you're looking at standard, HMC, SHMC and Ultra coatings. they all do various things, but the better coatings reduce flare and are tougher. more information [here].

hoods also serve to protect the front element and reduce flare (by cutting out light coming in from the sides), but original canon hoods are only included with L lenses. if you're thinking of getting hoods for your lenses, try ebay or other sellers that sell "equivalent" hoods. they may not have the same feel or flocking on the inside, but having to spend £50 on what is essentially a ring of plastic is something i'm never quite able to forgive canon for.

hoods protect from falls/knocks, filters protect from projectiles/rocks. on weather-proofed lenses, filters also help weather-proof the front element. and you can be a bit ham-fisted when cleaning filters. front elements are precious.

your decision to make ;)
 
I got a Hoya 77mm pro1 UV from Cameraking via Amazon for £32 delivered (2nd class recorded - received in 2days) & was the cheapest I found, even than Ebay!!

Check daily though, as it seems the prices change daily by the looks of it - as it has now gone up.. and its cheaper via Amazon than it is via their own site... :shrug: weird

Just my 2 pence...
 
Dougie, William and Steve,

Thanks to you all for sharing your views; i very much appreciate it.

I did a lot of research when i wanted to buy my camera last year and i didn't imagine that an accessory would require almost the same level of investigation!

Thanks again,

Tracey
 
:thumbs: Your welcome...

:bang: O0000hhh the joys of any hobbie...
 
Trig's said:
:thumbs: Your welcome...

:bang: O0000hhh the joys of any hobbie...
Click to expand...

Thanks again Steve.

Yes, i am a shocker for research as well when i want something. It was the same when i bought a camcorder before the internet was available; it has been recounted by my other half, somewhat erroneously in my opinion, that the research undertaken through the purchase of magazines was only marginally less than the cost of the camcorder itself!

Good tip about Camera King via Amazon by the way. :clap: They seem to have the most competitive prices.

Best wishes,

Tracey
 
Struggle no more.

Check THIS out.

Just goes to show, spending more on something doesn't mean you're getting better quality!
 
I like UV filters...everyone here knows this by now...

I use a mixture of Hoya HMC filters on my older lenses, Hoya Pro-1 filters on my newer lenses and a couple of Nikon filters that haven't been damaged yet.

In the past, I would say that something is better than nothing, but have come to accept that the better the filter, the less the liklihood of any reduction in image quality or strange out-of-focus abberations (if you use nikon lens, disregard that last bit - it only seems to affect longer focal-length Canon optics).

So buy the best you can find, even if you can't actually afford them.
 
Thanks for the link, Electron, and for your advice, Rob.
 
The Hoya Green Box series are best avoided,made in the Philippines they get a reputation for poor optical and build quality.

It's worth having a look at Kenko filters, Kenko are Hoya's "budget" brand, but I haven't noticed any difference in quality between the ones I have and my equivalent Hoya ones.
 
Flash In The Pan said:
The Hoya Green Box series are best avoided,made in the Philippines they get a reputation for poor optical and build quality.

It's worth having a look at Kenko filters, Kenko are Hoya's "budget" brand, but I haven't noticed any difference in quality between the ones I have and my equivalent Hoya ones.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your advice about the Hoya green box ones Graham. I hadn't realised that Kenko were a brand name of Hoya. Same practise as tyre manufacturers then; offer an alternative line for those who consider the premier range to be unsuitable whether due to cost or usage.
 
I recently upgraded my 77mm Hoya Green filter to a Pro 1. I don't know if my Green filter was a bad copy but I can see tiny imperfections all over it. The Pro 1 by comparison is perfectly clear.
 
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