UV screw in filters - does price matter ?

magpieant

magpieant

Suspended / Banned
Messages
2,043
Edit My Images
No
I'm looking to get a UV filter for no other reason than to protect the lens.

After looking around, I have noticed that prices vary. Argos £8, compared to B&W, etc for £30-50.

My question is does it really matter? Only wanting it to protect the glass, I don't want to pay too much. Would a cheap one DEGRADE the quality of the image (using decent lenses!) or would there be no change.

Cheers

Anth.
 
As far as i'm aware it doesnt really matter to be honest, but i may be wrong!

This is actually the next thing i'll buy for my cam. I bought a CPL filter last week, cheapo jobby on ebay and it does me fine. Ive seen some for like £40 and thought are they actually much better or not?
 
Main differences are the quality of the optics and the coating they have put on.

If you have a very sharp professional lens, why put a cheap UV filter on which will degrade the quality of the image (which is the whole reason you would of bought that lens over the £55 one ebay :P)

But the price does indicate quality mostly. Such as Hoya are better quality than Jessops home brand for example but not that many people actually notice the difference
 
main issue seems to be nasty flare from non multicoated (read: the cheap) filters. Get hoya (but not the 'green' series) or kenko multicoated and you should be alreet :)
 
Hi Anth,

Big difference!

If you are serious about protecting the lens and having the best optically then you need to spend to get it.

I use Hoya HD and recommend them.

Regards

Chris
 
Have a look here for a useful review on UV filters: http://lenstip.com/113.1-article-UV_filters_test.html

As you'll see, one of the cheaper filters is the best, but I would not extrapolate that to say that cheap is good. As already mentioned, look out for a reputable multicoated filter such as the winning Hoya in that test.
 
I use the Hoya HD filters - they are expensive but can be picked up a lot cheaper from far eastern suppliers. I find the coating a lot more durable than the Pro 1D versions.
 
Look on Amazon for a seller called "CameraKing", he sells the Hoya Pro 1 UV filters for dead cheap! I got the 77mm one from them for £33 a couple months ago and it arrived next day. The Hoya Pro 1 filters are normally quite expensive but for £33...I can't fault it :)
 
Deckard said:
Have a look here for a useful review on UV filters: http://lenstip.com/113.1-article-UV_filters_test.html

As you'll see, one of the cheaper filters is the best, but I would not extrapolate that to say that cheap is good. As already mentioned, look out for a reputable multicoated filter such as the winning Hoya in that test.
Click to expand...

That's a very useful comparison test. So much for "you get what you pay for......" How much is 79PLN though, I wonder....
 
I got mine off Amazon for something llike £10-12 IIRC.
 
Sorry but yes - cheap ones will affect the image. You have to get a really good one, even though it's classed by myself and some others as a 'sacrificial' item...
 
Personally I say unless you in adverse conditions then don't bother, it's amarketing ploy from filter companies and camera shops.
 
jerry12953 said:
Just be aware that the best and most expensive multi-coated ones are easy to scratch - the polarisers anyway - so if you take it off you have to be really careful what you do with it.
Click to expand...

So true. :'(

I was shocked when I looked at my Hoya HD CPL filter once when I saw it had a huge scratch through it, turned out it was from a dodgy lens cap that rubbed against it everytime I put it on.
 
Deckard said:
Have a look here for a useful review on UV filters: http://lenstip.com/113.1-article-UV_filters_test.html

As you'll see, one of the cheaper filters is the best, but I would not extrapolate that to say that cheap is good. As already mentioned, look out for a reputable multicoated filter such as the winning Hoya in that test.
Click to expand...

That test is precisely the reason I use Hoya HMC filters. They aren't quite the cheapest, nor are they the most expensive, but, on the evidence in that test, they perform as well as a UV filter should.

Shouldn't this be in the talk equipment section?
 
glass quality i suppose springs to mind
optical quality

i usually bought hoya which i thought combined quality with fair price
 
I'll be honest - most of my lenses have the el cheapo 'CPL' UV filters on them that you can buy from ebay for about a tenner a pop. Then last year I bought a Nikon 24-70mm f2.8 ED lens and just couldn't bring myself to put a cheap filter on such a sublimely gorgeous lens so I splashed out and bought a decent Hoya filter on it - it just seemed a bit of a joke to spend out £1200 on the best glass money could buy then then put a cheapo filter on the front of it! lol
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top