Where do you buy filters from ?

[justa1972]

Just been reading a few articles about fake filters, Hoya Pro1 seem to be commonly copied presently.

Looking on eBay I can buy a 52mm Hoya Pro-1 slim filter from a UK trader for a frankly amazing £6.45 inc postage. If I then go onto Camerapricebuster the cheapest shop is selling the same filter at £23 inc postage ?!

Obviously this would suggest that the eBay filters must be fake ? Or is it just the fact that shops have a much higher mark up due to higher costs ?

The difference with CPL filters can be even greater…

So is it a case of too good to be true or worth taking a punt ?

 

[Box Brownie]

As the old saying goes "if it looks too good to be true......."

 

[mstphoto]

I've been buying my filters direct from the Nisi website.
One of my favourites is the Nisi 6 stop with built in CPL
Great for the times when I want a long polarized exposure

 

[LeeRatters]

Ebay could well be safe but check the buyer - I know Carmarthen Cameras sell through ebay for example as I've used them myself.

I wouldn't buy a £6 Hoya filter.....

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Also be aware that Hoya and others sell different grades of filters. you need to look at the details very carefully.
However the Price ranges are very wide when it come to retail and the web.

Also it should be notated that Kenco and Hoya filters are the same, and are made in the same factory.
However in japan and most of the far east they are only marketed and sold as Kenco. In the rest of the world they are sold and marketed as Hoya.
However some individual sellers do import Kenco branded stock into the USA and the UK. sometimes these are available at very competitive prices.
I have several Kenco branded filters, as well as Hoya branded ones. apart from the name there is not the slightest discernable difference.
However a few of their filters are not sold under both brands, so those are not easily available in the UK.