Just bought a B+W 72mm UV MRC filter that came in today, it looks fake... The finish on the black is completely different than my other B+W filters, there is no laser engraving on the front of the filter, and to top it off the box doesn't have the holographic sticker. Just making sure B+W didn't recently change anything up before I ask for a refund.
Well, the lack of the hologram should be the major tip-off. They most definitely still do that, at least when I bought a filter about a month ago. To me, the "MADE IN GERMANY" also looks not as well defined as real B+W filters. Sorry to see that, good luck on the refund!
Authorized dealer or ? - the F-PRO should be brass with black anodize finish - the "Made in Germany" does appear a larger scale than a CPL that I have - the F-PRO looks correct. How do the coatings look.
Not all B+W filter boxes carry a holographic sticker, the only filters I have with the green sticker are 52mm, the popular Nikon size, and I have a lot of B+W filters. B+W make a series of filters for the Asian market; they have alloy rings instead of brass and they are less expensive (and lighter in weight) than the brass ringed variety. The glass is identical.
Whether these filters are fake or not has been beaten to death on other forums, perhaps here too. B+W are very coy about this; I sent an email to Schneider Optics and received a carefully written reply from their US subsidiary that skirted my direct question about their authenticity.
FWIW the overwhelming opinion is that these filters are genuine B+W. The alloy filters are immediately distinguishable from the brass by having the labeling on the outside of the ring rather than on the front. I bought my 77mm filters from Maxsaver in HK, who sell the alloy variety right next to the brass and clearly label all their filters. Where did you buy your filter?
I have several B+W filters in the older package with out the halographic sticker. If the box is the new style with out the sticker I'd be concerned.
What would really bother me is the lack of etching on the front of the filter. It's either a knock off or an alloy version. Either way if it's not what you wanted and you paid for the brass version return it. You may find this interesting as well.
I bought it this filter off this forum. The first thing that caught my eye was that there was no laser engraved letters on the front and the black finish looks to be the alloy varient. I remember reading somewhere that they only made one version that was alloy which was a 52mm cpl or something and that maxsaver wasn't on their list of authorized resellers even though maxsavers website swears by it. There seems to be a mrc on the glass. Will test against my other 72mm.
EB-1 wrote:
Yep. I never bought a bogus filter from Canoga or BH.
EBH
+ 1
When buying used the price should be a good indicator.
IMO it's probably a wise move to avoid the re-sellers here that don't do any thing but post in the buy/sell.
nanogram wrote:
Yea I usually buy new filters form 2filter. However I'd never thought a seller on here would sell possibly fake ones
They may not have known. I'm not home to check right now, but it looks like the F-PRO that came on the used 24-105 lens I bought on B&S. Seems to work fine, and it never even occurred to me that it may be fake. I'll have to look at it more closely when I get home from work.
OK, I need to step in before the "witch hunt" begins. I sold the filter to nanogram and will take complete responsibility if the filter is indeed a fake. I have already offered a refund to him, my reputation here is worth a lot more than the $50 i sold the filter for.
However, I also need to state this. I also bought the filter here from another member who advertised it as a B&W.
Under this assumption is why I believed it was indeed a "true" B&W. That seller has been a solid member here for sometime and his reputation is impeccable. Thus there was no reason on my part not to believe it wasn't an authentic filter. But again, if it is a knockoff than I will gladly refund his money. I am the one who sold it so I will be accountable.
I tested the filter against my other B+W 72mrc uv, the results seem to be the exact same, the glass is indeed Schott glass for both filters. I think the only difference is the metal and filter thread which might cause binding later on.
Also not Jersey's fault! He is a great seller and is working with me on this
Under this assumption is why I believed it was indeed a "true" B&W. That seller has been a solid member here for sometime and his reputation is impeccable. Thus there was no reason on my part not to believe it wasn't an authentic filter. But again, if it is a knockoff than I will gladly refund his money. I am the one who sold it so I will be accountable.
The UV filter the OP is showing in this thread is not the same as the UV filter you are linking in the sale with the other RE-Seller. The filter in the thread you are linking to is clearly marked 72 SLIM 010 1x.
FWIW this filter new from B+H is less than $65.
Thanks for the kind words nanogram. Because there is a question regarding the authenticity of the filter I refunded him the full amount. Again, my reputation amongst the great members here is of the utmost importance.
