p.3 #1 · Anyone trust filters from Hong Kong sellers?
I love HVstar.net. They even shipped to Thailand when I was there even though I paid with a US paypal account-- and it's normally against their policy.
p.3 #2 · Anyone trust filters from Hong Kong sellers?
Another person for HVstar I have ordered many filters form them and the only complaint I have is their shipping cost! but they are still cheaper than anyplace I have found for good quality filters including 2filter as a matter of fact I have 4 filters on the way now
p.3 #3 · Anyone trust filters from Hong Kong sellers?
jamesf99 wrote:
There's no way for anyone to tell if the glass is real or not. No where does it say "Schott" on the glass, at least on the "real" one I'm holding in my hands now or the approximately 10 B+W filters I own. If you have B+W filters that have "Schott" stamped on the glass, I would return them for a refund immediately. Does the name show up in your images?
The differences were on the ring; the type face was different, the wording slightly different, etc. I'm still having trouble getting my head around why any mfg, for filters mfg'd in Germany, at the same plant, on the same lines, using the same box, would bother to subtlety change the type face and printing, just to send them to the far east where it could be sold for less. I suppose stranger things could happen, but again, it makes me go "hmmmmm?"........
Perhaps I got filters that were legitimately mfg'd in Germany, but from different batches spanning a typeface change at the factory. Or then again, perhaps I got one of the first "prototypes" from the new HK/Shanghai B+W factory. They've improved their quality now..... ....
Outliers may be flukes, or may be indicative of something else... ...Show more →
I know my filters have Schott glass because they hold the liquour well. Just kidding. You are right, there is no obvious way to know.
Your comments made me wonder about the branding "Made in Germany" or "Germany" on the B+W filters. I wonder if anyone knows the legal requirements to use such branding on German products or products made elsewhere for B+W.
I noticed today while visiting the Schneider Kreuznach website that they have subsidiaries in South Korea and Hong Kong. I wonder what their B+W filters look like? Do you think they brand their filters as "Made in South Korea/Hong Kong/China?" In the same vain, I assume Schneider Optics, the US subsidiary of Schneider Kreuznach doesn't brand the filters "Made in US." This all assumes that B+W filters are made outside Germany.
p.3 #4 · Anyone trust filters from Hong Kong sellers?
jhom wrote:
I know my filters have Schott glass because they hold the liquour well. Just kidding. You are right, there is no obvious way to know.
Your comments made me wonder about the branding "Made in Germany" or "Germany" on the B+W filters. I wonder if anyone knows the legal requirements to use such branding on German products or products made elsewhere for B+W.
I noticed today while visiting the Schneider Kreuznach website that they have subsidiaries in South Korea and Hong Kong. I wonder what their B+W filters look like? Do you think they brand their filters as "Made in South Korea/Hong Kong/China?" In the same vain, I assume Schneider Optics, the US subsidiary of Schneider Kreuznach doesn't brand the filters "Made in US." This all assumes that B+W filters are made outside Germany.
Interesting. I didn't know they had HK facilities, but that could be it. It's the 'made in Germany" part that's now the question. I don't have a box with me as I'm not in the studio right now but since they simply say "Germany" on the ring, perhaps that's just a marketing trick to make people think they're getting something they're not, and a way to justify a higher price...
I haven't called B+W (or the distributors) for a while, but this is worth checking...
Oh well, my next filters will be Hoya anyway. I don't feel like paying B+W prices for a small CP (replacing one I lost) and possibly an IR or two...
p.3 #5 · Anyone trust filters from Hong Kong sellers?
jamesf99 wrote:
Interesting. I didn't know they had HK facilities, but that could be it. It's the 'made in Germany" part that's now the question. I don't have a box with me as I'm not in the studio right now but since they simply say "Germany" on the ring, perhaps that's just a marketing trick to make people think they're getting something they're not, and a way to justify a higher price...
I haven't called B+W (or the distributors) for a while, but this is worth checking...
Oh well, my next filters will be Hoya anyway. I don't feel like paying B+W prices for a small CP (replacing one I lost) and possibly an IR or two... ...Show more →
You might wait a little bit if you are not in dire need of the filters. Hoya will be introducing a new line of high quality filters shortly. I believe they will be called HD. Supposedly, they will be more impact/scratch resistant. I'm not sure of anything else. I don't know if they will be following the Digital line strategy or their SHMC strategy.
p.3 #7 · Anyone trust filters from Hong Kong sellers?
jhom wrote:
You might wait a little bit if you are not in dire need of the filters. Hoya will be introducing a new line of high quality filters shortly. I believe they will be called HD. Supposedly, they will be more impact/scratch resistant. I'm not sure of anything else. I don't know if they will be following the Digital line strategy or their SHMC strategy.
Jim
in addition their claim for the CP filter: Hoya's HD Circular Polarizers have reduced light loss buy 25%
p.3 #9 · Anyone trust filters from Hong Kong sellers?
Good Lord, is this thing still going on? Bottom line is, Hvstar offers B+W filters with filter rings in alloy or brass composition...you just need to read into the details. In some cases, their product description link will mention the material, in others (like the Hvstar link below), you need to read into the details to find this information out. The B&H link doesn't mention the ring material anywhere (maybe they only carry brass...I don't know). One way to tell is by feel...if one filter is heavier than the other, the heavy one will be constructed with brass. When dealing with Hvstar, you need to be aware of what you're buying. If in doubt, shoot them an email. In this point-and-click age, most folks don't want to take the time to read a bunch of text...they'd rather just click on what they think they want, then complain to high heaven when they realize that its not what they want.
Like many others, I've been buying from Hvstar for a few years now...never had a bad experience, and never felt that I've been cheated. If you think that "more expensive equals better" and don't mind spending an additional $50-$60 at B&H or 2filter for the same filter, you're obviously free to do so. Not everything coming out of Asia is a fake...
p.3 #10 · Anyone trust filters from Hong Kong sellers?
Not sure what's going on. My filters left Jamaica Queens (NY) on August 2nd and the USPS details show nothing after that. Considering I'm in the next state over that seems a little odd.
p.3 #12 · Anyone trust filters from Hong Kong sellers?
Well, I don't know where it went between Jamaica and South Jersey but it finally got here. I inspected the packaging and the filter itself very carefully against the ones of the same type I already own. Spot on identical. Same ring, same everything from the looks of it.
HVStar even included a very nice looking microfiber cloth with the filters. A big thumbs up for these guys.
