Paul (OP), I just noticed that link of yours is actually part of a Sydney based family run small photo gear business. It looks like the only filters they sell are B+W, so I can see how they feel threatened by those ebay sellers.
As I said earlier, the retail prices of photographic equipments here in Aussie are ridiculously high. Us Aussies can save up to half the cost of retail price here by buying from those ebay sellers. Eg. Maxsaver mentioned in the blog sells B+W 77mm ND 106 for AU$86 while that Mainline shop sells for AU$160. To put into perspective, Adorama sells it for US$91.50 or about AU$101, closer to Maxsaver price than to that Mainline shop. You can see why they became a crusader against "fake" filters.
Anyway, I've emailed the Hongkong distributor for Schneider. Hopefully they'll be forthcoming with their answer.
Paul_R_Canada wrote:
I'm looking to buy some quality filters for some canon "L" glass, I started a thread on what brands and have decided on B&W filters. In that thread MAXSAVER (aka Hvstar on ebay) out of Hong Kong was recommended...
molson wrote:
What difference does it make? If you're into compromising image quality by putting "protective" filters on all of your lenses, I doubt if you would notice the difference between a good filter and a cheap one... buy the cheap ones, save some money, and don't worry about it.
Yeah... I just tipped my bag of lens onto the wet Toronto streets yesterday night, as I had forgotten I opened the zipper on the backpack (btw the sound of a 70-200 2.8 IS hitting the floor is the sound of a heart attack I tell you!). The lens cap came off on impact and rolled under my car. Had to fish around in the wet for it. After this I think I'll keep my UV filters on. In this case no damage even to the CPOL on the front of the lens, or so far as I can see but here's to crossed fingers.
A quality filter vs random cheap one is pretty apparent as well. Had a cheap UV with my 17-50 from the seller and it causes ghosting. New Kenko filter and no issue with ghosting anymore.
And yes my last couple of filters were either 2nd hand or from Maxsaver. They are good they even find ways for you to avoid the government "living, breathing" fee .
I seriously doubt protective filter really degrade your images as some L lens require one to become fully weather sealed.
Paul_R_Canada wrote:
.......I'm NOT trying to stir the pot, I just want the truth if I can find it.
OK, so you want the truth, but what are you willing to do and/or pay to find out?
I don't want to touch the UV filter thing because it's a can of worms, but since you're wasting money (ooops, sorry, that just slipped out ) and want them, buy one of each and then tell the rest of us.
Compare the "real" one with the "suspect" one, and then tell everyone here. What do you have to lose? The answer is very little. If you determine that you received a fake, tell the vendor and demand your money back. Tell your Visa (or whatever) card company that you were defrauded and refuse to pay. Voila! Problem solved...
Why stress over it anymore when you can be the one that's knowledgeable, satisfied, and most importantly, not ripped off? All it takes is 5 minutes of your time with each vendor and it's on its (the sample) way....
I was a Hoya Sales representative in the US for over 25 years. I buy both Hoya and B+W filters for my own use, using Havastar and have recieved excellent service and pricing. You can use Microsoft Bing and bet an additional 8% and sometimes considerably more back. I don't like to bother any of my former colleagues for a small item like a filter. I save my favors for bigger things. These filters are legit and I woud not be at all surprised if some US dealers weren't
importing these themselves. In fact I would bet on it.
jim allison wrote:
I was a Hoya Sales representative in the US for over 25 years. I buy both Hoya and B+W filters for my own use, using Havastar and have recieved excellent service and pricing. You can use Microsoft Bing and bet an additional 8% and sometimes considerably more back. I don't like to bother any of my former colleagues for a small item like a filter. I save my favors for bigger things. These filters are legit and I woud not be at all surprised if some US dealers weren't
importing these themselves. In fact I would bet on it.
Thank you. that's very good to know and should alleviate the OP's fears; about this anyway..
Now, chime in on the "To UV, or Not to UV" debate and how Hoya is made by Kenko so they're really the same.
Read my email exchange with B&W / Schneider on this question:
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Betreff: Authentic B+W product?
Hello,
I have purchased this item: P/N 1004273 72mm 010M MRC UV-Haze Filter ALU. This item shipped to me from Hong Kong.
My question is: is the filter glass & coating on this filter any different than the USA-distributed (brass ring) product?
Thank you,
Ralph
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Subject: AW: Authentic B+W product?
Hello,
thank you for your mail and for your interest in our product.
The optical quality of the 2 kinds of the mentioned of filters is the same.
Due to the worldwide different demand, there is a cheaper mount available.
The difference is the mechanical precision of the brass mount.
.