Originally posted by Gadget_Guy Why is there such a difference in price between the different filters?
How can there be a $3.00 filter and a $100.00 filter.
(Not that I would want a $3.00 filter.... )
D.
The first ebay-offerings you quote are simple, uncoated filters! Simply, because any seller and manufacturer would obviously state a multi-coating. Uncoated CPL means: 4 glass-air surfaces and a severs light loss, loss of contrast and a high risk of heavy reflections. I find it simply disgusting, that the seller quotes the Hoya ymbols for DMC - but sells another line of filters, which do not have this coating in this auction.
The same is true for the "Protama" filter. No multi-coating and not even a single coating on all the cheapo filters.
The only modell in your selection, which is a decent offer is the Kenko Pro 1 Digital. It is exactly the same filter as the Hoya brand with the same designation. "Hoya" is the international tradename and "Kenko" is used inside Japan domestically.
read-up a bit about nojn-coated versus single coated and multi-coated filters and you will immediately understand the advantages of the latter.
Also, take into account, that the cheap Chinese filters use more or less window glass. That introduces a colour shift (there are numerous reviews on the net) and also degrades the image visibly. Whereas Hoya (at least the top-line filters), B+W, Heliopan filters are all made from optical glass, which is mechanically polished, quite like a camera lens.
Ben