67mm filters

I was thinking of purchasing these set of filters for my DA16-45 I realise they may not be top shelf but the price seems ok. What do you think am i wasting my money or is one filter as good as the next : Thanks

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=130165356431&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=003

Coming into summer and we will have some very bright sunny days ahead.

One filter is cetainly not as good as any other! As with so many other things, you get what you pay for. Now my preference is for the B+W MRC filters although I will use the SMC Pentax ones when available. The filter needs to be optically transparent or it will distort your image. It should also be well coated otherwise tou will get flare and reflections.

IMHO, what is the point of spending a good sum of money on the lens if you intend to spoil your pictures with cheap filters? Optically, the picture is only going to be a good as it's weakest link.

Kim

My best bargain purchase in filters had to be buying new B+W 67mm filters at a camera fair for just £5 each.

They are beautifully made with heavy brass mounts and would be well worth the full price.

No Fair! I haven't done as well as that but ffordes were selling brand new filters for less than £10 each because B+W had changed the mount very slightly.

I feel as though I have got a shadow this evening.

Kim

I just have no expeience with these things and wouldn't know if they were any good or not.
So is the bower brand any good ??

Of the third party brands, the german ones are probably the best with B+W at the top. Heliopan (more common in the US) and Rodenstock are also close. Not only do they use brass rather than alloy mounts but they use Schott glass. Hoya also produce some good filters. I would stay away from their "normal" range. The HMC ones are OK and the new premium range are good. In the US Tiffen are more common and are similar quality. Not often seen in Europe are the Marumi filters but being nearer to Japan, you may come across them more in Aus. Similar story to Hoya. I would avoid most of the others although you sometimes come across filters marketed by the lens makers such as the VMC Vivitar ones which would equal the Hoya HMC ones.

The Pentax SMC have also been very good but if that will change with the tie up with Hoya could be interesting! As to the others, there are at least tens if not hundreds of brands mostly produced by one or two factories to a budget. I suspect that Bower might be one of these.

Kim

"edit"
Just found this http://camerafilters.net/shopsite_sc/store/html/page83.html The difference in price from the same shop may give you an idea of quality.

I see thanks Kim and you are right Marumi are popular here, probably the brand i see most of.
I really want a circular polariser for the 16-45 as i am planning a bit of landscape and beach photography over the summer. I am not even sure what other filters i should get there seems to be so many :


Wow those are some evil looking prices, Do they throw in a free lens with every purchase

Try the HK sellers on eBay but factor the shipping cost into it.

Kim

Can someone tell me what the difference is between these 2 polariser filters :

HOYA 67mm Circular PL CIR Polarizing filter CPL (blue packaging)
HOYA 67mm CIR-Polarizing Filter (green Packaging) Thanks

The green packaging is normally for the standard range and the Pro series are in blue.

Kim

Ahhh thankyou Kim
I wasn't sure what the PL was refering to in the blue packaging :