Un Branded....

Has anyone bought and used un branded filters before and found they were ok..see link...what are your thoughts on them, thanks

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/72mm-Circular-Polariser-Filter-CPL-Double-Thread-in-UK_W0Q...

Would you put a new lens from an unbranded manufacturer that cost you £20 on your brand new pentax camera ????

If you're really on a limited budget, why don't you establish whether you really need a circular polariser.

I have a K10D, and both my linear polarisers work fine with it - neither the AF nor the metering seems to be adversely affected. I've also heard someone here say that LPs are fine with the K100D as well.

If you don't need a CP, a LP can be had for far less than a CP.

Thanks...I just used the link as an example of the unbranded filters that are being sold...I don't want to buy any at the moment as I'm still working out how to use the camera...I just wanted to know what your thoughts on these unbranded filters were....don't all lynch me it was just a question

No lynching at all

Quite honestly, for a tenner you probably can't go far wrong. If the thing screws onto the front of the lens smoothly it's not going to damage the thread, and providing you don't grind it on too tightly it shouldn't be too hard to get off again.

I believe brass threads are supposed to be better since they get stuck less.

I have a couple of unbranded filters - they fit in an unbranded Chinese copy of the Cokin P filter system. Cokin filters fit it just fine but it came with a ND grad and circular polarizer as a kit. So far no complaints, but I will upgrade to Cokin one of these years .......probably.

No lynching here....
I have a branded $20 circular polarizing filter. Works just fine.
I am positive that more expensive filters will give sharper images, and they will most certainly give a better polarizing effect...

I do not know if the increase in quality outweighs the price for my uses. Although quite honestly, as I become a better photographer, I am noticing the shortcomings of these types of products...
Once I get better lenses I will probably also start to think about filers that match that quality. i.e. hardly worth putting a $200 filter on my current $10 kit 18-55mm lens!!


BTW, I also have a inexpensive linear polarizer on the K10D and I have not seen adverse effect on metering or focus.

Has anyone here observed any noticeable evidence of better pictures with more expensive filters?

Tricky one to test, I guess, since not many will have both expensive and cheap.

Rae000

I certainly wasnt intending to lynch you either, and I am sorry if I gave that impression. It was meant as a serious question though, as I understand that digital sensors are far more susceptible to stray light ruining a shot than film is.

I know it is too easy to get paranoid about things like this, and maybe that in most situations you would not notice the difference between these filters and a Hoya multicoated for example....but where you are putting something between the subject and the sensor, I would always go for the most reputable manufacturer that you can afford.

No offence taken Peter....I just really wanted to know everyones thoughts on unbranded...you're right when you say "it's too easy to get paranoid about things like this" ....I try not to...once you start..well there's no telling where you'll end up...