UV filters and image quality - scam?

beans · 01-10-2007 1:29pm #1

I was purchasing a UV filter to be used on a Canon 17-85 IS USM lens. I was informed that I should go with a Hoya filter @ €31 rather than a lower-priced filter, as the Hoya would "be sharp enough for the lens" and that the other modestly-priced filter would be "fine for a film SLR, but for a digital SLR you would want to go with the Hoya"

Now, to my mind that doesn't make sense. Do you think the salesperson in this case took advantage of the situation, or is there any truth to what they said?

Roen · 01-10-2007 1:53pm

He or she (something tells me it was a 'he' though) is right in the sense that you should use a good high quality filter in front of your lenses.

But as for being 'sharp enough' wtf? And certain films will resolve finer detail than digi so that's a double wtf?

So as far as I'm concerned go for the Hoya, but not for the reasons that were stated to you.

DaireQuinlan · 01-10-2007 2:08pm

The more expensive UV filters are probably coated or double coated to reduce glare and internal reflections, and as such are probably 'better' in that regard. As regards the line he was pushing about needing it for digital but it'd "do for film" that was pure flim flam. Just a salesperson taking advantage of what he perceived to be a lack of knowledge on your part. Well, either that or he genuinely doesn't have a clue what he's talking about. Which shop was this ? was it in dublin somewhere ?

beans · 01-10-2007 2:08pm

It was a 'she'

I agree that you should have the best quality optics alright, but suspected that her 'reasons' seemed all wrong. That kind of off-hand story-telling and opportunistic sales-attitude would preclude me from going back in future.

'Scam' was clearly the wrong word for my title however. Catchier than 'misinformation' though...

helios · 01-10-2007 2:10pm

Remember also as a rule of thumb that you want your filter(s) to match your glass. The filter is the first layer that the light will pass through, so if you have a dodgy filter, it won't matter how good your lens is. Hoya is the best, and at €30 per filter online (compared to €70+ in stores) it's worth it, especially for the 17-85...

10-10-20 · 01-10-2007 2:41pm

I found the same with a camera mounted flash I was looking at.
The assistant wanted me to purchase a 'for digital' flash, even though the one I tested was working correctly with my camera... TTL is TTL - isn't it? Of am I incorrect?

DaireQuinlan · 01-10-2007 2:45pm

10-10-20 wrote:

I found the same with a camera mounted flash I was looking at.
The assistant wanted me to purchase a 'for digital' flash, even though the one I tested was working correctly with my camera... TTL is TTL - isn't it? Of am I incorrect?

oooh, thats a bit more complicated :-) Depends on what system you're with. I know absolutely nothing about Canon TTL systems, but Nikon have gone through about 3 different systems since they've moved to digital. There was the original TTL that was supported on all their film bodies and the first few digital bodies, then there was D-TTL or something, and now I-TTL or something similar. I shoot film exclusively so I'm pretty ignorant about the digital TTL schemes.

Roen · 01-10-2007 2:47pm

beans wrote:

It was a 'she'

I agree that you should have the best quality optics alright, but suspected that her 'reasons' seemed all wrong. That kind of off-hand story-telling and opportunistic sales-attitude would preclude me from going back in future.

'Scam' was clearly the wrong word for my title however. Catchier than 'misinformation' though...

Should have known, women seem to have a monopoly on duplicity.

UV filters and image quality - scam?

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