250swb Posted August 17, 2016 Share #21 Posted August 17, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) Marumi is a filter maker. The top end is good stuff. Yes very good stuff. I have a few now because they seem to have the odd sizes available more often, but the top end ones are a well made and shed dirt and clean nearly as well as B&W MRC. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 17, 2016 Posted August 17, 2016 Hi 250swb, Take a look here Leica brand UV filter compared to multi-coated Hoya, B+W, etc.. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted August 17, 2016 Share #22 Posted August 17, 2016 Who is this? http://www.marumi-filter.co.jp/en/ They were most likely the brand Leica turned to when other suppliers could not supply IR-cut filters in 2007 through lack of glass. Who makes their present filters I do not know. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivar B Posted August 17, 2016 Share #23 Posted August 17, 2016 90% at least of the b+w filters on eBay are counterfeit. I don`t know where this figure comes from, but I would expect it is an overestimate. Some of the largest B + W dealers on eBay like hkdirect (the largest?) have been around for a very long time and have tens of thousands of positive feedback, and I believe they are also listed as an official dealer. A more fundamental question is why eBay is not more vigilant here. Providing a marketplace for counterfeit goods undermines the producers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edwardkaraa Posted August 17, 2016 Share #24 Posted August 17, 2016 (edited) I don`t know where this figure comes from, but I would expect it is an overestimate. Some of the largest B + W dealers on eBay like hkdirect (the largest?) have been around for a very long time and have tens of thousands of positive feedback, and I believe they are also listed as an official dealer. A more fundamental question is why eBay is not more vigilant here. Providing a marketplace for counterfeit goods undermines the producers. I have bought along the years many filters from hkdirect and they were all fake. I realized that when I bought the original ones from the local official distributor. There is a reason why they are more than double the price of eBay ones. By the way, I even emailed the manufacturer asking them if hkdirect filters are genuine. They avoided giving me a straight answer but recommended I buy my filters from official distributors. Edited August 17, 2016 by edwardkaraa Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edwardkaraa Posted August 17, 2016 Share #25 Posted August 17, 2016 (edited) And your statistics come from where? As far as I can see the only way to know such a 'fact' is that you either buy 100% of the B&W filters on Ebay so can inspect them all, or your are the person flooding the market with fakes. Wow, what a smart post. Edited August 17, 2016 by edwardkaraa Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted August 17, 2016 Share #26 Posted August 17, 2016 "90% at least of the b+w filters on eBay are counterfeit" is a bold claim and it is not unreasonable to ask for verification of the source. I'm not sure asking if Steve has experienced trauma earlier in his life advances the discussion much. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivar B Posted August 17, 2016 Share #27 Posted August 17, 2016 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) I have bought along the years many filters from hkdirect and they were all fake. I realized that when I bought the original ones from the local official distributor. There is a reason why they are more than double the price of eBay ones. By the way, I even emailed the manufacturer asking them if hkdirect filters are genuine. They avoided giving me a straight answer but recommended I buy my filters from official distributors. How can you know for sure that the filters are counterfeit? I would expect that the manufacturer would have given you a straight answer if they indeed were selling fake goods. HKdirect are also selling Schneider lenses - which they presumably source from Schneider. I noted they have close to 40 000 posititive feedbacks and of the around 10 negative/neutral over the last year, and none document counterfeit items. I don`t know the correct answer of course, but I just find it odd that either Schneider or others would not have contacted eBay and closed down their business since we are talking about thousands and thousands of filters here, which obviously would hurt other suppliers. I noted that the eBay account for some of the sellers of the fake Zeiss filters sometimes is closed (for what reason I don`t know), but they are back within a fes hours with a new account. I asked Zeiss and they replied that they were not aware of counterfeit filters being sold outside China. It was furthermore stated that it is very difficult to spot fake items and they would need a lab test to be sure. Edited August 17, 2016 by Ivar B Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edwardkaraa Posted August 17, 2016 Share #28 Posted August 17, 2016 "90% at least of the b+w filters on eBay are counterfeit" is a bold claim and it is not unreasonable to ask for verification of the source. I'm not sure asking if Steve has experienced trauma earlier in his life advances the discussion much. Obviously this is an estimation based on my own experience. I don't run a statistics company or similar, and I thought this is understood. Many members here are too eager to belittle or patronize others and they will get a reply from me every time, no exceptions. I have no patience for bullies. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edwardkaraa Posted August 17, 2016 Share #29 Posted August 17, 2016 How can you know for sure that the filters are counterfeit? I would expect that the manufacturer would have given you a straight answer if they indeed were selling fake goods. HKdirect are also selling Schneider lenses - which they presumably source from Schneider. I noted they have close to 40 000 posititive feedbacks and of the around 10 negative/neutral over the last year, and none document counterfeit items. I don`t know the correct answer of course, but I just find it odd that either Schneider or others would not have contacted eBay and closed down their business since we are talking about thousands and thousands of filters here, which obviously would hurt other suppliers. I noted that the eBay account for some of the sellers of the fake Zeiss filters sometimes is closed (for what reason I don`t know), but they are back within a fes hours with a new account. I asked Zeiss and they replied that they were not aware of counterfeit filters being sold outside China. It was furthermore stated that it is very difficult to spot fake items and they would need a lab test to be sure. I'm not sure about Zeiss filters because I used to order them directly from Zeiss. B+W filters are very easy to spot by looking at the coatings, the fake items have thick unevenly applied coatings with sometimes a round patch without coatings in the center. The filter rings are quite similar though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manoleica Posted August 17, 2016 Share #30 Posted August 17, 2016 It's amazing how a nice "chat" about filters becomes so heated... B&W are always my first choice, purchased through B&H or another Leica dealer.. I appreciate there are some better deals on EBay or Amazon.. But that's me... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivar B Posted August 17, 2016 Share #31 Posted August 17, 2016 (edited) I'm not sure about Zeiss filters because I used to order them directly from Zeiss. B+W filters are very easy to spot by looking at the coatings, the fake items have thick unevenly applied coatings with sometimes a round patch without coatings in the center. The filter rings are quite similar though. The B + W filters I have bought from HKdirect have had perfect coating as far as I can tell. Also the coating on the Zeiss filters appears to be very effective. I don`t know how complex it is technically to apply effective coating, Edited August 17, 2016 by Ivar B Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivar B Posted August 17, 2016 Share #32 Posted August 17, 2016 It's amazing how a nice "chat" about filters becomes so heated... B&W are always my first choice, purchased through B&H or another Leica dealer.. I appreciate there are some better deals on EBay or Amazon.. But that's me... Just for fun, I checked the price of a B + W MRC UV 77mm from HKDirect and B & H. Both charge 45$, but HKDirect offer free shipping, but shipping from China costs virtually nothing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edwardkaraa Posted August 17, 2016 Share #33 Posted August 17, 2016 Just for fun, I checked the price of a B + W MRC UV 77mm from HKDirect and B & H. Both charge 45$, but HKDirect offer free shipping, but shipping from China costs virtually nothing. You're right. They seem to have increased their pricing up to B&H level. I remember I bought my filters for half the price over a year ago. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manoleica Posted August 17, 2016 Share #34 Posted August 17, 2016 (edited) Just paid $30 for a B+W MRC UV - new 28mm Elmarit..(B&H) Edited August 17, 2016 by Manoleica Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edwardkaraa Posted August 17, 2016 Share #35 Posted August 17, 2016 Just paid $30 for a B+W MRC UV - new 28mm Elmarit..(B&H) Why not the nano coated ones? They're much improved. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manoleica Posted August 17, 2016 Share #36 Posted August 17, 2016 Why not the nano coated ones? They're much improved. I have the MRC's on all my other Leicas, I will have s look, TX 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edwardkaraa Posted August 17, 2016 Share #37 Posted August 17, 2016 I have the MRC's on all my other Leicas, I will have s look, TX The xs pro have a thinner ring that vignettes less, and the nano coatings are water repellent and easier to clean. I feel the anti reflection coatings are more efficient than the previous ones but that could be wishful thinking Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manoleica Posted August 17, 2016 Share #38 Posted August 17, 2016 The xs pro have a thinner ring that vignettes less, and the nano coatings are water repellent and easier to clean. I feel the anti reflection coatings are more efficient than the previous ones but that could be wishful thinking As previously said, I've used MRC UV for so long (even on my Nikons) I'm sorta preprogrammed towards them.. I will try a Nano on the Elmarit..Being a thinner ring do they stay tight & are they easy to remove? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edwardkaraa Posted August 17, 2016 Share #39 Posted August 17, 2016 As previously said, I've used MRC UV for so long (even on my Nikons) I'm sorta preprogrammed towards them.. I will try a Nano on the Elmarit..Being a thinner ring do they stay tight & are they easy to remove? I didn't notice any difference with the previous MRC in this regard. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted August 17, 2016 Share #40 Posted August 17, 2016 I'm surprised anyone bothers to put a fake brand on a filter given that they're relatively low cost and niche items. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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