As I promised a few months back when I first posted SQF results for a
"bad" filter on a 50mm lens, here are Vertical Autocollimator tests of
43 different filters. All are used, with 49mm filter thread, and have
originated on lenses I've bought. No effort was made to bias the
results. This is simply a stack that has grown over time . . .
Only 3 filters passed inspection, which is about a 93% rejection rate.
Included as a rejection criteria was high flare. Apparently some
bargain brand manufacturers give little or no coating to their filters!
Pass:
Vivitar VMC Yellow 15
Hoya UV
Minolta L35 (UV)
Fail:
Vivitar 5R (multi-image)
Promaster Spectrum 7 Cross Screen 8 pt
Tiffen 80A
Spectralstar
Tiffen Haze 1
Tiffen ND 0.6
Hoya 82A
Soligor Polarizer
Cokinlight UV [absolutely terrible performance]
Kenko LBW2
Kalimar UV
Promaster Spectrum 7 1A
Gemko 1A
Hoya 1A
Toyo Optics 1A
Hoya HMC 25A
Vivitar VMC 1a
Rokinon UV
Kalt 80B
Promaster Spectrum 7 1A
Vivitar 1A
Vivitat 1A
BDB Sky
Kalimar UV
Vivitar Polarizing
Tiffen Haze
Hoya 1B
Hoya UV
Toyo Optics UV
Hoya 1B
Vivitar Cross Screen II
Pro Polarizer
Tiffen Sky 1A
Cokinlight UV
Asahi UV
Hoya UV
Vivitar UV-Haze
Pentax L39(UV)
Tiffen UV Protector
My conclusion: marketing has really pulled the wool over many people's
eyes. The owner of the Autocollimator says he tries to talk customers
OUT of buying a UV filter with a lens purchase, based on what he has
seen of filters over the years. But he stocks them new since some
customers can't imagine not using one. Perhaps folks would be better
off ordering a spare front element instead?
Gary Reese
Las Vegas, NV
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