Hoya Pro, HD and Sony filters

[adakshi]

Hello,

Looks like only difference between Hoya Pro1 and HD is hardened coating ,oh and 8 layers instead of 7. Sony filters have T* coating as per sonystyle.

Any difference that is noticeable? Ghosting, flare, color cast, contrast loss, vignetting etc?

Thanks
Ayan

[David Kilpatrick]

Minolta filters - whoever made them - were always exceptional in adherence to specification. IE - ND, polariser, zero colour shift. Very plane parallel glass. But Hoya Pro 1 Digital should be just as good. Sony Zeiss filters are probably identical to Minolta, which were probably made by Schott/Rodenstock not Hoya (Zeiss filters are Schott, so are Rodenstock, B+W, Heliopan and Schneider - and maybe Leitz branded filters as well).

You can not go wrong with top level Hoya (Japanese glass), but you also can not go wrong with Rodenstock, Heliopan, Schott, B+W, Zeiss, Schneider, Rollei, Voigtlander, Hasselblad - all of which are from the same (German) origin. You are also safe buying Kenko and Marumi (Hoya origin). I don't know what glass Sigma use but they have a close relationship with Zeiss, and are competitors to Hoya/Tokina in the independent lens field. I would guess they may use Schott glass (Zeiss).

David

[bakubo]

You can not go wrong with top level Hoya (Japanese glass), but you also can not go wrong with Rodenstock, Heliopan, Schott, B+W, Zeiss, Schneider, Rollei, Voigtlander, Hasselblad - all of which are from the same (German) origin. You are also safe buying Kenko and Marumi (Hoya origin). I don't know what glass Sigma use but they have a close relationship with Zeiss, and are competitors to Hoya/Tokina in the independent lens field. I would guess they may use Schott glass (Zeiss).

Over the years I have bought lots of UV, skylight, and polarizers in Tokyo. They are all Kenko and Marumi.

[adakshi]

Minolta filters - whoever made them - were always exceptional in adherence to specification. IE - ND, polariser, zero colour shift. Very plane parallel glass. But Hoya Pro 1 Digital should be just as good. Sony Zeiss filters are probably identical to Minolta, which were probably made by Schott/Rodenstock not Hoya (Zeiss filters are Schott, so are Rodenstock, B+W, Heliopan and Schneider - and maybe Leitz branded filters as well).

You can not go wrong with top level Hoya (Japanese glass), but you also can not go wrong with Rodenstock, Heliopan, Schott, B+W, Zeiss, Schneider, Rollei, Voigtlander, Hasselblad - all of which are from the same (German) origin. You are also safe buying Kenko and Marumi (Hoya origin). I don't know what glass Sigma use but they have a close relationship with Zeiss, and are competitors to Hoya/Tokina in the independent lens field. I would guess they may use Schott glass (Zeiss).

David

Thanks a lot David. Your comments were so useful.
Ayan