B + W 77mm UV Protection Filter (010) for Camera Lens – Standard Mount (F-PRO), MRC, 16 Layers Multi-Resistant Coating, Photography Filter, 77 mm, Clear Protector

I’m a well known professional photographer and I “thought” an extremely savvy consumer, too. Lo and behold, through lots of research I have learned that most of the B+W and Hoya top of the line filters I have bought over the past 15 years are fake. Here’s what I’ve recently found to ensure getting legit ones here at Amazon:HOW TO SPOT A FAKE:Some fakes are easy to spot. The inner ring typography will be white instead of the gold color used by B+W in recent years. Now, the counterfeiters are beginning to make the inner type gold just like B+W. However: SEE PHOTO ABOVE. Note that the font of the fake at right is slightly thinner and just barely italic. Read on for more detail detective work tips below.AVOID THIRD PARTY SELLERSI truly believe in supporting small businesses but most of the B+W and Hoya filters out there from other resellers are indeed fakes. I trust in “Shipped and Sold from Amazon.com” yet some other third party reseller dealers are not genuine.BUY B+W ONLY WITH NEW AUTHENTICATION SYSTEM:In 2019, B+W fully switched to a new type of Hologram and authentication system. So if you are currently buying a new filter here, look for the red “Target” hologram logo on the side. Each box has a unique six digit number that you can check on the B+W website. After you enter the info, the website verifies if legit. Also, take a cellphone picture of the QR code on the box. If you are not automatically linked to the company website, it’s a fake.Earlier, I was fooled by counterfeits that simply had a scannable and seemingly legit 3D QR code. Did I bother to check. Nope! That was a mistake as when I just recently checked for the first time the link is to a non-existent website with the URL for sale!CHECK FOR REFLECTIONS ON THE FILTER ITSELF:Using the black-colored back of the B+W box, place the filter face down on it. Hover above. You should see almost no reflection of yourself, just very faint shadows. Cheap fakes are mostly like window glass with lots of reflections that weaken quality lenses bigtime. The glass for genuine filter will seem almost invisible.CHECK FILTER MARKINGS CAREFULLY:B+W and Hoya do change these over time so if you are seeing different typography styles and colors this does not mean they are fakes. For example, the current B+W logo on the side of the filter is sans serif type while older filters had the classic serif, bolder logo style.F-PRO MARKINGS:As of 2021, for the F-PRO series, all type will also be a rich gold color . All gold type on the inside ring will be in CAPS except for lowercase “Haze” for UV filters. The “x” in “1x” will also be in lowercase.XS-PRO Nano CLEAR MARKINGS:As of 2021, for the XS-PRO Nano CLEAR series, all type will be a rich gold color. All gold type on the inside ring will be in CAPS except for lowercase “nano.” Thus, the markings are in the same style as the UV version.XS-PRO Nano MARKINGS:As of 2021, for the XS-PRO Nano series, all type will be a rich gold color. All gold type on the inside ring will be in CAPS except for lowercase “nano.”WEIGHT:All of the series above are brass filters with impeccable machining. Brass filters weight more. Simply get a gram scale and weigh a filter “Shipped and Sold by Amazon” in comparison to a filter you suspect as fake. This, plus carefully checking reflections carefully helped me determine how to discern a real filter from a counterfeit.SPELLING MISTAKES:I found B+W fakes long after I’d bought them by carefully examining the box. Beyond fake QR codes, I found boxes with the word “licensed” mistakenly spelled as “licensed.”Hope this long review has been of some small help. I still can’t believe I was so thoroughly hoodwinked, literally for years. I also love some of the better Hoya filters but, unlike B+W, they do not seem to have a sophisticated counterfeit checking system yet in place.Keep shootin’ strong!

Background and Context: I've never given haze filters much thought in the past and have used many Hoya and Tiffen filters (obviously I'm not a professional) on my lenses for the sole purpose of protection (mostly because I have a toddler). I needed a filter for my Canon 24-105 F4/L, and Amazon recommended this filter in the "frequently bought together" section of the product description. I wasn't too sure about spending the extra money on a "magic coating" for a utilitarian haze filter, but all I can say is that I am amazed with this thing and that it is definitely worth the money (see math below for justification)!Problem Statement: I waste a lot of time cleaning my lenses/haze filters (you would too if you had a toddler)- and I still can't get them crystal clear. I also need a filter that won't distort my lens, and most of all, i need something to protect my lens from damage.Math and "Business Case": Assume you have to clean your lens once a week and it takes you 10 minutes each session (you are very thorough) on your uncoated filter. That's roughly 40 minutes a month which equates to 8 hours a year. If you paid someone at minimum wage ($8.25 if you lived in Illinois)to clean your lens, that would be ~$66.00 a year. Then let's assume you will spend 1 minute every two weeks wiping off your B+W filter- using the same calculations, your cost to clean that would be $3.30 a year. So your hypothetical potential labor savings would be about ~$62/year (assuming a non-unionized workforce)- or roughly the cost of the filter at today's amazon price. If you are looking to purchase this filter, most likely you make more than minimum wage; therefore if your time is money- this filter is definitely worth the time it gives you to do other things (such as take pictures or watching prime time network television).Evidence: The "aha moment" occurred when I took my camera to a water park for my son's birthday party; and as kids will do, they started splashing and shooting water guns at me. When I went to wipe off the lens, I was amazed that the water had actually beaded off and the filter remained relatively crystal clear- i didn't have to do anything. This never happens with my other filters as similar events would result in a long session with lens wipes/solutions, microfiber cloths, and a blower (and the filter still wouldn't be crystal clear).More Evidence: In addition, I am lazy with my cameras and the lens caps are rarely on. I just took a look at my camera and the filter is still crystal clear with no dust or smudges. I hate to sound like an infomercial but this is really amazing!OK, I've spent way too much time discussing a circular piece of glass.Bottom Line: If you hate spending a lot of time cleaning your lenses and you perceive your time as valuable, buy this filter!Cliff Notes:Pros: Crystal clear, solid quality (made in Germany like Sham Wows), and the coating really works. Will save you time.Cons: Pricier than other Haze Filters