Hoya HMC UV filters
 

Most photo/video stores in Canada are now offering a line of Hoya HMC UV filters designated UV(c) as a replacement for the original HMC UV(o) filters. The received understanding is that Hoya discontinued production of the HMC UV(o) in Japan and moved production, under Tokina, to the Phillippines. The standard patter from sales people is that, other than being slighly thinner (slimline, i.e. (c) stands for 'compact'), the quality is the same; some even venture that are actually 'better', 'improved' or 'optimized for digital', but can offer no explanation as to why.

The original HMC UV(o) filters were certainly highly recommended by many, and a comparative study conducted a few years back seemed to endorse this:

UV filters test - Description of the results and summary - Lenstip.com

Some however have cast doubt on the quality of the newer UV(c) filters. This seems to be biased somewhat by the fact that hitherto only the lower-end, uncoated Hoya filters (green line) were produced in the Philippines, with aspersions that manufacturing/QC might not be up to the same standard, possibly using an lower grade of glass. In addition, Hoya continue to list the HMC UV(o) on their website, and make no mention of the HMC UV(c) filter at all.

There are some anecdotal reports that the UV(c) do give more reflection, but others say that, side by side, they can find absolutely no difference between the two.

It does seem rather unlikely that Hoya Japan would risk their reputation by offering an inferior product for what is probably their most popular filter line, but, I must admit, the lack of any public notification from Hoya of this change is a bit disconcerting.

Does anyone have any more information on this or can point to hard evidence that these HMC UV(c) filters are in anyway inferior or superior to the original HMC UV(o) ?

Cheers.

Re: Hoya HMC UV filters
 

Just spoke to an authorized Hoya dealer who advised that they do seem to experience more defect returns with the newer HMC UV(c) filters - mostly retaining ring defects and uneven coatings. QC issue?

Think I'll go with an S-HMC UV(o) to be on the safe side, while they are still made in Japan.