77mm HOYA PL Filter: I bought a slightly used 77mm HOYA PL filter. Filter looks brand new and appears to work just fine. There is one thing about this filter that concerns me. There is...

authorizeduser Loc: Monroe, Michigan

I bought a slightly used 77mm HOYA PL filter. Filter looks brand new and appears to work just fine.
There is one thing about this filter that concerns me. There is free play in the ring from side to side.
Is this normal. I have had several people tell me the ring feels nicely dampened and the glass is not loose
and having slight free play is normal and not to worry about it.

I am just concerned about the filter coming apart.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Is it an old "PL" or is it a "CPL"? You may have a very old linear polarized filter.

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

If it is a linear polar filter, it could give you problems if used on a modern auto-focus TTL metering lens. If you are not using lenses / cameras with those facilities, you should be ok with it.

Leicaflex Loc: Cymru

You need a certain amount of play to rotate the filter.

Leitz Loc: Solms

authorizeduser wrote:

I bought a slightly used 77mm HOYA PL filter. Filter looks brand new and appears to work just fine.
There is one thing about this filter that concerns me. There is free play in the ring from side to side.
Is this normal. I have had several people tell me the ring feels nicely dampened and the glass is not loose
and having slight free play is normal and not to worry about it.

I am just concerned about the filter coming apart.

How much side-to-side play?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

authorizeduser wrote:

I bought a slightly used 77mm HOYA PL filter. Filter looks brand new and appears to work just fine.
There is one thing about this filter that concerns me. There is free play in the ring from side to side.
Is this normal. I have had several people tell me the ring feels nicely dampened and the glass is not loose
and having slight free play is normal and not to worry about it.

I am just concerned about the filter coming apart.

No problem. As CaptainC has said, put a little graphite - lock lube or scrapings from pencil lead - onto the threads to keep it from getting stuck on the lens.

authorizeduser Loc: Monroe, Michigan

MT Shooter wrote:

Is it an old "PL" or is it a "CPL"? You may have a very old linear polarized filter.

It is a new old stock PL in 77mm.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

authorizeduser wrote:

It is a new old stock PL in 77mm.

Very old stock. It is a linear polarizer, last manufacturer about 1992.
Use it in manual focus mode as it will cause your AF to hunt and even not lock focus at all. They do have a stronger polarizing effect than the newer circular units which were designed to be compatible with modern AF systems.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

MT Shooter wrote:

Very old stock. It is a linear polarizer, last manufacturer about 1992.
Use it in manual focus mode as it will cause your AF to hunt and even not lock focus at all. They do have a stronger polarizing effect than the newer circular units which were designed to be compatible with modern AF systems.

Learn something new almost every day.

Toddzzilla Loc: Modesto california

I have a few Hoya filters and they all do the same thing. used to be all the camera brick and mortar stores used to sell. I eventually discovered BW filters and feel much better about filters. But the cost difference is pretty significant, still probably won't use anything but BW moving forward.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

authorizeduser wrote:

I bought a slightly used 77mm HOYA PL filter. Filter looks brand new and appears to work just fine.
There is one thing about this filter that concerns me. There is free play in the ring from side to side.
Is this normal. I have had several people tell me the ring feels nicely dampened and the glass is not loose
and having slight free play is normal and not to worry about it.

I am just concerned about the filter coming apart.

A linear PL filter is intended for film. Assuming you have a digital camera, you need a circular polarizer (CPL)

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

mwsilvers wrote:

A linear PL filter is intended for film. Assuming you have a digital camera, you need a circular polarizer (CPL)

It's not film vs. digital, it's auto focus vs. manual focus.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

JohnSwanda wrote:

It's not film vs. digital, it's auto focus vs. manual focus.

Exactly!

authorizeduser Loc: Monroe, Michigan

MT Shooter wrote:

Very old stock. It is a linear polarizer, last manufacturer about 1992.
Use it in manual focus mode as it will cause your AF to hunt and even not lock focus at all. They do have a stronger polarizing effect than the newer circular units which were designed to be compatible with modern AF systems.

I have been using this HOYA PL filter on my D300 and so far it locks focus. Not saying I will not have issues, just saying I have not experienced any yet ......