"NOS" Kenko Vernier Polarizer Filters are foggy/hazy

punkzter · Dec 16, 2020

I bought some Kenko Polarizer filters on eBay. They look to be new, but the filters themselves are old. It's the Kenko Vernier system, so they must be at least a few years old. New Old Stock, I guess.

Anyhow, when looking through the filters at a bright light, it's very apparent that they are foggy/hazy.

Is this common for polarizer filters? Is there any reason to keep these filters instead of returning them? It was an okay price, but not a great price.

Oh, here are some pictures:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/donMHLXKXok4VUpR8

Thanks,
Brad

AgX · Dec 16, 2020

I have seen quite some old polarizers with issues.

punkzter · Dec 16, 2020

Sure. I've never had a polarizer filter before...I would never keep a normal filter that looked like this. I was curious if this is acceptable in a polarizer filter. (see the link to pictures in the first post)

Prest_400 · Dec 16, 2020

Did the filter spend quite a bit inside a plastic case with some plastic foam?
I found strangely low contrast out of a Tiffen Orange filter I have, when inspecting it it looked rather similar. I cleaned both surfaces and then it was good. Seemingly it could be some substance that gasses from the case surfaces?

punkzter · Dec 16, 2020

Probably. They were supposedly never used. I can try cleaning the outside, but the issue is probably between the two parts/elements, so I cant clean it.

ic-racer · Dec 16, 2020

I'd send them back and get new ones.

vlasta · Dec 17, 2020

Send them back and request money back too.
I suspect complete stock is the same.

AgX · Dec 17, 2020

Prest_400 said:
Did the filter spend quite a bit inside a plastic case with some plastic foam?

Fogging at filters in such cases is usual ofter decennia of storage.

However the degradation at polarizers I came across were at loosely stored ones and it was within the laminated stack.

Nitroplait · Dec 17, 2020

Polarizer filters shouldn't look like that. If it doesn't clear with a simple wipe, I would return it.

punkzter · Dec 17, 2020

Okay. Thanks all! They are going to be returned.

punkzter · Dec 19, 2020

Before I returned them, I gave cleaning them a go. I was able to clean off most of the haze. But, there is still some haze that is between the two elements.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/X4qbtKhr9ee1vBzq7

I'm guessing that they are still bad enough that I should return them.

"NOS" Kenko Vernier Polarizer Filters are foggy/hazy

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