B+W UV Haze non-MRC any good?

[billh101]

I will be getting a 17-55 IS for Christmas and the store sold me a B+W UV Haze filter to go with it. But, now that I'm looking at the box (I haven't opened it yet) it doesn't say MRC. Is this version of the filter any good, or am I going to lose sharpness? People talk about B+W filters favorably all the time, but usually refer to MRC. I pretty much just want something to protect the expensive glass and not affect my pictures. Thanks!

Bill
http://www.pbase.com/billhuegerich

[Jon]

What the MRC multicoating will do is cut down on reflections and flare. I don't recall whether B+W lists the multicoating on the box or not; does yourreceipt/invoice say whether it was multicoated or not? I also, not having got any B+W filters other than MRC, don't know if they have a lower standard in the glass production and finishing for the non-MRC filters. The literature suggests that the glass is as good and the only difference would be the coating.

[DavidW]

MRC filters say MRC on the label on the top of the box, and MRC on the mount as well.

I'd try to swap the filter for an MRC one and pay the difference; MRC will help get rid of stray reflections and reduce the possibility of flare. All my screw-in filters are B+W MRC.



David