Hvstar Noobie

I've heard lots of people recommending I buy of hvstar, which is very tempting given the prices...I was just wondering if anyone is worried these are knockoff products? After all they are far below market value in any store I've ever seen. I'm jus worried about buying a B+W filter, only I'm actually getting no name brand quality with a fake B+W stamp...

i can't speak for the B+W, but i've compared a Hoya Pro-1 digital bought at Hvstar to one bought from B&H (for 3 times as much), and i could not tell a difference... markings or otherwise.

The filter from Hvstar performs as I would expect a pro-1 to perform (i've used several USA bought ones as well).

I ordered B+W filters from Hvstar, and I'm pretty satisfied with them. I think many people on this forum believe filters from this company are genuine. Pros of purchasing from Hvstar? Filters are lower in price than US
Cons? It could take 2 weeks to get your filters.

Thanks for this. I don't mind waiting at all...I just wanted my fears put to rest, which you've both done...Time to make Visa some commission

My B+W CL-PL from hvstar seems like a genuine product. Works great and was a lot cheaper then any place I could find in Canada (even with their high shipping). Shipping was a little less then two weeks from HK to BC. They marked the package as a low value gift so I did not pay any duty.

Look at it this way, if they were selling fakes how long do you think it would take photogs to recognize it and report it on the internet? I've written them regarding the authenticity of the B+W filters, they assure me that they are genuine. I believe them. I see no reason not to believe them. I've been buying from them for 2+ years without disappointment.

I've ordered all my filters B+W except 1 from hvstar.

So far, they all look/perform identically.

I have ordered filters (including multiples of the same) from adorama, b&h, and hvstar and I can tell you they are all exactly the same. hvstar merely gets the filters directly from B+W, eliminates the middle men, and sells for a much lower price with probably less profit to them. They are legit filters though.

ben_r_ wrote in post #5856322
I have ordered filters (including multiples of the same) from adorama, b&h, and hvstar and I can tell you they are all exactly the same. hvstar merely gets the filters directly from B+W, eliminates the middle men, and sells for a much lower price with probably less profit to them. They are legit filters though.

+1^....just don't mind the wait.

ben_r_ wrote in post #5856322
I have ordered filters (including multiples of the same) from adorama, b&h, and hvstar and I can tell you they are all exactly the same. hvstar merely gets the filters directly from B+W, eliminates the middle men, and sells for a much lower price with probably less profit to them. They are legit filters though.

same experience Its worth the wait.

But aren't they outrageous with their shipping costs?

BrianB2 wrote in post #5867413
But aren't they outrageous with their shipping costs?

not really. considering even with shipping it's still way under what you'll pay anywhere in the states.

BrianB2 wrote in post #5867413
But aren't they outrageous with their shipping costs?

I just paid about $18 for shipping for one of their B+W filter and CPL combo buy's. Still much cheaper than any other sites I could find by far.

BrianB2 wrote in post #5867413
But aren't they outrageous with their shipping costs?

What you have to watch is that they charge a mimimum fee on each item ordered. If you add a $1 item to your order the shipping goes up quite a bit (about $8 last time I checked).

However for the more expensive items, the cost plus shipping still is a bargain.

I just received my B+W Kaesemann 77mm Cir-Pol filter today. Total cost with shipping was $142Cdn. They're nearly $300 at Canadian online retailers. As far as whether it is genuine...it certainly appears to be. I emailed the company with my concerns about copies prior to ordering they they strongly assured me that they do not deal in anything but genuine filters. I tend to believe them.