RocketFish filters

My Best Buy recently started carrying RocketFish filters. Does anyone know who they're actually made by and whether they're any good? I was going to "try out" a 77mm UV filter, but they were all out.

I found it interesting that their ND filter does not specify how many stops or however they meeasure their effectiveness, it just says ND and nothing more.

Any info is appreciated. Who knows, maybe they're actually good?!

They are about as good as the cheap Sunpak ones. For most people they are good enough; but a pro wouldn't be caught dead with them. Personally I wouldn't use the UV filter, it could only make the IQ worse with no benefit anywhere else really,, but maybe the polarizer or ND would be helpful.

I'm planning on picking a few up to see how they perform. (I get them cheap...)

I have some feedback about the Rocketfish Circular Polarizers.... STAY AWAY!

Here is a 100% crop of a sign that I took with my T2i and Canon EF-S 18-200 @ 200mm without the circular polarizer (left side) and then with the polarizer installed (right). No sharpening or other post processing on either crop.

I took about 12 pictures of that sign with the polarizer installed, thinking maybe it was motion blur. Maybe I had missed the focus. I was thinking it was me because the polarizer was VERY clean, and from hand-holding the filter and looking through it, it looked perfectly clear. The results I got from all the polarizer shots are very consistent with what you see here (right).

I took 2 shots without the filter installed, and I got the results you see there (left).

I'm not saying you need to spend $150 on a polarizer to get good shots, but you apparently need to spend more than $30 Even as cheap as this thing was, I was still really surprised at the poor quality of the product.

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So avoid Rocketfish filters entirely?

Rocketfish is a Best Buy brand. I would probably skip on these. I wouldn't be surprised if they were made by Sunpak or something.

wilykat wrote in post #12121541
So avoid Rocketfish filters entirely?

I can only speak to the quality of the polarizer, but because of how severely the Rocketfish Polarizer degraded the image, I'll be steering clear of all their filters.

I would like to see if anyone has side by side comparisons of other of their filters. Maybe it is just isolated to the polarizer, or even my example.

I bought one of the Sunpak polarizers from Best Buy with my discount for like $3. It worked fine... Not amazing or anything,,, but nothing blurry like the rocketfish photos above. The only difference that I noticed between it and the expensive models is that it is more likely to flare if you aren't using a hood.

mtavel wrote in post #12118469
I have some feedback about the Rocketfish Circular Polarizers.... STAY AWAY!

Here is a 100% crop of a sign that I took with my T2i and Canon EF-S 18-200 @ 200mm without the circular polarizer (left side) and then with the polarizer installed (right). No sharpening or other post processing on either crop.

I took about 12 pictures of that sign with the polarizer installed, thinking maybe it was motion blur. Maybe I had missed the focus. I was thinking it was me because the polarizer was VERY clean, and from hand-holding the filter and looking through it, it looked perfectly clear. The results I got from all the polarizer shots are very consistent with what you see here (right).

I took 2 shots without the filter installed, and I got the results you see there (left).

I'm not saying you need to spend $150 on a polarizer to get good shots, but you apparently need to spend more than $30 Even as cheap as this thing was, I was still really surprised at the poor quality of the product.

Was this using AF? It looks to me like the CP was interfering with the AF. Maybe blocking too much light, so it couldn't lock on...

I've tried one, didnt degrade the photo too much but any loss of quality sucks

I'm having similar experiences with a Vivitar CP I picked up on an impulse buy while in Vegas. I've tried it on my 300 f/4L, 70-200 f/2.8L, 24-70 f/2.8L and 16-35 f/2.8L. The longer lenses definitely struggle, the 24-70 slightly and the 16-35 minimal visible issues. I need to invest in a better CP.

I picked up a CP filter and it was alright to start off with. Not bad for $20, you get what you pay for. After using one I would not pick up one again since I used other and it worked so much better.

As for the UV filters, just stay away from them. I get more glare then without them. I'm guessing the coating on the lens is horrible and cheap.

Stay away. Had this before and tossed it after a couple of shoots.

If you are just messing around and new to it and won't play with it much and you want to save a few bucks then it might be worth it to try but as a permanent solution. Nope.
I tried a few but returned it.

I just picked a77 mm CPL on the clearance table for $8 ...at that price it thought WTH? I will see what happens...if I end up tossing it, I am still ahead of the game, because it came with a 72 to 77 mm adapter ring, so there was really no way to lose. Their UV filter I wouldn't buy unless I needed a cup coaster...we'll see how it turns out