Detecting Fake HOYA Filter (Is your HOYA Genuine?)

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Hoya filter is among the most popular filters in the market. The top line HD version has now become the target of FAKE makers.

After paying hundreds of ringgit for the top of the line HOYA HD filter, have you ever wonder if your purchase is a FAKE or GENUINE filter? Third party NO BRAND or “FAKE HOYA” brand UV filter can cost as cheap as RM15 (USD5.00) per piece, so it is common for many unethical seller to cheat and makes over 10 folds the profit by selling FAKE HOYA filter.

Below are some of the ways to differentiate if the HOYA filter you bought is genuine or fake. Of course, which the advancement of “technology”, imitate version can still “correct” those weakness and make their fake as real as possible. If doubt, purchase only from a reputable shop, such as ShaShinKi.com.

Barcode

Fake Hoya filter uses the same barcode number for all their filters’ packaging. Get a barcode APPS for your mobile phone and you should be able to scan it.

BARCODE SCANNER (Android)

• https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.zxing.client.android

BARCODE SCANNER (iOS)

• https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/redlaser-barcode-scanner-shopping/id474902001?mt=8

Also take note that FAKE filter has just HD UV above the barcode, whereby genuine filter will have the size “52S” or “77S” printed.

Colour on the BOX

A genuine Hoya filter will have TWO tones of Black colour on the box. The EDGE is shinny black, while the inner part is matted black.

Logo Printing on the Filter

Noticed the D letter on the box of Hoya filter has 9 dots on it? On the filter itself however, there is NO dot for genuine filter! Take note that this is TRUE for UV filter, but I have seen genuine Hoya CPL filter to have DOTs.

Besides the wordings, take a look at the COLOUR of the printing as well. Genuine Hoya HD filter uses grey colour in the paint, while FAKE uses white.

Hoya LOGO

Finally, take a look at the H alphabet of HOYA. Genuine filter always has the horizontal line when across the two | |, while fake filter is a typical H from computer writing. This happens commonly on the cheaper version of HOYA filter.

Conclusions

The above are just some “HINTS” for you to look out for in FAKE HOYA filters. If you can identify any of the fake hint on your current filter, then most likely it is a FAKE (Imitate) HOYA. If you can’t find any, there is still no 100% guarantee that your filter is genuine. To be safe, purchase your HOYA filter from reputable store that you can trust.

If the price is too good to be true…most probably it is a FAKE one. 😀

(Check ShaShinKi.com for a reference of genuine HOYA filter market price.)

Disclaimer:

Photos above are taken from Google/internet. If I have infringed your copyright, please email me at khoking@gmail.com and I will remove the photos immediately.