Customer Reviews

Opteka HD2 Filter Kit for Olympus SP-570 SP-565 SP-560 SP-550 UZ Digital Camera

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

It was a nice combination of filters and I probably would have kept them, but for the fact that, with the included adapter tube, they could only be used in the telephoto range. At the wider angles, the tube interfered with the picture (i.e., it appeared in the photo).

I purchased my Opteka filters from 47th Street Photo for my Olympus camera. At the time of my purchase, they were described as having "black Armalite barrels", "blackened edge rings" and being "digital multi-coated". The ad included a picture of filters with black edge rings and what looked to be quality, non-reflective coatings. Based on the text and the picture of the filters, I expected a quality filter. Instead, they sent me cheap junk.

#1. THESE FILTERS LOOK UNCOATED and reflect light like a piece of low quality plate glass, reducing the light transmission into your camera and causing my camera lens to appear as a reflection on the inside of the filter.

#2. Silver edge rings reflect light, causing LENS FLARE and reduced contrast.

#3. Glass edges are not blackened; combined with the highly reflective silver edge rings it causes even more LENS FLARE and reduced contrast from all that reflected light entering your lens at oblique angles.

#4. 47th Street Photo says these are "designed and made in Japan" when in fact these filters are clearly marked "Made in China."

47th street photo is totally unresponsive. They replied once, saying "items are described as close as humanly possible" which is quite untrue.

DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THESE FILTERS. They are of horrific quality, appearing slightly cloudy, and cause a noticeable reduction in image contrast, detail and sharpness.

These filters fail the buck test...If I saw these filters in a photo shop for a buck, I would pass them by. They are that bad.

What started out to be another good transaction has gone sour! After receiving the product, I attempted to use it on my camera. It did not work. No problem, I'll just return it - maybe get something else. Tried to contact the supplier, to get a return authorization and a refund, but they have ignored the issue, and have made no effort to make things right. Isn't it funny how a few bucks can turn you away from a company forever!

The filters seem fine.

The problem is that I don't have a use for filters in isolation, I want to use them on my camera. The included adapter is marketed for use with the Olympus SP-570UZ. However, it is clearly marked for the Olympus SP-550UZ, an earlier model that has a shorter zoom range.

The adapter does not move with the lens elements, so at any zoom setting shorter than telephoto, the outer part of the frame is a view of the inside of the adapter tube.

I.e., this kit is useless for anything but telephoto shots.

Part of the fault lies with Olympus, for designing a camera without provision for filters, but Opteka hasn't solved this problem. Alas, I don't know any other product that has.

The Olympus SP-565UZ also has a 20x zoom, and would probably have the same problem, but I don't have one, so I haven't tried it.

Glad I purchased this for the camera. Good quality. Will make taking pictures at the beach in April easier and picture qquality better. Also prrotects lens.

The tube that attaches to the camera gives the camera a total different feel and look. Only downside is that you need to zoom out a bit more on account of the barrel in order that you get a view without the end of the filter rim.

I shoot with the Olympus 550UZ and prior to buying these filters and adaptor I was unable to find any way to use filters with the camera. I don't know why Olympus sells a $450 camera and can't thread it to accept filters!?? The adaptor screws on around the lens barrel easily, and then you can add 58mm lenses to the end of the adaptor. You are able to fully zoom in and out with the adaptor attached to the camera, but I lost about 1/3 of the zoom capability (if you try to zoom all of the way in you will get a shadow from the adaptor tube). I found this an acceptable trade off just to be able to use filters with this camera. I was especially interested in using a PL filter for my landscape work, and the one in this set works just fine. I first screwed on the UV filter, then screwed the PL filter to the UV. I have not had a chance to extensively test it all, but my results so far in using the pictures taken with these filters in Photoshop Elements 6 shows vast improvement over shooting without these filters. If I had one complaint, it was the lack of individual plastic lens holders. They each come in a "baggy" and are then stored inside a hard shell case, which works fine, but takes time to uncase each lense and recase it when not needed.

If you are looking for a way to use filters with the UZ camera, this is the one and only way I have found, and it accomplishes most of what Olympus should have done in the first place. Also, I bought from 41st Street Photo and their service was excellent: fast delivery and well packaged.

Good shooting!!

Works perfectly with my Olympus SP-560 UZ. The PL filter is mounted on a bearing with allows free 360-degree rotation in order to get maximum effect, which is a nice addition.

Things to keep in mind when using this product: If you don't have the telephoto tube attached and you have a filter in place on the base tube, be careful not to use the zoom because the barrel will extend and come into contact with the filter glass and it will throw off the camera's ability to focus (which can be fixed simply by restarting the camera). I'm not sure if this has the potential to damage the camera, so use caution. Also, with the telephoto tube attached, you can only get a full frame photo with the camera zoomed in past halfway to full (which should be common sense to most).

Overall, very satisfied with this product.

Merchant provided lightning quick shipping, and excellent customer service. I had a question regarding the adapter tube needed to attach the filters to the camera, and the answer was provided in a quick, professional manner. The tube is the only draw back to these filters. Because of the way the camera works(lens extendes and retracts)the tube is necessary to get the filters out in front of the lens. Of course, you can get some interesting pictures, shooting through the tube, if you don't extend the lens far enough out. :-)) Overall, I'm quite pleased with my purchase.

This filter is easy to use and does a great job. It takes care of desert sun conditions.