'Bower Digital' Filter Comparison with Pictures

[fokker]

Recently I purchased a used canon 70-200 f4L, which is a great lens. I was shooting down at the lake this weekend with a 'bower digital' brand CPL filter which came with the lens.
I never thought twice about using the filter, because in the past I have used a few cheap filters with no noticeable decrease in quality, however this time it was very different. I noticed the lens seemed 'off' just looking through the viewfinder, and thought I'd accidentally adjusted the diopter knob, so I played with that for a while to no avail before I thought of the filter. Took it off, and instantly a world of difference.

Here is an example shot taken handheld, seconds apart with the same aperture and shutter speed (higher ISO on the filter shot to compensate for the light reduction by the filter).

See if you can guess which is which, uncropped and unedited photos.

 

[Derrel]

"Dat's qwalit-ee glass! NOT!"

UGH! HOW DREADFUL!!!!

 

[480sparky43 43]

I'd say the first one is using the filter.

If that's what it does to the images, I'd take it to the firing range and use it for target practice.

 

[.SimO.]

gooo