B+W · Waterproof Camera & Lens Protection Cases
B+W Basic UV Haze MRC Filter
Glass optics unlikely PFAS risk; coating composition undisclosed by brand.
B+W UV filters use optical glass with multi-coated anti-reflection coating designed for lens protection. No PFAS disclosure is available; coating specifics remain unknown but typical lens coatings rarely use PFAS.
The better-graded swap
Tiffen
Digital HT Twin Pack UVP & CP Screw-In Filter Kit
85/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Optical glass with multi-coated (MRC) lens coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Unknown / proprietary coating
A coating is recorded with no disclosed chemistry.
Coating delamination or wear
MRC coatings on budget filters may degrade with age or rough handling, but degradation affects only optical performance (reduced anti-reflective benefit), not chemical safety or leaching.
Glass dust if broken
Broken filter glass presents a mechanical cutting and inhalation hazard similar to any glass object; not specific to this product but relevant if mishandled or dropped.
What’s reassuring
Heavy metals
Modern borosilicate optical glass is formulated to exclude lead and cadmium; B+W does not disclose raw material sourcing, but no contamination incidents are documented for this product or brand.
Source, FDA ↗Coating manufacturing residues
Proprietary MRC coating processes may leave solvents or catalysts, but filters undergo quality control before sale and are not in contact with skin, food, or inhalation pathways during normal use.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
B+W Basic UV Haze filters consist of optical glass (borosilicate or soda-lime silicate) with a multi-coated (MRC) anti-reflective lens coating applied to both surfaces. The glass substrate itself is chemically inert and poses no leaching or off-gassing risk under normal use. The coating composition is proprietary and undisclosed by B+W, typical of the optical filter industry, but MRC coatings are generally hard inorganic oxide layers (magnesium fluoride, silicon oxide, or similar) designed to reduce reflections and improve light transmission.
The brand's record and disclosure
B+W (part of the Schneider Optics Group) does not publicly disclose detailed material safety data, PFAS content, or environmental sourcing for optical filters. No product recalls, safety controversies, or documented contamination issues are on public record for this product line. The brand is established in professional optical manufacturing but offers minimal transparency compared to consumer goods sectors; this is industry-standard practice for optical components rather than a red flag.
How it compares in its category
UV and haze filters are among the lowest-risk camera accessories because they do not heat, degrade easily, or contact skin or food. The B+W Basic variant is a budget-tier option with single-layer MRC coating versus premium multi-layer coatings on higher-end filters, but this affects optical performance, not safety. Competing filters from Hoya, Tiffen, and Kenko are similarly opaque on coating composition; no major brand in this category discloses or publishes safety test data.
If you buy it
Store the filter in a dust cap or protective case to prevent scratching the coated surfaces, which can degrade optical quality but poses no health risk. Clean with lens paper and lens cleaning solution only; avoid abrasive cloths that may wear the coating. Replace if the glass develops chips or cracks, though broken glass is a mechanical injury hazard, not a chemical one. No special temperature, moisture, or usage precautions are required for normal camera operation.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- B+W has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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More waterproof camera & lens protection cases grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.