This is the first lens filter I have ever used. I've always read/heard that a good filter can make a significant difference, but until now I've never gotten one. This polarizing filter is very nice! The high-quality construction of glass and metal is easy to see. In my pictures you can see that the filter is attached to my camera, but I was able to attach my lens hood directly to the front of the filter. It has front pickup threads in addition to the rear threads. A really nice feature is that the front of this filter rotates freely. This way I can now easily rotate the tulip hood to the best position without the risk of the filter or hood loosening. I couldn't do that with the hood connected directly to the camera. But does the filter make a difference? I am happy to say that it works very well! I often take pictures through a window and it's very common for the picture to have some "haze" that wasn't there when I took the same picture outside. I took a picture through the window with this filter and was pleasantly surprised to see a picture that looked like I took it outside. I don't know exactly how this works, but it does. Just like polarized sunglasses, this filter "steers" the light in a way that enhances what you see. I am impressed!