[icu222much]

If I buy a pair of lens with the same prescription and index from different stores, can there be a difference in lens quality? The reason why I ask this is becasue I went to visit a few stores to requested a quote for lens with 1.74 index and I had price ranging from $230 - $450.

[Mr.HappySilp]

depends on the lens. I use Nikon lens and they seem pretty good. A few years back my dad was getting new glasses and he went with a korean brand coz is cheaper but he keep saying the lens is fuzzy and he got heacache from using it so he switch back to nikon.

[bcrdukes]

There are several major lens manufacturers:

1. Essilor
2. Nikon
3. Other (i.e. Made in Korea/China/ghetto no-name brand)

While I have extensively used Essilor, my sister much prefers Nikon (having worked in the optical industry for 4+ years.) I've used weird made in Korea branded lenses before and they are terrible, much like what Mr.HappySlip described it as. I went back to Essilor right after.

Locally, I believe there is only one distributor who carries the Essilor lenses which is that you are probably paying for.

[-lincolnboi-]

$230 sounds pretty damn cheap for your index. Just picked up some nikon 3's (1.6 index) not long ago for free, would've been $220 reg price. The price difference is probably because of the different brands, or some shops trying to rip you off ;) Oh, or because of the different coatings.

[icu222much]

What are the differences between manufacturers and brands? I thought they were the same thing.

Who gets to decide what coating gets applied onto the lens. I was talking to a sales rep and she explained that the Essilor has three coats of anti-smudge whereas the generic brands they sell only has one coat of anti-smudge.

[bcrdukes]

Only certain lenses and manufacturers can only be used for varying indexes. Like -lincolnboi- mentioned, some shops will be out there to rip you off and most of the time, they will.

[kwanzor]

when your goin @ 1.74 index.. most of my customers go for the centennial brand from burnaby .. just b/c its @ the best price point vs nikon and essilor but u do pay a premium on the better lens abbe and coatings

:thumbsup:

top 4 choices for lens

1)essilor
2)hoya
3)nikon
4)centopic

[bladenemesis]

It depends on the brand. I don't think there should be too much of a difference though.