Polarizing filters test - supplement
5. Hoya HD CIR-PL 72 mm
 |
||
 |
||
In the previous article four products of this Japanese giant were presented, from the HMC series (covered with hard thin layers) and Pro1 Digital, designed for digital cameras, among others. In both rankings, overall and econo, Hoya was placed in the middle. Even then, soon to be launched HD filters aroused a lot of interest – were these emotions justified?
Please Support UsIf you enjoy our reviews and articles, and you want us to continue our work please, support our website by donating through PayPal. The funds are going to be used for paying our editorial team, renting servers, and equipping our testing studio; only that way we will be able to continue providing you interesting content for free. |
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Results of the test
Red color extinction coefficient: 1.03E-2 - Score: 0.5/4
Green color extinction coefficient: 3.20E-4 - Score: 3.5/4 Blue color extinction coefficient: 2.69E-3 - Score: 2/4 Mean transmission of the whole spectrum: 41,68% - Score: 3/3 Score:
|
|
||
With filter Score:
|
|
||
Luminance: 30.84
Score:
|
|
||
 Edge darkening: 4.4% Score: |
|
||
Without reservation
Score:
|
|
||
|
|||
Usage
The filter is solidly build and we didn’t experience any problems with the usage. The cleaning isn’t difficult unless you want it to be pristine. The ring moves with due resistance.
Summary:
Final result: 27.52/37.5 points. In our overall ranking the Hoya HD would be the sixth, right behind a Sigma and a Kenko. The 1/10000-1/1000 extinction coefficient is a decent result. Its value for the red colour makes us feel unsatisfied, though. The reason of such a performance is the extinct polarization transmission, which increases from as soon as about 730 nm. The polarizer becomes translucent for shorter wavelengths than its competitors. The mean transmission exceeded 40% what is a very good result. The C1 and C2 graphs indicate that we’re dealing with a zero-order quarter-wave plate designed for the middle range of visible spectrum.We also tested a 67mm filter which results were very much alike with one exception – homogeneity.
Slight streaks were found also in other products of this concern. Apparently it doesn’t influence the photos much but if B+W can manufacture completely homogenous filters, Hoya also can do it.
This filter’s score was the highest among other products of Hoya. Currently it costs about 350 PLN so it is more expensive than the products of Marumi/Fujiyama, which were placed higher in the ranking. Of course it doesn’t change the fact that this a very good filter and you can recommend it.
The tested filter was lent courtesy of the Migomex company.
