Review: Hoya Pro 1 Digital Circular Polarizer filter.
My 77mm Hoya Pro 1D Circular Polarizer filter (CPL) for my Canon EOS 40D’s 24-105mm lens has just arrived.
The build quality is excellent, as to be expected from one of their pro filters. The unit is very thin, and the manufacturing tolerances spot on, enabling very snug screwing into the lens. A second rim allows the filter to be turned to alter tha polarizing effect (or level/direction). It has a marker on it so that you can determine the amount or direction you have twisted the filter.
The level of polarization is easy to spot through the viewfinder when there is a marked effect. In particular blue skies turn much darker when taking photos offset from the sun.
Today I took some photos in the front and back yard, and cant believe the difference it makes - its staggering!
Click on any of the photos to load larger versions.
In each photo below, the left frame is the normal shot. The right frame is the polarizer turned such that it maximises the polarizing effect. This can, in general, easily be noticed through the viewfinder which allows rapid adjustment of the level of polarizing effect by simply turning the filter bevel in a similar movement as when focussing the camera manually.
The photos were all taken at 90 degrees angle to the sun, which means the polarizing effect is at its strongest.
In the first example, notice the much improved colour of the foliage on the tree. The sky also has a much deeper color, which on the day was closer to the real sky color than the second image. Also, its amazing how vivid the 5 power lines on the top left become - they are near invisible in the second photo.
In the fully polarized image on the left, the sky looks more realistic, and the foliage a much richer green.
The sky and foliage are both much richer. Notice the white coloured plants have significantly more detail. Of most interest to me was the amazing improvement to the visibility and color of the roof and chimney. Amazing.
The sky is richer as are the plants. In addition, the plants have significantly more detail visible.
January 8th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Does your lens cap work with the filter? Any idea if you can use the filter with a full frame camera without loss of light around the edges?
January 9th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
The lens cap works ok with the filter on my 24-105mm. Not perfect, but its good enough not to come off and not to be a concern (ie doesnt feel like it will drop off).
The lens cap on my 10-22mm seems to work a little better.
The lens hoods work fine too.
I dont have a full frame camera to test it on one at the moment, so unfortunately can not say for sure if you lose light.
What I can say though is that they make top notch filters, and I am sure they are fully aware that large numbers of people using their Pro line of filters will have 5D’s or similar full frame bodies. I am 99% sure (based on logic alone) they will work perfectly, but a quick phone call to your local shop or a Google should resolve that question quickly.