The 9 Best Polarizing Filters of 2022
Polarizing Filter – Buying Guide, Opinions and Analysis
Surely it has happened to you that you want to take a picture, but the reflection on the glass or the excessive brightness of the sky makes the image look terrible, therefore, the ideal would be to use a polarized filter that helps you avoid this type of light distortions and your photographs increase in quality. The M&L Mobiles HF337 filter is of the CPL type, so it will help you reduce reflections from water or those generated when photographing areas of high light contrast. On the other hand, if you are looking for a pack of filters for your Nikon camera, with a 72mm lens and that includes a cleaning cloth, we recommend the Smardy SM_HF340.
The 9 Best Polarizing Filters – Opinions 2022
An excellent way to improve the quality of your images under specific light conditions is with the use of photographic filters. Therefore, if you like photography, you should consider having the best polarizing filter with you, which is one of the most useful ones that you can carry with you.
Polarizing Filter for Canon
1. M&L Mobiles Polarizing Filter CPL 58mm
If you need a polarizing filter for Canon, this model could be the one you need. Specifically, we are dealing with a CPL filter, which will be very useful to eliminate those reflections that are too intense in photographs that involve bodies of water or buildings with many windows.
You’ll be able to attach it to 58mm lenses, so it’s also compatible with other cameras like Nikon, Samsung, Fuji and more. You just have to check the diameter.
Its construction is made of glass, so it is resistant and comes with a multi-coating, so you do not worry that after a few uses its ability to filter light will be lost.
So that you do not have problems when placing it, it includes a textured ring and a smooth thread. This way you will avoid unexpected slides when adapting it to your objective or when removing it. This translates into fewer incidents that could harm you.
The M&L Mobiles product competes to become the best value for money polarizing filter. We invite you to know it in detail.
Pros
Diameter: It is a 58mm filter, so it will be compatible with multiple lenses from various brands on the market.
Ergonomics: Its size and texture make it easy to place the filter on the lens, to prevent it from falling.
Materials: It is made of glass, to give it greater resistance, and with a multiple coating.
Cons
Textured: Although it includes a toothed textured area, to facilitate its placement, it would be more effective if it were extended to the entire outer surface.
Polarizing Filter for Nikon
2. Smardy 72mm CPL Polarizing Filter
For cameras and camcorders with a large diameter, it is necessary to have on hand a complement that adequately covers the lens. In this case, you can opt for the Smardy brand Nikon polarizing filter which, in addition to having a 72mm model, also has alternatives for 77, 82 and 86mm. In any case, filter the light properly to avoid intense flashes.
As for its resistance, it is made of good quality glass. So, with the proper precautions and the necessary maintenance care, it can last for a long time. Its engagement with the lens is smooth and firm, while it is also easy to screw in, due to its textured and serrated edge.
On the other hand, by including a thread on both sides, you can adapt an additional lens hood or accessory, as long as it is compatible with this type of thread.
If you are wondering which is the best polarizing filter for your 72mm lens camera, take a look at the qualities of this model. We summarize them below.
Pros
Double thread: The use of this filter does not limit the possibility of adding other accessories, due to its external thread.
Resistance: Thanks to the fact that it is made of resistant glass, it can last for a long time.
Efficacy: It has achieved good reviews related to its ability to reduce reflections and improve shots in broad daylight.
Ergonomics: It has a design that facilitates its placement and removal, making it easy to handle.
Cons
Thread Length: Some very large add-ons, such as some sun visors, may require a deeper thread than this filter in order to mount.
77mm polarizing filter
3. B&W 77mm F-Pro Camera Filter
If you are looking for a 77mm polarizing filter for professionals that you can use in your black and white photographs, we recommend you look at this model that stands out for its high quality.
Its polarized sheet with a great finish, completely neutral in color, stands out, so it will provide optimal results in your photographs. If you want to avoid annoying glare or reflections, as well as saturating the sky and some objects in the image, you should definitely purchase this filter.
Manufactured with the highest precision, the polarized glass is perfectly polished. The edge is carefully sealed and coated with the MRC technique, which protects the filter against moisture. In addition, the HTC system allows us to avoid the loss of light that happens with traditional polarizing filters.
Although not one of the cheapest polarizing filters, its positive and negative technical aspects make this an excellent product.
Pros
Coating : Made with an MRC multi-resistant coating, this filter manages to hold up against moisture.
Precision : It manages to avoid any type of unwanted reflection and enhance the colors of your photographs.
HTC : It has an HTC system that prevents brightness decay, which allows losing only 1 to 1.5 diaphragm steps.
Cons
Price : Although it is a high quality product, its price compared to other similar models is quite high.
Hoya polarizing filter
4. Hoya Pro 1 Digital Polarizing Filter
Among the best alternatives you can buy, this Hoya polarizing filter stands out for optimally absorbing indirect light rays that affect the sharpness of photographs, in addition to efficiently protecting the front lens of photographic optics from any blow, scratch, dust and fingerprints..
If you want to avoid unwanted reflections that appear on non-metallic surfaces such as water or glass, then you should consider this polarizing filter that stands out for not affecting the real colors of your photos.
It has a multi-layer coating with a black almite mount that increases the durability and resistance of this filter. It is a product indicated for optics with a 77mm thread and has a protective box with protection against UV rays that help prolong the useful life of the filter.
Considered the best polarizing filter of the moment, below we name its most outstanding features.
Pros
Compatibility : You can incorporate this filter to any photographic lens with a 77mm thread.
Filter box: Designed to prolong the useful life of the filter, its protective box has protection against ultraviolet rays.
Durability : The glass is framed with a special coating of black almite that helps reduce reflections, as well as preserve the colors of the photograph.
Cons
Thread Profile – This filter has a thinner thread profile compared to other products, so it can be a bit more difficult to unscrew.
circular polarizing filter
5. AmazonBasics 67mm Circular Polarizing Filter
If you are looking for a circular polarizing filter that allows you to get better colors in your photographs by avoiding indirect and unwanted light rays, we recommend you consider this alternative with which the blue of the sky will be more intense than ever, reducing and eliminating glare.
The filter glass is made with a multilayer treatment that gives it efficiency, making it ideal for cameras with an autofocus system, while maintaining its functionality.
Indicated for all kinds of photographic lenses with a 67mm thread, this filter has a waterproof layer that gives the product greater durability, prolonging its useful life. Get better colors and details of water, sand, snow and ice.
If you still don’t know which polarizing filter to buy, don’t hesitate to look at the important features of this model.
Pros
Waterproof : It has a multilayer coating that, in addition to improving the image, gives the filter a waterproof feature, prolonging its durability.
Colors : Improves the quality of your images remarkably, intensifying the color and details of the sky, the sea, the snow and the sand, among others.
Autofocus : The use of this filter does not affect the use and functionality of the autofocus system of the lens where you place it.
Cons
Edges : With the use of wide-angle lenses, this filter loses a bit of definition on the edges, being more recommended to be placed on telephoto lenses.
58mm polarizing filter
6. K&F Concept 58mm Circular CPL Polarizing Filter
If you need a filter for frequent use, it is best that you leave aside the cheaper alternatives and set your goal on acquiring a resistant product. In this way, you can forget about constant purchases.
In this context, the 58mm polarizing filter from the K&F brand is among the best polarizing filters of 2022, given its qualities. On the one hand, it is made with HD glass, to give it greater resistance. In addition, it has 18 layers of coating, which makes it really effective at filtering light. But this is not all, it is also a filter that will not affect the images captured by the lens, since it has been verified not to generate distortion.
To achieve a correct and easy coupling, its frame is fine edged, but completely textured. Thus, it provides comfortable handling. In addition, it has double thread. Similarly, it has rotation capacity, to allow adjustments in the polarized level of each shot.
For the quality of the materials it uses, K&F could be the best brand of polarizing filters. Learn more about this model.
Pros
Resistance: Its manufacture in HD glass gives this filter greater resistance to frequent use.
Water repellent: Its cleaning is easier, thanks to the fact that it naturally repels water, so that no residue remains on the filter.
Multilayer: In case of slight scratches, it will not lose its qualities, maintaining its effectiveness.
Rotation: You can adjust the level of polarization in the shots, due to this quality.
Cons
Price: This filter has a higher price, compared to other options on the list.
52mm polarizing filter
7. Hama 72552 Polarizing Filter with 52mm diameter
If you are looking for a 52mm polarizing filter with which you can improve the image quality of your photos thanks to the fact that it eliminates indirect rays that are the cause of reflections and unwanted glare on almost all non-metallic surfaces, this Hama alternative is your ideal option..
Indicated for optics with a 52mm diameter thread, with this product you can also saturate the colors of nature such as the sky, water and meadows, since it also blocks UV rays up to 390 nm.
It is compatible for use with any optics on the market with these diameters, in addition to allowing them to take advantage of the autofocus system that all new lenses have. It is an easy filter to place and handle thanks to the small adjustment lever that it incorporates.
The market is full of good and bad alternatives, so we recommend that you look at the technical aspects of this filter before making your choice.
Pros
Focus: Even with the filter placed on the optics of your camera, the autofocus system will still work.
UV: In addition to polarizing light to avoid reflections from non-metallic surfaces, this filter eliminates ultraviolet rays.
Handling: It is very easy to install and handle thanks to its small lever.
Cons
Colors: It is possible that the colors take on a slight tone that you will have to correct later with your favorite software.
67mm polarizing filter
8. Gobe Filter for Circular Polarized Lens
Filtering up to 99.9% of the light reflected on non-metallic surfaces such as glass or water, this 67mm polarizing filter achieves better contrast and true color balance like no other. You will only need to slightly rotate the edge of the filter until you feel when the unwanted glare disappears.
Made of Japanese optical glass with a 12-layer nano-coating that achieves excellent color clarity and eliminates the well-known “ghosting” that sometimes appears in photographs. In addition, its double thread and carefully designed magnalium edges prevent vignetting.
It is important to mention that with the purchase of a Gobe filter, 5 trees are planted in local communities that have been affected by deforestation. You can use this filter with lenses up to 100mm focal length.
Before choosing any filter lightly, we recommend you look at the positive and negative technical characteristics of this model.
Pros
CPL : This filter manages to eliminate the glare and reflections that you do not want to appear in your photos emitted by reflective surfaces.
Manufacturing: Get the best color quality of your images thanks to manufacturing with Japanese optical glass with 12 layers of nano-coating.
Vignettes : You will avoid vignettes in photographs thanks to its careful design of double thread and thin profile.
Cons
Telephoto lenses: Please note that use with high focal length optics or telephoto lenses is not recommended.
72mm polarizing filter
9. Kenko PLC Slim Polarizing Filter
If you are interested in acquiring a polarizing filter with a circular design, which you can use with any type of photographic lens, we recommend this model from the Kenko brand.
It has a low-profile design, so it is very slim and does not usually cause vignetting in the image. With this 72mm diameter polarizing filter, you will be able to eliminate any type of reflections caused by indirect light that bounces off some surfaces such as water or glass, thus avoiding the well-known ghosting that is created due to aberrations caused by light..
It includes a plastic box that protects the filter from scratches or bumps when it is moved disassembled from the lens. It is considered an excellent polarizing filter due to its performance and response to correctly saturate the colors of the sky and the sea without causing any distortion in the tones.
To choose the best polarizing filter, it is important to review the technical characteristics, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each model on this list, without forgetting to look at those of this product.
Pros
Vignetting : Designed with a low profile thread making it a slim filter and no vignetting.
Diameter : This filter is designed with a diameter of 72mm, however, a wide variety of diameters are available depending on the mouth of your lens.
Protector : It has a protective case that you can use to move the filter without suffering any blow or scratch.
Cons
Difficulty : It can be a bit difficult to screw due to its thin thread.
Shopping guide
Sometimes, when taking a picture outside, you will notice how the natural colors lose saturation, as well as the presence of some uncomfortable shine and reflections that appear on the surface of the water or on some crystals, especially on those sunny days. To avoid all this, the use of photographic filters is vital. If you have never used them or know little about them, we have developed the following guide to buy the best polarizing filter so you can better understand how it works and choose the one that best suits your needs.
Design
Whenever you are going to make a comparison of polarizing filters, one of the most important aspects that you should take into account before making the investment is the shape of the filter. In case you don’t know, the market generally offers two types of filters, round or square, so depending on whether you are going to use a filter holder system or adapt it directly to the camera lens, you will have to choose between one or the other.
Normally, filter holder systems are for larger or cinema cameras, although they also exist for reflex cameras, but they have certain disadvantages such as the impossibility of using a lens hood and that, since the filter is further away from the camera lens, the quality of the image is drastically reduced, even having to open more light steps to compensate for the lack of it.
On the other hand, round-shaped filters have a thread system that allows them to be adapted directly to the camera lens, thus being closer to the lens and allowing the use of a lens hood. However, it is important to take into account the diameter of the mouth of the lens to ensure that the filter is compatible with it.
What will you use it for?
Something that is much more important than worrying about how much the filter costs, is to think about the use that you are going to give it, whether you are starting in the world of photography and are a beginner user looking for the cheapest model or you are a professional photographer who needs to get the best results.
It is very important to take this aspect into account, since the difference in prices indicates, in most cases, the effectiveness that the filter will have when polarizing those rays of light that affect the image and cause reflections or unwanted glare, thus maintaining the better quality in the colors and without overly desaturating them. This point is directly related to the next aspect that you must attend to: the material with which the filter is made.
Manufacturing materials
Currently, most of the filters that we find on the market are made of optical quality plastic, so they are usually much lighter and more resistant to scratches and bumps than the traditional ones made of glass. The latter, obviously, tend to be more prone to any type of abuse, as well as being considerably heavier and more expensive, so they must be handled with more care.
Glass filters are usually used in high-end recordings, whether they are television and film productions. Therefore, if you are an amateur photographer, it is more advisable to lean towards those made of optical plastic, which usually provide very good results.
Dimensions
Finally, it is very important to consider the dimensions of the filter you are about to purchase, both in relation to its diameter and its profile, since, in addition to being indicated for optics with very specific mouths, its thickness may or may not cause, as well as considerable loss of light, being a bit difficult to position and showing unwanted vignetting at the edge of the image.
The diameter of the filters are indicated by measurements such as, for example, 49mm, 52mm, 77mm, among many others, so it is necessary that this value coincides with the one that is printed in the description of the lens that we have.
In addition, filters marked with a letter P indicate that they have an excellent relationship between portability and the space they cover. On the other hand, filters that are marked with the letter A are perfect for more compact cameras. Also, keep in mind that if your camera is a Full Frame DSLR, the best option is to buy a 100mm filter, since it perfectly covers the size of the sensor.
Frequently asked questions
Q1: How to use a polarizing filter?
The first step you must do is carefully screw the polarizing filter onto the mouth of the optic you are going to use, making sure that both share the same diameter dimensions. After making sure of its correct fixation, you will notice that the polarizing filter can rotate freely, so you must place the camera pointing at the scene or object you want to photograph.
If you notice any reflection or shine that you want to avoid, proceed to rotate the filter ring that is free, until you find a position where you notice that you no longer see them. As you rotate the filter, you will see how the scene changes slightly, so the correct position to leave is up to the photographer.
Q2: When to use a polarizing filter?
The idea of using a polarizing filter arises at the moment when you are going to take a photograph, especially outdoors, and you want to saturate the colors of the sky, grass or water to give the scene greater drama, as well as when you want to eliminate some unwanted glare or glare caused by light rays bouncing off some non-metallic reflective surface such as glass or water.
In this way, you will be able to remarkably saturate the colors of your photograph and avoid this type of light aberration.
Q3: How to make a homemade polarizing filter?
Although it seems very difficult to do, there are many instructions on the net to create your own polarizing filter for your camera. One of the easiest to follow is to find a filter holder that fits your camera, which could be one that is old and unused.
The next step is to reuse some polarized material that is scratch-free and large enough to cover the entire space of your lens optics. This polarized material can be one of the crystals used by 3D glasses or a damaged LCD monitor screen, which are usually made up of two polarized screens or even using one of the crystals of a sunglass.
Proceed to draw a circular shape on the polarized material, taking the outline of the objective as a guide and then, with the help of a cutter, cut following the created guide line. Sand the edges until the circumference is smooth and mount it inside the damaged filter ring, affixing it firmly with glue and letting it dry until it is completely fixed.
Q4: How many steps does a polarizing filter remove?
Common polarizing filters often have the disadvantage of subtracting up to 3 stops of light, so you’ll need to compensate by opening up the aperture by those three stops or slowing your shutter speed by the same amount.
Therefore, you should be aware of how it can affect the image, either by reducing the focal depth of field or by reducing the possibility of making a moving object completely static respectively. Higher-quality, professional-use polarizing filters, while considerably more expensive, tend to reduce less light, subtracting up to about a stop and a half of light.
Q5: How to clean a polarizing filter?
To clean a polarizing filter correctly, if it is very dirty, it is recommended to wash it with plenty of water and use some neutral liquid soap, gently massaging the glass with your fingers until all the dirt is removed. Finally, you must rinse well with water, making sure not to leave soap residue and dry with kitchen paper first, then pass a piece of microfiber chamois or similar fabric that does not leave any type of residue.
Q6: How to focus with polarizing filter?
It is important to bear in mind that when using certain types of polarizing filters, especially those that are made with worse materials or that are economically cheaper, the use of the autofocus system that the optics to use has is usually disabled, so forces the user to focus the photograph manually.
Q7: How to store a polarizing filter?
In order to prolong the useful life of polarized filters, the best way to store them is to keep them in a special case that usually comes with some of these products. These boxes, in addition to preventing the filters from being hit or scratched, prevent ultraviolet or UV rays from damaging the condition of the plastic or tinted glass. So as long as you don’t have it mounted on the optic, it’s highly recommended to keep it in its box.
On the other hand, the market offers small fabric covers that also serve effectively to keep this and other filters protected, since they usually have multiple pockets to keep different models together and protected.
