I recently tested the Hoya Nano MKII CIR-PL Polariser. Hoya is a brand I'm very familiar with as I have used their CPL filter on my camera for many years. I thank Hoya for this collaboration.
If you are interested in finding out more information about Hoya Filters or where you can purchase them. Click HERE
Who are Hoya Filters ?
Establishing themselves as Japan's first speciality manufacturer of optical glass, Hoya has diversified itself into new business areas that exploit the potential of advanced optics technologies. As part of the Kenko Tokina Co.Ltd which manufactures everything from binoculars, microscopes and photographic accessories, Hoya delivers filters around the world.
Packaging
The packaging came well wrapped in a box and plastic sleeve, whilst being protected by shredded paper and craft paper. Though maybe the plastic sleeve could be ditched in order to reduce plastic use? The box is clearly labeled and very well presented.
What's in the box?
In the box there is a plastic storage container were the polariser sits on some grooves that don't allow it to move around, keeping it safe from damage. It's very solid so I'm sure it can withstand bring moved around a lot whilst you are travelling.
What is a Polariser?
A polarising filter is an essential tool for any serious landscape photographer who want to take beautiful shots.This useful tool changes the way a camera sees and captures light, especially in terms of reflections and glare.
When placed in front of a camera, a polariser can transform a flat image into one with deep contrast and vibrancy. It darkens bright blue skies, increasing the saturation of foliage and even allows you to manage reflections or reduce glare from the surface of water.
Simply put, it reduces the amount of reflected light from entering the camera sensor and cuts out the haze which allows you to capture a clearer image. This effect is unique to polarisers as the effect can not be replicated in post processing.
Build Quality
The polariser filter is made from chemically reinforced optical glass which provides incredible protection and is 4x stronger in hardness compared to normal optical glass. The filter also contains 16 layers of ultra smooth and hard nano coating which helps to keep it stain, water and oil resistant. The surface coating is 200% more scratch resistant than general coating.
The filter also adopts a high transparency film, which results in 25% better light transmission than standard polarising filters. The better light transmission means that more light gets into the camera sensor but it is still achieving the same polarising effect. This is especially useful in low light situations.
The ultra-thin aluminium frame keeps the body of the filter really thin which stops vignetting from occurring even with wide angle lens. The filter has front thread to which you can attach lens caps and other filters if you so wish and it also has press mount technology which holds the glass securely and makes the frame more resistant to physical impact.
I am really impressed with the build quality. You can feel that the product is premium and lightweight.
Real World Tests
Having used a different Hoya polariser, I was hoping for great things and great things are exactly what I got. See the examples below for some examples of with the polariser and without.
Conclusion
All in all, I am really impressed with the Hoya Nano Mk II CIR- PL Polariser. I have used many polariser lens in the past but this one tops the charts for me. Great build quality, ease of use and consistently superb results in different weather and lighting conditions. I highly recommend this filter for any landscape photographer.
If you are interested in finding out more information about Hoya Filters or where you can purchase them. Click HERE
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