If you’re a photographer interested in landscapes and outdoor photography, one of the first camera accessories you should have is the best polarizer lens filter. With such an accessory, you can produce clear and crisp outdoor images.
While most people would buy filters as a tool to protect the camera lens from dirt, scratches, and water damage, polarizer lens filters are more than just that. Typically mounted on the secondary ring that manually rotates the lens to focus, polarizing filters help make certain colors pop by saturating colors. Also, it eliminates glare and reflections on surfaces such as water and glass. Generally, polarizing filters come in two formats: linear and circular. Linear polarizing filter lenses are used on manual-focus camera lenses, while circular polarizing filter lenses are designed to fit and work accordingly with either an auto or manual-focus lens. Taking this into consideration, do you have any idea what is the best polarizer lens filter? If not, we prepared a list of some of the best polarizing filters that you can use to better capture landscapes and other outdoor scenic.
Comparison Chart
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altura Photo Professional Photography Filter Kit | Listed as one of the best-selling and top-rated lenses in the market nowadays, the Altura Photo Professional Photography Filter Kit is an extremely affordable choice for those looking for a cheap option for the best polarizer lens filter. | ||
| K&F Concept Fader Filter | The K&F Concept Fader Filter is an amazing filter engineered and optimized to perform exceptionally better than other filters available in the market nowadays. | ||
| AmazonBasics Circular Polarizer Camera Photography Lens Filter | If you’re looking for professional quality, the AmazonBasics Circular Polarizer Camera Photography Lens Filter offers top tier performance that easily makes it arguably the best polarizer lens filter in the market today. | ||
| Gobe 77mm UV Circular Polarizing (CPL) Lens Filter Kit | Gobe became one of the widely-known manufacturers of polarizer lens filter thanks to their consistent quality. The brand’s material comes from finely-selected glass, delivering exceptional quality in photo production. Check out their filter kit as it is one of the best in the market. | ||
| Ice Slim Filter Set | The ICE Slim Filter Set is another mid-value quality filter that provides amazing performance and ensures the product’s versatility and durability. | ||
| Breakthrough Photography X4 CPL Circular Polarizer Filter | Coming from one of the most known and trusted in the industry, the Breakthrough Photography brand is famous for creating high-quality products that offer amazing performance at all times. | ||
| HOYA 77-mm Filter Kit | Coming from a renowned Japanese brand, HOYA pioneered in the production of high-quality photomasks, hard disk drive platters, and lenses in general. This is a go-to brand for photographers. If you want to take your photography level to a whole new level, this brand is worth checking out. |
A Detailed Review on the 7 Best Camera Cases For Backpacking
Altura Photo Professional Photography Filter Kit
Listed as one of the best-selling and top-rated lenses in the market nowadays, the Altura Photo Professional Photography Filter Kit is an extremely affordable choice for those looking for a cheap option for the best polarizer lens filter.
Product Highlights
Primarily praised for its notably cheap price, the Altura Photo Professional Photography Filter Kit features high-quality optical filters that help in lens protection and image enhancement. Compatible with various lenses, this filter kit protects your camera lens from scratches and dirt, and debris that can affect the quality of images captured.
The Good
What is extremely impressive with the Altura Photo Professional Photography Filter Kit is that it comes with UV, CPL Polarizer, Neutral Density ND4 filters, a padded filter pouch, as well as a MagicFiber Microfiber Lens Cleaning Cloth. Aside from that, it is a fairly reliable filter that removes unwanted glare and controls your exposure and depth of field when shooting in bright light.
The Bad
Unfortunately, reviews for the Altura Photo Professional Photography Filter Kit complained that the filters are nowhere near the quality as advertised. It produces noticeable ghosting and flares when used. On top of that, the filters are made using plastic instead of glass.
PROs
- Stackable lens filters
- Compatible with a wide range of lenses
- Extremely cheap
CONs
- Notable ghosting
- Uses plastic material for filters
- Does not have anti-flare coating
K&F CONCEPT FADER FILTER
The K&F Concept Fader Filter is an amazing filter engineered and optimized to perform exceptionally better than other filters available in the market nowadays.
Product Highlights
The K&F Concept Fader Filter is made using Completed Professional Optical Glasses offer better light reduction capacity and color balance. Furthermore, this product features newly developed and engineered Nano coating layer technology that keeps the filter waterproof, scratchproof, and includes an anti-reflective green coating to protect the filter from oil, fingerprint, and scratches.
The Good
Aside from the materials used on this filter, the K&F Concept Fader Filter also features an ultra-slim design that helps prevent persistent vignette issues for wide-angle shots. Aside from that, this filter also includes heavy-duty aviation aluminum frames that ensure the product’s security and durability.
The Bad
Several reviews expressed their disappointment with the K&F Concept Fader Filter due to false advertisements about its features and shooting capacities. Furthermore, several users still noticed the persistent X-mark spots and vignette issues, particularly in dark settings.
PROs
- Produces clear and crisp images under favorable conditions
- Ideal for moderate or casual photographers only
- Inexpensive
CONs
- Noticeable dark spots and vignette in dark settings
- Difficult to attach and thread onto the lens
AmazonBasics Circular Polarizer Camera Photography Lens Filter
If you’re looking for professional quality, the AmazonBasics Circular Polarizer Camera Photography Lens Filter offers top tier performance that easily makes it arguably the best polarizer lens filter in the market today.
Product Highlights
Compatible with a variety of camera lenses, the AmazonBasics Circular Polarizer Camera Photography Lens Filter is made using high-quality glass material that provides protection, deepen color intensity and contrast, as well as eliminate glares. Ideal for outdoor photography, this polarizer lens filter is sure to produce better quality images.
The Good
This product is listed as one of the best-selling and top-rated polarizer lens filters in the market nowadays. What is even more impressive with the AmazonBasics Circular Polarizer Camera Photography Lens Filter is that it’s relatively cheaper compared to other products with nearly the same qualities.
The Bad
Reviews for the AmazonBasics Circular Polarizer Camera Photography complain primarily about the uneven polarization of the lens filter. Aside from that, some users noticed a notable brownish tint present when using the product.
PROs
- Compatible with a wide range of lenses
- Provides protection from dust and scratches
- Enhances color intensity and eliminates glares
- Relatively cheap
CONs
- Uneven polarization
- Comes with a mildly desaturated brownish tint
Gobe 77mm UV Circular Polarizing (CPL) Lens Filter Kit
GOBE became one of the widely-known manufacturers of polarizer lens filter thanks to their consistent quality. The brand’s material comes from finely-selected glass, delivering exceptional quality in photo production. Check out their filter kit as it is one of the best in the market.
Product Highlights
This 4-piece circular polarizer filter kit uses GOBE’s technology to deliver the appropriate control of shade and saturation. It helps enhance the background and other color combinations to give off more vibrant images. Besides that, you’ll also love its warming filter that adds warmth to skin tones. Thanks to its fluorescent filter, it can remove all unwanted tinges. It gives optimal visual clarity.
The Good
Bring your images to life with GOBE Optics Filters. These first-rate filters that come with professional-grade multi-coated filters guarantee incomparable image quality. Aside from that, you’ll also love how this filter kit comes with a waterproof nylon carry pouch that protects the fragile items.
The Bad
Despite its exciting features that enhance the image quality, it still comes with several downsides. Some of the circular polarizer filters are poorly coated. This promotes a blurry or cloudy image output that disappointed the photographers. It comes with an unreliable product description that you should look out for.
PROs
- Delivers the right saturation
- Four-piece optics filter
- Guarantees high visual clarity
CONs
- Poorly-coated polarizer filters
- Unreliable product description
Ice Slim Filter Set
The ICE Slim Filter Set is another mid-value quality filter that provides amazing performance and ensures the product’s versatility and durability.
Product Highlights
Ideal for wide-angle shots, the ICE Slim Filter Set is built with a luxurious-looking matte black frame and high-quality glass material that effectively reduce light without notable color cast issues. For a rather cheap product, the Ice Slim Filter Set performs extremely well.
The Good
Considering its price, the ICE Slim Filter Set offers high-quality results. Several reviews noted having clear and detailed images without experiencing common filter issues such as vignettes and X-marks on their pictures.
The Bad
Several reviews also mentioned having difficulty handling the filter as the threads do not come on and off the camera easily. Aside from that, the Ice Slim Filter’s performance is rather inconsistent and depends primarily on the photographer’s adjustment.
PROs
- No visible color cast
- Inexpensive
- Provides quality results on the right settings
CONs
- Difficult to thread and mantle
- Inconsistent performance
- Showed vignette issues on some darker setting
Breakthrough Photography X4 Circular Polarizer Filter
Coming from one of the most known and trusted in the industry, the Breakthrough Photography brand is famous for creating high-quality products that offer amazing performance at all times.
Product Highlights
Dubbed as the world’s most color neutral polarizer, the Breakthrough Photography X4 Circular Polarizer Filter is made with an all-new and internally developed CPL film that provides amazing quality color neutral performance and optical clarity. Aside from that, this filter also comes with state-of-the-art MRC and nanotech coatings that further protect the lens from any damage.
The Good
Compatible with all 60mm camera lenses, the Breakthrough Photography X4 Circular Polarizer Filter is notable for gradual transmission decrease from 600nm onward. It also features a stable transmission into IR without the unwanted curve spike. This results in clear and crisp images with no unwanted color cast.
The Bad
While there is not much to say about the Breakthrough Photography X4 Circular Polarizer Filter, some reviews noted that the lens has inconsistent scratch resistance and creates notable vignetting on the images.
PROs
- Made with CPL film
- Uses state-of-the-art MRC and nanotech coatings
- Gradual and stable transmissions without color cast
CONs
- Relatively expensive
- Inconsistent scratch resistance
- Creates notable vignetting
HOYA 77-mm Filter Kit
Coming from a renowned Japanese brand, HOYA pioneered in the production of high-quality photomasks, hard disk drive platters, and lenses in general. This is a go-to brand for photographers. If you want to take your photography level to a whole new level, this brand is worth checking out.
Product Highlights
The HOYA filter kit comes with one circular filter, one NDX8 filter, and one HMC UV(C) filter encased in a portable and safe filter case. It is definitely one of the most useful filter kits for DSLR cameras. Each filter comes with a sole sheet finish that reduces bright reflections. Besides that, you can have these filters at an affordable price. It is also backed by full quality control for your convenience.
The Good
One thing that I like about this product is that HOYA’s lenses absorb UV light. Thanks to its ultraviolet filters, you can say goodbye to hazy and blurry outdoor images caused by UV light. You can have vivid images with no supplementary pigmentation or color contrast. This feature makes it perfect for pairing with other accessories.
The Bad
While there aren’t any bad reviews about the HOYA camera lens filter, some verified buyers stated that it does not affect the final image. Despite its superb quality, it only showed marginal effects. There are also instances that the product comes with faulty lenses, wherein the coating may be missing or scratched.
PROs
- Affordable lens filters
- It comes with a filter case
- Reduces light reflections
- Absorbs UV light
CONs
- Defective lenses upon arrival
- Little to no effect on an image
Conclusion
Considering the plethora of choices available in the market nowadays, choosing the best polarized lens filter can be difficult, especially for a beginner. Generally, polarizing lens filters help in changing the way your camera sees and treats light. Thus, it is highly suitable for outdoor photography that does not have any controlled light source. Most of the time, polarizing filters have a notable impact on the way the camera captures water, the sky, reflections, and other colors by reducing glare and enhancing color intensity and contrasts.
Some of the features and factors that you should consider when choosing the best-polarized lens filter include its lens protection features such as UV protection and scratch resistance and its capability to change exposure depending on what is needed for the shot. All in all, it is important to remember that you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to have a quality polarizing filter. There is a wide range of choices for the best filter under different price points. Know more about lens filters.