Our top polarizing filter recommendation offers drop-in simplicity, multi-coating, and a clam-shell case. [Note: ExpertPhotography is supported by readers. Product links on ExpertPhotography are referral links. If you use one of these and buy something, we make a little bit of money. Need more info? See how it all works here].
What is the Best Polarizing Filter?
We’ve chosen ten of the best polarizing filters on the market. But before we look at the details of each one, here is a summary of why we like them. Now let’s look at them in some more detail, starting with our top pick. If you are in the market for a top-of-the-line filter system and don’t mind the cost, check out the Lee100 Polarizer. This filter works with the Lee100 filter holder, purchased separately. This filter is made from lightweight, high-transmission polarizing glass. This gives subtle warm tones. You can buy the filters in the shape of a circle or square. And both work with the Lee100 filter holder. But you cannot rotate the square polarizer. The square filter is best used in a studio where you have control over the lighting. Tiffen makes a range of budget-friendly circular polarizers. Some have better light transmission for low-light situations. Others are designed for wide-angle lenses. They also offer a warming filter with a yellow tint. You can also choose between a circular and a linear polarizer. If you like this filter, Tiffen makes a range of filters. Their top-quality HT filter has high-quality glass and anti-reflective coatings. The filter is one of the more expensive offerings on this list. But you are paying for a known brand name. If you are looking for a cheaper filter with many features, try the Marumi DHG Circular Polarizer. The filter has eight layers of anti-reflection coatings and is scratch resistant. It is made from low-profile aluminum to avoid vignetting. The filter will block more light than the more expensive models. But the company promises unsurpassed color neutrality. If you like this filter and want an upgrade, try Marumi’s flagship filter, the EXUS. This filter has 18 layers of coatings for ultra-low reflection that are anti-static. Urth, formerly Gobe, is an environmentally conscious company that uses recycled packaging. Urth’s polarizing filters come in the standard (premium) model. Or the Plus+ (professional) model. The company also offers a CPL plus ND filter combination. Gobe’s rebranding created a price increase that upset some customers. The professional filter has high-level features. But it carries a lower price tag than other filters on this list. The Plus+ filter is German Schott glass with 16 layers of nanocoating. The anti-reflection, true-color coatings remove lens flare and glare. The coatings also protect the filter from scratches and dirt. Light transmission is on par with the higher-priced filters. The slim casing reduces vignetting and is made from an aluminum alloy. Most of the filters on this list are of the screw-on variety. But Kase Wolverine filters use a magnetic system. The filter comes with a magnetic adaptor that screws onto your lens. Once it is installed, the filter pops right on. You can easily stack a polarizer and multiple neutral density filters. The magnetic system is easy to use. But the filters are not designed to be left on the lens. They will dislodge when hiking. The company also offers a combined CPL and ND filter. The filter is made from high-quality materials. And it gives high-quality results at a mid-level price range. The filter is made from toughened B270 optical glass. The scratch-resistant coatings repel oil, water, dust, and fingerprints. Kase filters are extremely thin and lightweight. Sizes are limited. But Kase also offers a magnetic square filter system that works for lenses of various sizes. Do not let the name confuse you. B + W (B “plus” W) does not mean that the filters are designed only for black and white photography. It is made by the German company Schneider Kreuznach. The company offers two levels of polarizers—basic and master. The master HTC (high transmission) film provides a sharper, richer image. But it comes with a high price tag. The scratch-resistant filter has 16 thin nanocoatings that repel dirt and water. The filter mount is made from brass, and you can choose between the F-Pro standard or the XS-Pro slim mount. The thinner filler reduces vignetting. Diving into the world of Hoya filters can be confusing. The company has a wide range of circular polarizers. But they also market some filters under different names only in the USA. Similar filters can vary in features. Hoya has a wide range of filters from which to choose. Their mid-level anti-static circular polarizing filter goes under the name Evo in the United States. But a similar anti-static filter is called Fusion elsewhere. The filters have 16 or 18 layers of anti-reflective coatings. They are water and oil repellant and have a hardened top layer. Anti-static properties are particularly useful in situations where dust is a problem. All but the largest-sized filters are thin, which reduces vignetting. All Hoya filters have an aluminum casing. They often add an ultra-violet filter into their CPL to block UV light as well. The price difference between the Evo and the Fusion is considerable. The Fusion is the better deal. K&F offers three levels of polarizing filters. Each level has a different number of coatings. But even the most expensive comes in as one of the most affordable on this list. It is our pick for the best budget-friendly filter. The XC CPL filter is packed with features and has 28 layers of coating. The coatings reduce glare and make the filter waterproof and scratch-resistant. The casing is made from an extra-tough aviation aluminum-magnesium alloy. The company also offers a CPL with a variable ND filter. The Breakthrough Photography 4x circular polarizing filter has an ultra-slim brass frame. This eliminates vignetting on wide-angle lenses. The glass is Schott superwhite optical glass with 16 nanocoated layers. And the glass has a high light transmission. According to its makers, this filter is the sharpest on the market. They also claim it is the most color-neutral polarizer available. The filter has textured edges and polarization guides printed on the side. These help you find maximum polarization. Filters are weather sealed to withstand water, dust, wind, and salt. You can buy the CPL filter on its own or combined with a 3, 6, or 10-stop ND filter. The company offers a 25-year warranty, adding safety to your purchase. This filter is attractive to a wide variety of photographers. This is because it has all the features and durability at a mid-level price. The company offers a lower-priced 2x version with slightly lower-quality glass and fewer coatings.
Why Do you Need a Polarizing Filter?
Polarizing filters cut down on glare and reflections on glass. This is valuable when shooting in a city. If you like vibrant colors, a polarizing filter helps. It gives you the deep colors you crave regardless of what you are shooting. There is a mind-boggling array of polarizing filters that vary wildly in price. Major companies often have a line of polarizing filters with different features. If you have tried shopping for a polarizing filter, you are justified in throwing your hands up in despair.
What Are Polarizing Filters?
A polarizer filter is a piece of specially coated glass that fits onto the front of your lens. It is designed to filter certain waves of light. You may not be familiar with polarizing filters in photography. But you might have encountered polarized sunglasses. Polarizing filters may screw onto the end or attach with magnets. Or you can buy polarizing filters that drop into a holder fixed to the front of the lens. You can even stack a polarizing filter with other filters.
How Do Polarizing Filters Work?
Polarization has to do with how light waves behave. Most natural light is unpolarized. But when it is reflected or bounced, the waves scatter. This makes it hard for your camera to capture a clean image. Polarizing filters reduce the randomness of the light waves. Filtering the scattered light results in reduced haze, glare, and reflections. Polarizer filters let you see under the reflections and glare on water, snow, or glass. They also deepen the color and boost contrast in a way that is impossible to replicate in post-processing. A polarizing filter improves the vibrancy of water and lets you see below the surface. Your sky becomes more vibrant and reduces atmospheric haze. Some vibrancy tools in photo editing programs may be able to simulate contrast and color. But you can’t edit out reflections and glare. Without a polarizing filter, you’ll never be able to see into a window or photograph the depths of the water.
What to Consider Before Buying a Polarizing Filter
Polarizing filters vary widely in price. The least expensive filter on our list is around 30 USD. The most expensive is over 300 USD. The higher prices usually reflect build and glass quality. They also have more coatings on the glass. Less expensive filters may cause your photos to have a soft focus or pronounced color tint. The best polarizing filters balance affordability with quality. Let us look at some of the characteristics that affect the price of a circular polarizer filter.
Linear vs Circular Polarizers
There are two types of polarizers—linear and circular. The name does not have to do with the shape of the filter. Both are often round. The name has to do with the shape of the light hitting your sensor. Linear polarizers only let in light moving in a vertical or horizontal direction. Circular polarizing filters (CPL) filter the light twice. A CPL is constructed in two parts. The first element is a linear polarizer. The second element—called a “quarter wave plate”—makes the light spin or circulate. The circular polarizer helps cameras accurately meter light in the scene. It also reduces the effects of a mirror on your camera. Circular polarizers twist. This lets you gradually modify the light waves. You can reduce some reflections while leaving others. Practically, both polarizing filters do the same job. But circular polarizers are the most common by far. The need for circular polarizers may change as cameras continue to change. If you have a mirrorless camera, the difference may be undetectable. Linear polarizers are generally less expensive.
Color Cast
When choosing a circular polarizer filter, look for high-quality glass with no color cast. Some polarizer filters have a yellow, brown, magenta, grey, green, or blue color cast. “Warm” filters purposefully add a slight yellow color cast. It is pleasing to the eye and counters less attractive tints. You can correct the color cast in post-processing in some cases, so it is not a problem.
Thickness
Another thing to look for in a polarizer filter is vignetting or darkened edges. Thin filters create less of a vignette at wide angles. Thicker filters darken the edges of the image. Thinner filters are also easier to manipulate in the field. They are easier to screw onto your lens.
Light Transmission
Polarizers reduce the amount of light coming into your lens. Filter companies rate the level of light transmission, which is how much light the filter allows. The best polarizing filters have high light transmission. They block only 1 to 1-1/2 stops of light. Cheaper filters may block up to 3 stops of light. You will have to compensate by increasing the exposure. In most situations, this is not a problem. But if you tend to shoot in low-light conditions without a tripod, you may want to be extra sensitive to this feature. Some companies combine a circular polarizer filter with a neutral density filter. If you often use an ND filter, this saves you from buying two separate filters and fitting them together.
Glass Quality and Coatings
The number and quality of coatings on the polarizer filter significantly affected the price. Some filters have no coatings at all. The more expensive filters have coatings that reduce glare. They also make the filter scratch-resistant. They also have coatings that repel water, dirt, dust, and oil from your fingerprints. Some have anti-static coatings. The top-of-the-range filters have coatings that harden the glass. These make the filters nearly unbreakable. The glass quality and coatings applied can affect image quality. Depending on the quality of your lens, you may or may not see a difference. But if you mount a low-quality filter on a high-quality lens, the image quality diminishes.
Metal Casing
Because polarizers are mainly used by landscape photographers, build quality is a factor. The best polarizing filters are lightweight and protected by a strong, metal casing. The quality of the metal casing determines how easy the filter is to screw onto your lens and the ease of rotation. The less expensive filters use metals like aluminum. The higher-priced filters tend to be made from brass. Higher-quality filters can resist breaking when dropped. They keep their shape even if used frequently. The lower-quality metals may bend with use.
Filter Size
Filters come in a range of sizes to fit different-sized lenses. The size of the filter affects the cost. Most companies offer filters in a range of standard sizes from 52 to 82mm. The larger filters cost more. When comparing prices, look at filters of the same size. A 58mm filter will seem inexpensive compared to an 82mm filter regardless of features. When buying a polarizing filter, it is important to know the diameter of your lens. This is measured in millimeters and is usually stamped somewhere on the lens itself.
Mounting System
Most polarizers screw onto the front of your lens. Some have threads on both the back and the front. The front threads let you stack filters. A few companies use a magnetic attachment to replace the screw-on design. You first screw on a magnetic holder to the front of your lens. Then the magnetized filter pops onto the holder. Other companies use a drop-in filter design. You first mount a holder onto the front of your lens, then drop the filter into the holder. Magnetic and drop-in filters are easy to attach to your lens. You can add or remove them quickly. Drop-in filters may be round or square glass. They are often more expensive, partly because you buy the holder separately. But also because the filters themselves are large. The benefit is that this holder will fit on all your lenses regardless of size. Some companies choose one system exclusively. Others have different lines of filters.
Which Size Filter Should You Buy?
Screw-on and magnetic filters come in many sizes that range from 39 to 105mm. They are designed to fit on lenses of different diameters. This is because most photographers own lenses of varying sizes. Instead of buying filters for each lens, buy a filter to fit your biggest lens. Then, add high-quality step-down rings to use the filter on all your lenses. Some photographers advocate buying a size larger than your biggest lens. This reduces vignetting at the widest focal length. The Neewer step-up ring set is a budget-friendly option.
Another quality option is the brass adapter rings made by Breakthrough Photography. These are sold individually rather than as a set.
How to Use a Circular Polarizer
Using a polarizer takes a little practice. The polarizing effect only works when the filter is perpendicular, or at a 90-degree angle, to the light. Many photographers do not see an immediate effect of a circular polarizer and ditch it. There is a level of experimentation that comes with a circular polarizer. The best position and rotation depend on the light in the scene.
Conclusion
The Breakthrough Photography 4x circular polarizer is a great choice as a mid-priced option. If you are on a budget, try the 28-layer K&F XC CPL. If price is no object, the Lee100 drop-in filters are top-of-the-line.
