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Product Description

These outstanding filters offer revolutionary performance in light transmission and color balance. 12 layers of Super Multicoating are applied to the surface of the Skylight 1B and UV models, which produce an average transmission of 99.7%. Coupled with maximum surface precision, this allows increased resistance to flare the stunning images can be recorded at wide apertures without compromising the performance of your lenses. Hoya ultra thin Circular Polarizer filters have seven layers of Multicoating applied to their rear surface to eliminate internal reflections and ghosting. Advanced thin selective film is used to guarantee perfectly polarized light with neutral color balance. Their slim profile of just 5mm avoids any vignetting problems and makes them ideal for use with wide-angle lenses. There is no front female thread, but they do accept push-on lens caps. HOYA Super HMC PRO-1 filters will appeal to the most demanding of photographers who require the ultimate in performance.

Customer Reviews

Perfect clarity and excellent protection
Hoya SUPER HMC PRO1 Haze UV(0) - Filter - UV - 58 mm

I recently traded a Canon G6 digital camera, purchased a Canon G9 digital camera from Amazon and fitted it with a G9/G7 Lensmate adapter to protect my primary lens and help balance my G9. Based on my previous experience with the Hoya SUPER HMC PRO1 Haze UV(0) - Filter - UV - 58 mm on my G6, I purchased the same item for my G9. The Hoya filter offers me several benefits including additional protection for my primary lens, 12 layers of Super Multicoating which produce an average transmission of 99.7%, and extreme thinness to minimize vignetting during wide-angle photography. I have already taken numerous photographs with this set up, and am convinced that the Hoya filter is the best of its kind, and completely indispensable for enhancing the pleasure and quality of my digital photography. I unconditionally recommend it.

A benchmark UV filter
I have read time and time again about the golden rule of not putting a cheap UV filter on any half-decent lens. The basic reasoning makes sense I suppose. Lens manufacturers spend thousands of pounds trying to eliminate reflections on lens surfaces - especially now that digital SLRs are the norm. The reason for this is that stray internal reflections from lens surfaces can play havoc with DSLR image quality.

The general principle, as I understand it, is that the more you pay for your lens filter, then the better the clarity of the filter glass and the better the anti-reflective coating on that glass.

When I first took the Hoya SHMC Pro-1 UV out of its protective case, the first thing that struck me was how amazingly non-reflective the glass surfaces were. It was kind of weird, like they were "black hole-ish". I knew that the surfaces were there - it was just really weird to see zero reflection from a glass surface. So top marks then to Hoya for the quality of their SHMC Pro-1 anti-reflective coating. Very impressive indeed.

Another reason I opted for this particular model of filter is that it is very slim in terms of its depth. This can be especially important to APS-C format lenses which (generally) can be quite prone to something called vignetting. Vignetting is visible in your shots as a darkening of the image corners. It is especially noticeable in clear blue sky shots. I actually find it quite attractive and I personally think that too much fuss is made about it. That said, you don't want to buy a filter that makes what might be a subtley attractive characteristic into an obvious problem. And that could, I say could, happen if you buy wider filters.

Either way, another reason for buying slim filters is that you might need to attach more than one filter. For example, you might wish to add a polarising filter onto your UV filter. If they are not slim design then your really could be heading for vignetting city.

Another benefit of buying a UV filter (of any quality) is that it protects the front lens element. A damaged UV filter is a lot cheaper to replace than a damaged lens, especially if you've forked out a few quid for a lens that really does just to the modern day DSLR. And how do you protect your expensive UV filter? Answer: use a lens hood. Lens hoods are a great way to maximise image contrast and also to protect the whole of the front of your lens incl your specially chosen UV filter (and pol filter).

I know from personal experience that the last thing you feel like doing when you're forking out for a good lens is to load up the price still further by another 20-30 quid by adding on "the best filters you can afford" (as recommended by all the experts). And that's just for a UV filter. Polarising filters are significantly more expensive. I know the feeling - pressing the "confirm purchase" button to buy a Canon 70-200 F4L IS with a couple of top quality filters had me breaking out in a mild sweat.

The primary aim of a UV filter is to reduce image blur caused by high levels of UV light. UV light tends to be present in very high levels in sunnier countries abroad esp in summer & esp nearer to the equator, on beaches and high up in mountain areas. The image quality improvement using this filter is really obvious - it's very striking - images are clearer and sharper.

When all said and done, this filter is the business. I certainly wouldn't use anything of lesser quality on a new DSLR with a decent lens. If you want to go the whole hog, you could look at the more expensive Hoya Pro-1 "Digital" range of filters, which I presume have even better anti-reflective coatings (though it's difficult to imagine how when you look at this filter!)

Recommended without reservation - money well spent.

Quality filter that reduces UV haze and protects your lens
Why should you get a Haze (UV) filter? The benefits include correcting Ultraviolet (UV) light which may cast a bluish tint to your images and obscure distant details, and protection of your front lens element.

The UV-Haze filter will improve your images when photographing mountain and marine scenes, where increased haze threatens to make your photographs indistinct in color and clarity. Be aware that this filter reduces Ultraviolet (UV) haze, and not haze related to other reasons like smog.

Photographers tend to debate the protection aspect of UV filters. Some say it will degrade an image to a certain extent and can increase the likelihood of lens flare. These are legitimate concerns that can be minimized with a quality lens filter. If the scene you are shooting doesn't present UV haze concerns, the filter most likely isn't doing anything to improve your image.

Hoya has designed the Pro-1 filter with these problems in mind. They applied 12 layers of Super Multicoating to the surfaces of this filter to produce an average transmission of 99.7%. Coupled with maximum surface precision, this allows for increased resistance to flare. Monocoated filters (standard inexpensive type) do not resist flares nearly as much.

In my case I shoot quite a bit of amateur softball. Using Canon L lenses (expensive) the last thing I want is to wipe the dust off my front element and accidentally scratch it. I would much rather scratch a filter due to the difference in cost between replacing the filter and repairing the lens.

Even though the protection provided by this filter is invaluable when I shoot amateur softball, I leave it on for all shooting scenarios. I wouldn't think of doing so with a low quality UV filter. I only remove it when I am using other filters and I'm not interested in stacking.

Another benefit of the Pro-1 series is the double threaded super slim filter that is more than 40% lighter than standard filters. The weight difference doesn't mean a whole lot to me, but a thinner filter means one can stack filters or use on wide angle lenses with less chance of vignetting (unwanted darkening of the image's corners). With the front threaded, this filter will accept lens caps without difficulty.

PROS:
Double threaded super slim ring
Increased resistance to flare
Filters out UV light
Protects front lens element

CONS:
Shallow front lens threading