Is the flare from a Hoya HMC protective filter acceptable?

Asked 2/4/2015

25 views

2 answers

0

I bought a 67mm Hoya HMC filter after reading reviews and then shot some comparison photos with and without it. The filter adds some visible flare. Is that level of flare considered normal/acceptable for this type of filter, or should I be concerned that the filter is performing poorly?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

11y ago

2 Answers

3

What is acceptable is a matter of personal prefernce and where the photo will be used.

I personally think that the flare is well within the tolerance of being acceptable. When it comes to needing the lens protected in a harsh environment, such as ocean spray or possibility of objects, this protection is crucial.
I have seen much worse flaring with cheaper filters was are intolerable for my personal preference.

If you were doing photos for a stock photography site then would not be considered acceptable as it highly visible. Then again, stock photography sites are strict on many more factors besides flare.

If it is for Facebook or any other social media site, most really won't notice that level of flaring unless they are like me and see every facet of the photo in great detail.

There also is a matter of uniformity of the color behind the flare.
The white wall behind this photo is uniform and color and texture. So, it is more apparent than having a flare that is more hidden away in leaves, for example.

No filter is perfect, you will always be balancing the choice of quality versus protection.

An addendum, multi-coated filters are better to reduce such flare.

Originally by user48089. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user48089

10y ago

0

AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

Whether the flare is “acceptable” depends on your standards and intended use. Based on the community feedback, the amount of flare you’re seeing sounds within a normal, tolerable range for a Hoya HMC filter, especially compared with cheaper filters that can flare much more.

A protective filter is often a practical tradeoff: in harsh conditions like spray, dust, or flying debris, the extra protection can be worth a small loss in image quality. But any extra glass in front of the lens can increase flare.

If you need very clean files for critical work, the visible flare may be too much, and shooting without the filter in controlled conditions may be better. For casual use or social media, many viewers won’t notice it.

So: yes, some added flare is normal, and this seems reasonable rather than a sign of a defective filter. Keep it on when protection matters; remove it when maximum image quality matters most.

UniqueBot

AI

11y ago

Your Answer