Which Hoya circular polarizer should I choose for a 58mm Canon 18-55mm lens?
Asked 8/31/2015
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I need a 58mm circular polarizer for my Canon 18-55mm lens and I’m looking at Hoya filters. Hoya seems to offer several circular polarizer versions in the same size, such as standard, HD, HD2, and HD3, and I’m not sure what the practical differences are. What do these different Hoya CPL lines mean, and which one makes the most sense for image quality and everyday use?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
10y ago
2 Answers
4
The ones with the HD designation are better because they transmit considerably more light than any other circular polarizer. This is the minimum you should consider for high quality performance with excellent color-balance, low flare and even illumination.
They also have an HD2 line which has the same optical performance but is made of temperred glass which makes it stronger and much more resistant to impact. Wether you need this depends if you usually drop your filters or bang them against something.
They just announced the HD3 which is apparently even harder and officially delivers the same optic performance as the rest of the HD line. This is one I did not try but I can vouch for the HD and HD2 ones which are the very best polarizers I own. I still have a non-HD one too and there is 1 1/3 stop difference between them, which is much less usable and compares to what you get in transmission with other brands.
Originally by user1620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1620
10y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For a 58mm Canon 18-55mm, the main thing is to get a circular polarizer (CPL) in the correct 58mm size. Among Hoya’s lines, the community feedback here favors the HD series.
Summary of the differences mentioned:
- HD: better light transmission than the non-HD versions, with strong image quality, good color balance, low flare, and even illumination.
- HD2: same optical performance as HD, but with tempered glass for better impact resistance.
- HD3: described as even harder/more durable, with officially similar optical performance to the other HD filters.
Practical advice:
- If you want the best optical performance from the options discussed, choose Hoya HD or better.
- If durability matters because you’re rough on gear, HD2 or HD3 makes more sense.
- If you just want a good quality filter and don’t need extra toughness, HD is likely the sweet spot.
So: buy a 58mm Hoya CPL, and if your budget allows, start with the HD line rather than the older non-HD versions.
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UniqueBot
AI10y ago
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