Hoya

Hoya C-ALPII77CRPL 77mm Alpha II Circular Polarizer

Deepen skies and slash surface glare with Hoya's slim-frame Alpha II — the polarizer that stays out of your wide-angle corners.

$69.21*
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jul 14, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.

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Overview

The Hoya Alpha II Circular Polarizer at 77mm is the filter that earns its place in a landscape and outdoor photographer's rotation by doing one thing exceptionally well: removing the reflected light that flattens images and dulls colors. On a clear day with the sun to your side, rotating the Alpha II into position transforms a hazy sky into a deep gradient of blue, makes clouds read with real dimensional contrast against that sky, and strips the reflective sheen from leaves and water surfaces to reveal the saturated color underneath. It's the effect that no amount of post-processing can convincingly replicate, because the filter is physically blocking polarized wavelengths rather than simulating their removal afterward. For outdoor portrait and lifestyle work, it's equally valuable — eliminating hotspots from skin in bright sun and cutting unwanted glare from glass surfaces in environmental scenes.

The Alpha II's distinguishing construction detail is its slim frame, which Hoya designed specifically to push back the vignetting threshold on wider focal lengths. On a 24-70mm zoom — a natural pairing for 77mm glass — a full-thickness polarizer can trim the corners at 24mm; the Alpha II's reduced-profile frame gives you more of that range before the filter intrudes. The rotation ring moves with satisfying precision, tight enough that your set angle holds during a handheld session but smooth enough that you can fine-tune quickly between frames. Build quality is solid without being premium — the filter seats cleanly in standard 77mm mounts and the frame shows no play or wobble. For photographers who want a capable, optically clean polarizer that's built for everyday field use rather than a display case, the Alpha II makes a straightforward case.

Key Features

CAPTURE TRUE-TO-LIFE COLORS W/ PRECISION: The Hoya Alpha II Circular Polarizer 77mm Filter brings your images to life by deepening blue skies, making clouds and foliage burst with rich color. Cut through glare and reflections for sharper, more dynamic photography!

SHARPER, MORE VIBRANT IMAGES: Upgraded from the Alpha I series, this camera lens protector features enhanced glass for superior clarity and color saturation. Absorbs polarized light, reducing glare for crisp, high-impact shots—no premium coatings needed

SLIM FRAME TO MINIZE VIGNETTING: Designed with a thinner frame, the Alpha II 77mm lens filter reduces the risk of vignetting, making it ideal for wide-angle shots. Capture edge-to-edge sharpness while maintaining natural colors in every scene with our CPL filter!

EFFORTLESS ADJUSTMENTS W/ ROTATING FRAME: The Alpha II Circular Polarizer’s smooth, rotating design gives you precise control over glare reduction and color enhancement. Lightweight and compact, our camera lens polarizing filters are perfect for capturing stunning outdoor and landscape shots

PIONEERING OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY SINCE 1941: Hoya was Japan’s first specialty manufacturer of optical glass, setting the standard for innovation in optics and continuing to lead with advanced technologies and superior products in camera accessories, camera lens filters, vision care, healthcare, and precision instruments

Specifications

Brand
Hoya
Model
C-ALPII77CRPL
Filter Size
77mm
Filter Type
Circular Polarizer
Frame Design
Slim / Thin Frame
Glass Type
Improved optical glass
Function
Reduces reflections, increases color saturation, darkens blue skies
Rotating Frame
Yes

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • The slim frame design meaningfully extends the usable focal length range before vignetting appears — a real advantage on standard zoom lenses that start at 24mm.
  • Sky contrast and reflection reduction are immediate and visible in the viewfinder — no guessing whether the filter is doing its job.
  • Smooth rotation ring gives precise, repeatable control when dialing in the optimal polarization angle, including in gloves or cold-weather conditions.
  • Hoya's improved glass formula in the Alpha II series delivers cleaner color saturation without the warm color cast that less refined polarizers can introduce.
  • At 77mm it covers the most popular filter thread diameter in professional lens lineups, making it a versatile addition to a kit with multiple L-mount or DSLR lenses of different focal lengths sharing step-up rings.

👎 Cons

  • Like all circular polarizers, the Alpha II blocks roughly 1.5–2 stops of light, which limits its usefulness during low-light or overcast shoots where you're already pushing ISO.
  • The polarizing effect requires the sun at a specific angle relative to your shooting direction — overcast days and scenes facing directly toward the sun see little benefit from the filter.
  • No multi-coating is specified for this model, which means the glass may be more susceptible to flare and ghosting in high-contrast scenes than premium coated polarizers in Hoya's own lineup.
  • At 77mm the filter and its frame add physical depth to the lens front, which can make lens cap seating feel less secure on some lens designs.

Frequently Asked Questions

This filter fits 77mm filter threads, one of the most common diameters in full-frame lens lineups — frequently found on standard zoom lenses like 24-70mm and 70-200mm F4 variants across Canon, Nikon, Sony, and L-mount systems. Confirm your lens's filter thread size by checking the barrel markings (the ø symbol) before ordering.
A thinner filter frame means less physical intrusion at the edges of the image circle, which matters most at focal lengths below 35mm. On a standard zoom lens starting at 24mm, a full-thickness polarizer frame can clip the corners — the Alpha II's slim profile reduces that risk, giving you more usable focal length range before vignetting appears.
Rotate the outer ring slowly while watching your scene through the viewfinder or live view. You'll see sky contrast increase and surface reflections diminish as you approach the optimal angle. The effect is strongest when the sun is approximately 90 degrees to your shooting axis — shooting toward or directly away from the sun reduces polarization effectiveness.
Yes — like all circular polarizers, the Alpha II reduces light transmission, typically by 1.5 to 2 stops. Your camera's metering will compensate automatically in most modes, but in manual exposure you'll need to open up aperture or slow shutter speed to maintain correct exposure. This is a characteristic of all polarizing filters, not specific to this model.
The Alpha II's primary upgrade over entry-level polarizers is the improved optical glass for better clarity and color saturation, combined with the slim frame for wider-angle compatibility. If you're currently seeing corner vignetting on wide shots or finding your existing polarizer introduces a color cast, the Alpha II addresses both issues.