Hoya Y1UVIR072 72mm HMC UV/IR Cut Filter Slim

The Hoya Y1UVIR072 is a 72mm HMC UV/IR cut filter designed to address a specific and real weakness in digital imaging: unfiltered sensor sensitivity to wavelengths just outside visible light. CCD and CMOS sensors do not naturally stop recording at the edges of the visible spectrum — UV energy below 390nm scatters off atmospheric particles and lens glass to introduce haze and blue cast, while IR energy above 700nm contributes an unwanted warm shift in bright daylight, particularly in foliage and skin tones. The Hoya UV/IR cut blocks both ranges in a single slim-frame element, and the HMC multi-coating applies anti-reflective layers to both surfaces of the optical glass to keep flare and ghosting suppressed even when shooting into strong backlight or under powerful strobes. The slim aluminum frame is a practical design choice for 72mm glass: standard-profile filter rings on wide-angle lenses often produce visible vignetting in the corners, and the reduced frame depth eliminates this at typical shooting apertures.

This filter earns its place in the bag for landscape and aerial photographers working with unmodified sensors on shoots where color accuracy in difficult light is non-negotiable — distant mountain ridges rendered with clean midtone separation, architectural exteriors without IR-induced color cast in the sky gradient, or aerial shots free of atmospheric UV scatter. It also suits photographers who have modified their camera for full-spectrum or astro shooting and need a UV/IR cut in front of the lens rather than relying on a removed internal filter. The screw-in 72mm thread is precision-machined for snug attachment without cross-threading, and the filter can be left on the lens during shoots without mechanical concern. One practical note: assess whether your camera body's existing internal hot mirror filtration is strong enough that the optical benefit of an external UV/IR cut is meaningful for your specific shooting conditions before adding glass to the path.