Hoya Y3SOFTB077 77 mm Softener (B) Special Effect Filter

The Hoya 77mm Softener (B) is a special-effect screw-in filter designed to introduce a controlled soft-focus quality directly at the point of capture. Its optical surface is covered with randomly arranged micro-lenslets shaped like tiny water droplets, which scatter incoming light to produce smooth gradations and a gentle glow around highlights — all while preserving a recognizably sharp central image. The result is a dreamy, romantic look that is especially flattering for portrait photography and scenes featuring point light sources such as candles or streetlights.

Unlike post-processing softening, the Hoya Softener (B) interacts with actual light entering the lens, creating halation and bloom characteristics that are difficult to duplicate digitally. The "(B)" designation indicates a moderate-to-strong diffusion level within Hoya's softener lineup. The filter threads onto any 77mm lens and adds negligible weight, making it easy to carry as part of a filter kit. Because the effect is baked into every frame, photographers who want flexibility may wish to bracket shots with and without the filter to preserve options during editing.