Brands Guides About
Hoya Y5SKYL052 52mm HMC Skylight Filter — main product image
Hoya

Hoya Y5SKYL052 52mm HMC Skylight Filter

★★★★★4.5 (85 reviews)

A subtle multi-coated 52mm skylight filter that tames blue casts in daylight while keeping your front element safe on every shoot.

$27.90*
✓ In Stock on Amazon.com
View on Amazon

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

Affiliate Disclosure: Studio Supplies may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you. This helps support our editorial team.

Notice a mistake? Let Us Know

Overview

The Hoya 52mm HMC Skylight filter is a screw-in optical filter designed to do two things well: protect your lens's front element from the hazards of daily shooting, and gently warm your images by absorbing excess blue light common in coastal, high-altitude, and open-shade conditions. The HMC (Hoya Multi-Coating) treatment on both surfaces reduces light reflection to maintain contrast and minimize ghosting — a practical benefit when you are shooting toward the sun or working with strong backlighting. The result is a filter that stays on your lens without degrading your images, acting as an invisible first line of defense while subtly improving color rendition in blue-heavy natural light.

For photographers who keep a protective filter permanently mounted, the Skylight offers a slight creative advantage over a plain clear protector. The warm correction is gentle enough that it does not fight with auto white balance, yet it is visible in side-by-side comparisons when shooting in shade or at elevation. The 52mm thread fits a wide range of standard and kit lenses, and the filter ring is well-machined aluminum that threads cleanly without cross-threading. It is a quiet workhorse of an accessory — the kind of gear that earns its place in your bag by doing its job reliably across thousands of frames without ever demanding your attention.

Key Features

IMPROVES OUTDOOR PHOTOGRAPHS WITH SKYLIGHT FILTER PERFORMANCE – The Skylight 1B filter adds a lsight pink tone to the glass to reduce excessive blue tones caused by clear or overcast skies and high altitudes. It improves overall color balance and skin tones. Great for Video, Film, and Modern digital DSLR or Mirrorless cameras.

MULTICOATED OPTICAL GLASS FOR MAXIMUM UV PROTECTION – Engineered with Hoya’s HMC multicoating technology, the Skylight 1B includes UV filter properties that minimize reflections, reduces glare, and enhances image sharpness.

IMPROVES SKIN TONES ON OVERCAST DAYS AND IN THE SHADE – Designed to correct skin tone discoloration from blue skies, overcast day,s or shade from trees, the Skylight 1B camera lens filter absorbs specific wavelengths that produce a greenish/blue color cast—great for portrait photography and video work.

SCREW-IN MATTE BLACK ALUMINUM FRAME FOR SECURE FIT – Durable and lightweight, the Skylight filter is housed in a lightweight aircraft quality aluminum frame ensures a reliable, snug fit on your lens while maintaining easy installation for quick swaps between camera filters or other photography accessories.

PERFECT FOR CAMERA LENSES, TRAVEL, & LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY – Whether capturing scenic views or shooting in mixed light, the HOYA Skylight 1B lens filter protects your optics, improves portraits, and delivers professional results for any film or digital camera.

Specifications

Filter Size
52mm
Filter Type
Skylight
Coating
HMC (Hoya Multi-Coating)
Function
Absorbs excess blue; lens protection
Mount Type
Screw-in
Ring Material
Aluminum

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • HMC multi-coating effectively reduces flare and ghosting, maintaining contrast even when shooting into bright light sources
  • Slight warm tint counteracts blue casts in open shade and high-altitude conditions without requiring post-processing correction
  • Serves as reliable everyday front element protection against dust, moisture, and accidental contact
  • Minimal optical impact on image quality — does not introduce measurable softness on well-corrected lenses
  • Affordable enough to keep one permanently mounted on every 52mm lens in your bag

👎 Cons

  • The warm correction effect is very subtle and may be unnoticeable in many shooting conditions, especially when shooting in auto white balance
  • 52mm is a single size — no filter system versatility if your lenses use different thread diameters
  • Standard-thickness ring profile may cause corner vignetting on wide-angle lenses below 28mm equivalent
  • Not useful for digital shooters who prefer to correct color in post, making it redundant compared to a clear protector
  • Does not provide UV-cut filtration that some photographers specifically need for film or high-altitude digital work

Frequently Asked Questions

The multi-coating (HMC) on this filter is specifically designed to minimize reflections and maintain light transmission. On modern lenses, the optical impact is negligible — you will not see a measurable loss of sharpness in normal shooting conditions. The effect is far less intrusive than a fingerprint or dust on an unprotected front element.
Both protect your front element, but a skylight filter adds a very slight warm-pink tint that counteracts the blue color cast common in open shade, high-altitude, and coastal shooting conditions. A UV filter is optically neutral. If you shoot in environments with strong blue ambient light, the skylight gives you a subtle corrective advantage that a UV filter does not.
At 52mm thread size, vignetting depends on your specific lens. On standard and telephoto focal lengths, there is no issue. On wide-angle lenses below approximately 28mm (full-frame equivalent), the filter ring may encroach into the frame corners. For ultra-wide use, consider a slim-profile filter instead.
You can, but stacking increases the risk of vignetting on wider focal lengths and adds more air-glass surfaces. The HMC coating helps reduce flare from stacking, but for cleanest results, avoid more than two filters on a lens simultaneously.
Yes. You can use a step-up adapter ring to mount this 52mm filter on lenses with smaller filter threads. You cannot use it on lenses with larger threads without a step-down ring, which will cause vignetting. Check your lens's filter thread specification before purchasing.

Related Products