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Hoya YHDPOLC072 72mm HD Circular Polarizer Filter — main product image
Hoya

Hoya YHDPOLC072 72mm HD Circular Polarizer Filter

★★★★★4.3 (1924 reviews)

Cut glare, deepen skies, and saturate colors the way your eyes see them — the Hoya HD 72mm CPL is the polarizer you leave on all day.

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Overview

The Hoya HD 72mm Circular Polarizer is the filter you reach for when you want the polarization effect without second-guessing your optics. Designed around a higher-transparency polarizing film that transmits 25% more light than conventional polarizing material, it keeps your exposure latitude healthy — critical when you're shooting landscapes at dusk, working in open shade, or trying to maintain fast shutter speeds for moving water. The 8-layer anti-reflective multi-coating suppresses internal flare and ghosting, so the filter adds the polarization effect without subtracting the sharpness and contrast your lens is built to deliver. Color rendition stays neutral, skies deepen naturally, and reflections off water or glass peel away without the muddy quality that cheaper polarizers produce.

The physical construction reflects Hoya's HD build philosophy — hardened optical glass mounted with high-pressure press technology, a hydrophobic and oil-repellent surface that cleans quickly in the field, and an ultra-thin frame engineered to work with wide-angle lenses without corner clipping. The frame rotates smoothly with enough resistance to hold position without accidental drift during composition adjustments. After repeated use in rain, sea spray, and dusty environments, the coating integrity holds up in a way that justifies the investment over budget alternatives. For the landscape, travel, or commercial photographer who uses a polarizer regularly, the HD's combination of optical fidelity and mechanical durability makes it a filter you stop thinking about and start relying on.

Key Features

High transparency and high durability UV absorbing film

25% greater light transmission than standard polarizing film

8-layer anti-reflective multi-coating

Water and oil repellent, scratch and stain resistant

Wide-angle lens compatible ultra thin frame.Glass mounted with high pressure press technology.Polarizing filter for colour and contrast enhancement.To fit 72 mm thread size

Specifications

Filter Size
72mm
Filter Type
Circular Polarizer
Glass
Hardened Optical Glass
Coating
8-Layer Waterproof Multi-Coating
Light Transmission
25% greater than standard polarizing film
Surface Treatment
Water and oil repellent, scratch and stain resistant
Frame Design
Ultra-thin, wide-angle compatible
Mounting Method
High-pressure press technology

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • The 25% transmission advantage over standard polarizing film keeps shutter speeds practical in shade and at golden hour, where cheaper polarizers force you into ISO compromises.
  • Glare from water surfaces and glass is cut cleanly — landscape and architectural shooters will see the polarizer doing its precise job without introducing color casts or contrast loss.
  • The ultra-thin frame plays well with wide-angle lenses, eliminating the vignetting problem that makes full-frame wide-angle work frustrating with standard-frame filters.
  • The hydrophobic coating sheds water droplets and resists fingerprints in a way that's immediately noticeable on shoots near water — less time cleaning, more time shooting.
  • Hardened optical glass holds up under field conditions without the scratching anxiety that comes with cheaper filter glass.

👎 Cons

  • At 72mm, this is a large-diameter filter — the cost reflects that, and it's a meaningful investment compared to budget circular polarizers in the same thread size.
  • Like all circular polarizers, this filter introduces a rotation step to your workflow; in fast-moving situations where light is changing rapidly, stopping to dial in polarization can cost you the moment.
  • The filter adds a physical profile to your lens front — lens cap fit and compatibility with some lens hoods requires checking per-lens, especially on longer barrel designs.
  • Maximum polarization effect requires shooting roughly perpendicular to the sun; the filter's performance is angle-dependent, and shots directly into or away from the sun won't show dramatic change.

Frequently Asked Questions

In practical terms, it means you're losing roughly 1 to 1.3 stops rather than the 1.5 to 2 stops typical of older polarizing films. On overcast days or in shade, that's the difference between a comfortable shutter speed and fighting camera shake — you stay in the light longer before the filter becomes a liability.
The thin-frame construction is specifically designed to avoid the dark corner vignetting that standard-frame polarizers cause on wide-angle lenses. At 72mm on an APS-C or full-frame wide-angle, corner clipping is not a concern this filter introduces.
The multi-coating suppresses internal reflections between the filter glass and your lens front element — what you'd otherwise see as ghosting, reduced contrast, or a slight color cast when shooting toward a light source. The hardened optical glass also contributes to maintaining resolution; you're not softening your lens's native sharpness by stacking this filter.
Hoya's HD-series coatings are applied using high-pressure press technology and are notably more durable than standard coatings. You'll clean grime, fingerprints, and field dust off the front element far more easily than an uncoated filter, and the hydrophobic surface holds up well with regular cleaning.
This is a threaded circular polarizer designed for direct 72mm lens mounting. It's not compatible with slot-in filter holder systems — for those workflows, a square or rectangular polarizing filter is the correct format.

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