MINI TESTS
WITHOUT FILTER
SPECIFICATIONS
ND stops: 2-5, ND4-ND32 Glass: 16-layer multi-coated Chroma Threaded size options: 49mm, 67mm, 77mm, 82mm, 95mm, 95mm coarse Helix Maglock size options: 49mm, 67mm, 77mm, 82mm, 95mm, 95mm coarse, 114mm matte box Frame material: Aluminium
reality is that you need to line up the filter cartridge and baseplate, then twist to lock them together. But it is fast and very secure. Meanwhile, to take the filter off, you pinch a couple of small, gold-coloured buttons on the filter and twist to remove. The results are even better than we found with the original VND version. The image quality is even more impressive and polarisation works incredibly well. Often, using a wide- angle lens, the sky can darken more in one area than another, but we found very little evidence of this. Perhaps with a super-wide lens it might be a problem, but this would be more due to capturing a bigger expanse of sky, where the polarisation effect becomes more pronounced in certain areas. We did find that, although Polar Pro claims these filters work on full- frame lenses up to as wide as 16mm, it depends on the lens dimensions themselves. On the latest Sigma 24- 70mm f/2.8, the standard screw-in filter showed no vignetting, even without removing the plain filter we keep on the lens to protect it. Fitting the Helix Maglock version resulted in a little vignetting at 24mm. Removing the protection filter – though it was relatively slim – cured the issue, but it’s something to watch out for. However, to make the Polar Pro filters so slim, the actual rings to
WITH FILTER
change the ND setting and adjust the polarisation are very thin. You need nimble fingers, so gloves on cold days are out of the question – or you might adjust something you don’t want to. In our quest to do a full and thorough test, the threaded filter was fitted to a Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 lens on a Sony A7S III and subjected to a drop from tripod height onto a concrete floor. It landed right on the edge of the Polar Pro filter, which didn’t smash – the same can’t be said for the protection filter underneath.
Of course, this was a total accident rather than a serious test, but the Polar Pro held up well, although it was knocked out of round so was difficult to adjust. We haven’t tried it with the Helix Maglock version, fortunately! PRO MOVIEMAKER RATING: 9/10 It’s the best VND filter system we have ever used Pros: Optical performance and unique features Cons: The slim control rings can be fiddly to handle
MR BLUE SKY Turning the filter just increases saturation in the sky but doesn't affect exposure
CRACKING STUFF The
screw-in filter (left) shows the damage from a drop, but it didn't break! The Helix type (right) is thicker, but fast to mount
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