Our In-Depth Hoya UV Filter Review!

As some of our regular readers are aware, we are slowly working our way through reviewing the various lens filters from all major filter brands currently on the market. Today, it is the Hoya UV filter review that we have seen a number of requests for over the last few months now. Our hope is by publishing this article, we will be able to help any of our readers who are considering picking a Hoya UV filter up for themselves.

Although back in the day, the UV filter was predominantly used for preventing ultraviolet rays from entering your lens and reaching your camera sensor or film and potentially causing damage. These days, with the vast majority of people using digital cameras, the purpose of a UV filter has somewhat shifted over to being a protective filter for the front element of your expensive lens and essentially act as a shield for it. The photograph below gives a great example of just what a little piece of glass can achieve.

Click Here To Check For Prices On Hoya UV Filters!

This photograph shows an expensive lens fitted with a cheap UV filter after an accident. As you can see, the element on the lens filter is destroyed but the front element of the lens under the filter is perfectly safe.

Chances are that if you are reading this you have previously heard of the Hoya brand. If that is the case then it should come as no surprise that they are one of the long-standing lens filter brands on the market that have been able to stand the test of time and produce decent quality filters consistently over many years.

They offer some high-quality filters across their whole range that are relatively cost-effective for what you pay when marked up against what you are getting. If you look at the bigger picture and consider the price of your lens of choice against the cost of a Hoya UV filter then they can be considered extremely cost-effective as shown in the photograph above. It should go without saying that it is much cheaper to purchase a new UV filter than to purchase a brand new lens if it gets broken during an accident.

Table of Contents

The Hoya UV Filter Range

Just like all major lens filter brands, Hoya has a number of different UV filter types within their overall range. These are each aimed at their own unique market within the photography to offer relevant functionality and performance for the appropriate price to the right customer.

The Hoya Professional UV Range

As you have probably guessed from the name, the Hoya Professional UV Range (Click here to check for product prices and availability) has been designed to fit the needs of the premium market with the highest possible optical glass chosen for the filter elements to offer maximum protection. In addition to this, this range has various types of nano-coating to help improve the robustness of the filter while also helping to reduce any UV haze while improving the overall image quality.

In exchange for the above, the Hoya professional range is without a doubt their most expensive line of UV filters that they have currently released usually retailing for over $100. There is a rough rule of thumb commonly circulated within the photography community that you should be spending roughly 10% of the cost of your lens on your UV filter meaning that most people would only choose this filter for lenses worth $1000 and over but realistically, anything over $800 will probably be getting a professional level filter.

At the time of writing, the Hoya Professional UV Range is available in the following filter thread sizes:-

49mm
52mm
55mm
58mm
62mm
67mm
72mm
77mm
82mm

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The Hoya Pro1 Range

Although it comes with a confusing name that in our opinion misleads people into thinking that this is their premium range due to the word “Pro” being in it, the Hoya Pro1 Range (Click here to check for product prices and availability) is Hoya’s middle of the road filter range. Hoya tries to offer the best of both worlds by adding as much functionality as possible to this range while also keeping the price tag as budget friendly as possible.

In our opinion, they have managed to do a really good job and feel that the filters are slightly underpriced compared to what you are getting. Going by the 10% rule covered above, you could choose this range to protect a camera lens that is between $250-$800 and it will do a solid job.

A photograph of a UV filter that has done its job and sacrificed itself to protect the owners lens. — A photograph of a UV filter that has done its job and sacrificed itself to protect the owner’s lens.

The element of the filter has been treat with Hoyas DMC coating technology to help increase the robustness of the filter while also reducing both flare and ghosting. The high-quality glass element is very strong for the filters price point and can take more than its fair share of punishment before showing any signs of damage and the aluminum frame of the filter is lightweight but pretty strong for the price point.

At the time of writing, the Hoya Pro1 Range is available in the following filter thread sizes:-

49mm
52mm
55mm
58mm
62mm
67mm
72mm
77mm
82mm

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The Hoya Budget Range

Finally, we have the Hoya budget range (Click here to check for product prices and availability) that is usually around the $10-$15 mark but in reality, even if you have picked up a lens that is $100-$250, the majority of people will probably choose to pick up a filter from the Pro1 range above over this. That said, if you have a sub $100 lens then this could be worth picking up.

Just like every other major filter brand, Hoya has tried to fill a gap in the market that is very hard to fill. People either tend to choose the next level filter up over the budget option or pick up the budget option looking for a bargain and slap it on a lens that should have the middle or premium option filter on it.

All that said, Hoya has done a decent job at providing a budget filter that can get the job done for low-end lenses. At the time of writing, the Hoya Budget UV Range is available in the following filter thread sizes:-

49mm
52mm
55mm
58mm
62mm
67mm
72mm
77mm
82mm

Click Here To Check For Prices On This Product!

Our Recommended Hoya UV Filter

In our opinion, the Hoya Pro1 Range (Click here to check for product prices and availability) will meet the majority of the needs of our readers. It is cheap enough to be purchased without needing to break the bank while also making a solid lens protector that offers great image quality by reducing and flare and ghosting without having any adverse effects on your image.

It comes with Hoyas multi-coated layers to increase its performance and will make a great addition to your camera accessories and protect your lens of choice while you are out and about doing your digital photography.

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Should You Use A UV Filter?

With the debate still raging on if you should or should not use a UV filter to protect your lens we thought we would share the video below as it echoes our thoughts and the importance of investing in a UV filter.