User Manual

Best of the Best

In 1996 Hoya introduced Super Multi-coated filters to the

photographic world. Consisting of a Skylight, 1B, UV (0), ND 2X,

ND4X, and a low profile Circular Polarizer, this line of filters has a 5+1

layering system on each side of the glass: 5 layers of anti-reflective

coating and a transparent easy-clean top coat. This reduces light

reflections off the filter surface to an average of just 0.3%, meaning

99.7% of the light striking the filter is transmitted into the glass.

This is the lowest reflective rate available, from any filter manufacturer.

The only exceptions are Polarizer and Circular Polarizer filters.

No matter the brand or quality, they all are made of a polarizing film,

or a polarizing film plus quarter wave plate in the case of the Circular

Polarizer, sandwiched between two layers of what should be clear

optical glass.

We’ve Been Framed!

Hoya believes the filter frame is an extremely important part of the

filter as well. Hoya created precision machined aluminum frames to

hold their high quality glass. They prefer aluminum to other materials

because it is strong enough to hold up to years of use. Some say

that brass is the best material to use. However, Hoya doesn’t hold

that view and here is why; brass is a far more rigid material than

either aluminum, or other materials that are being use in today’s lens

barrels. This means that, should the front of the lens get hit, the rigid

brass filter ring will transfer almost all the force of the shock to the

lens barrels and mechanics within the lens. An aluminum filter frame

will absorb some of the shock by bending, and at a certain point the

glass will chip or break, which is what the filter is supposed to do,

protect the lens! Replacing a filter is always preferable to getting a

lens repaired.

THE DIFFERENCE

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