After watching many video reviews, and comparisons between cheaper, more expensive, and this filter, I decided to pick it up. This review doesn't focus on the IQ retained by using this filter, as it's one of the best. PolarPro did a great job on producing a filter whose IQ virtually matches those filters costing twice a much. So if IQ is you're only concern. Buy this. You won't be disappointed. Especially if you're considering the Tiffen VND. I have 2 of those, and this filter dominates the Tiffen in almost every category I value.
Packaging:
The packaging for this product is very luxurious. But in my opinion, way over the top. The box is magnetic, heavy duty cardboard, has layers, and looks great with Peter McKinnon's bucket shot on the cover. But it's just a box. You open once, take out the contents, then store it somewhere to help with the resell value later. I feel PolarPro could cut some of the luxury of the packaging, and lower the price a few bucks. Maybe the difference would only be $5. I don't know. But it seems extravagant. The thick rubber protector and hard magnetic storage case are nice touches. But the soft case seems redundant. But might be useful to someone though.
Features:
Hard stops are a joy! Tiffen has no stops. And, for some reason, the markings are on the bottom of the filter when screwed onto my Sony lenses. Maybe they end up on top on other lens brands, but frustrating for me. I had to use a silver Sharpie to make custom marks where I could see them.
Missing "feature":
Of course I use this primarily for run & gun video. So my rig needs to be highly adaptable. Sometimes I'm using a Fotga DP500II matte box that I've adapted to use a round VND in the 4x4 filter holders, with one side rotating. (Let me know if you want to see how I did that. I'll post a video on my YouTube channel.)
Then sometimes, to lighten weight, I ditch the matte box and rails, and use a round rubber collapsible lens hood screwed into the VND filter threads. A tulip shaped hood would require too much adjustment after an ND adjustment. Too slow. A matte box that clamps onto the lens slows down lens changes too much, and also expensive. Anytime you replace the words "lens hood" with "matte box", the prices goes up $150.
THIS is where my problem lies. The PolarPro filter has no female threads on the outside. This is where I would screw in my collapsible hood, or 4x4 filter adapter. See the pics. The second pic is of a Syrp 82mm VND. It's currently my go-to VND. I'm sure it was a design decision to make the exposed face of the filter to look more finished. But this missing "feature" cut this filter's usability in half for me. All PolarPro would need to do is use a thinner retainer ring to leave some open threads.
THEN I would have the perfect filter, and probably buy a couple more for all my cameras.
Unfortunately, the missing threads are not mentioned anywhere in the reviews or marketing. Since ALL my other screw on filters, ND, CPL, UV, etc., have female threads on the exposed face, it didn't occur to me to check on this one. They're just supposed to be there!
So, bottom line is, I love the IQ, hard stops, and accessories. I'll find uses, but they will be very limited.
Hopefully someone from PolarPro will read this, and revise their design to include female threads.
But's probably more likely that I'll find a Pegasus to replace my motorcycle for fun transport.
UPDATE 5/14/19 - PolarPro's response to my female thread complaint explained they designed the filter to be very thin so as to not create vignetting in focal lengths as wide as 16mm.
I'd still like to see a non low-profile, stackable version of this filter.
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