Hoya UV & IR Cut Filter review

Features
Handling and Performance
Verdict
Specification

In recognition that digital camera sensors are sometimes affected by stray infrared light that the eye cannot see, Hoya have added a UV & IR Cut filter to their range. This specialist filter blocks unwanted infrared and ultraviolet rays from reaching the sensor so the resulting photographs could have slightly more clarity.

Hoya UV & IR Cut Filter Features

The Hoya UV & IR Cut filter looks like any normal UV filter when you hold it up to your eye and look through, but the magic is in the coating which becomes apparent when you angle the filter and it catches the light. The filter has a Greeny blue colour when held at one angle and a vivid red at another. These coatings block UV sources with wavelengths below 320nm and infrared rays that appear from 780nm.



The glass filter is in an ultra slim metal mount so is fine for use on wider angle lenses where a deep mount would cause vignetting. It's also light weight - the 67mm weighs just 22grams.


Hoya UV & IR Cut Filter (left) compared with normal Hoya Multi-coated UV (right)

Hoya UV & IR Cut Filter Handling & Performance

One of the main uses of a UV filter is to protect the lens. The glass is clear so doesn't have any affect on colour balance or exposure, but will stop dust or fingerprints appearing on your lens' front element. And its other job is to block UV rays that can reduce quality of photos by adding a slight haze on distant scenes.

The UV & IR Cut takes this a stage further by blocking out the IR spectrum too and this is clearly seen when pointing a TV remote control at the camera and pressing any button.
This video explains all...




Most digital cameras these days have filters over the sensor to block IR light so the filter will have little effect when used with them, but some are better than others. And older digital cameras, notibly models from the Nikon Coolpix range and Rioch models, had poor infrared blocks so this filter will improve photos taken using that type of camera. And although we didn't have a Leica M8 to hand, it's well reported that the camera produces slight pinkish blacks when photographing in certain lighting conditions, so the filter will prevent those colour issues. Astronomy photographers should find the filter gives more clarity.

The comparision below is a distant scene taken using the Olympus OM-D E-M5 with 9-18mm set at 18mm. Exposure was 1/640sec at f/6.3 and ISO400.

Without filter

With Hoya HMC UV filter

With Hoya UV & IR Cut filter

Here's a closer scene with areas in light and shade using the Olympus OM-D E-M5 with 9-18mm set at 9mm and an exposure of 1/30 sec at f/8 and ISO 200.

Without filter

With Hoya HMC UV filter

With Hoya UV & IR Cut filter

And a scene that includes brickwork and high contrast using the Olympus OM-D E-M5 with 9-18mm set at 9mm and an exposure of 1/30 sec at f/10 and ISO 200.

Without filter

With Hoya HMC UV filter

With Hoya UV & IR Cut filter

It's dificult to see much difference with the above three comparision sets because the camera is already doing a pretty good job of filtering out IR wavelength, so for cameras of this kind there's not a great advantage in paying extra for the IR Block aspect and a normal UV will suit as a lens protector. 

Another use is for owners of cameras that have been converted to infrared. The camera can be partially returned to a black & white recording model by adding the filter as I found out here when trying the filter on a lens fitted to an infrared converted Pentax *ist D.


Above left is a photo taken with the infrared converted *ist D at ISO400 without filter attached - 1/500 sec at f/6.7 and right is with the filter attached - 1/180 sec at f/6.7.

This increases the scope for such cameras, but does also increase the exposure time required by up to three stops, depending on light conditions.

In one into the sun shot I found the filter caused serious flare halo when used with the Pentax infrared camera - result below. The originals have been included with two quickly processed versions. This shape didn't appear on any other photo. The filtered exposure needed  more exposure compensation to compare correctly.

Unprocessed Infrared converted *ist D landscape without filter | 0.5sec | f/8 | 16mm	Unprocessed Infrared converted *ist D landscape with UV & IR Cut filter | 1.5sec | f/8 | 16mm
Prrocessed Infrared converted *ist D landscape without filter | 0.5sec | f/8 | 16mm	Processed Infrared converted *ist D landscape with UV & IR Cut filter | 1.5sec | f/8 | 16mm

Value For Money

The IR Cut aspect makes this filter quite a costly item. A normal Hoya 67mm HMC UV is £18 compared to £145 for this Hoya 67mm UV & IR Cut one. The German brand, B+W, is better value at £113 B+W 67mm MRC UV/IR but the mount is thicker so you may see vignetting on wide angles. 

Hoya UV & IR Cut Filter Verdict

An expensive filter for specialist applications, but you can be sure that with the Hoya brand you're buying one of the best. If astronomy is your subject, or you have a camera / camcorder without an IR filter and want better results, or you want to pull back a full range of tones on your converted infrared camera this filter will deliver and the slim mount won't restrict you when shooting with wider angles.

Hoya UV & IR Cut Filter Pros

Slim mount
Blocking qualities
Good for astronomy
Adds versatility to your infared converted digital camera

Hoya UV & IR Cut Filter Cons

Cost
Hard to see benefits for normal photographic applications

FEATURES
HANDLING
PERFORMANCE
VALUE FOR MONEY
VERDICT