Features and Handling
Performance
Verdict

The IRIX Edge Light Pollution Filter is designed to improve contrast and colour saturation in low-light city photography, or where street lights and other light pollution can interfere with your photos. We find out if it delivers.

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IRIX Edge Light Pollution Filter Features and Handling

The Irix Edge Light Pollution Filter is the latest, in a range of Irix Edge filters, from Irix, and comes with a protective case.

The Irix Edge Light Pollution Filter is the first of a set of filters produced in the Super Endurance (SE) series, designed to be tougher and stronger than previous filters. The optical glass has been subjected to a thermal treatment to increase rigidity. Both surfaces of the filter have been covered by coatings that further increase the overall strength of the entire filter surface.

Irix say they use the highest quality optical glass. There's a Nano coating, that is repellant to water, dust, and oil for easier cleaning. There's also a Multi-layer anti-reflex coating to minimise ghosting and flare. The frame is made of highly durable aluminium, and has a matte finish, to aid in grip for when you want to attach it to your lens and remove it. 

The filter is available in the following diameters of 67mm, 72mm, 77mm, 82mm, 86mm, and 95mm, with 95mm being the diameter of the filter thread found on the Irix 15mm f/2.4 lens. 

The filter is designed to give a "significant colour improvement" with "Improved overall contrast" - It does this by blocking the wavelength of sodium lamplight, at 589nm. Sodium lamp light gives a yellow light, which can end up showing in city photography, where the light shines into the sky, discolouring clouds. 

Transmittance Edge LPF Vs Sodium Lamp - From Irix.

Here's a graph showing the light transmittance of the Irix Edge Light Pollution Filter, and how much it blocks the wavelengths associated with sodium light (589nm).

The filter screws neatly and smoothly on to the 15mm f/2.4 lens we used, and matches well. There's a slight blue tint to the filter, as you can see above. When held in certain angles, you can see the lights reflecting off the nano-coating on the lens. 

Key Features

• Designed to cut off the sodium lamp spectrum (589nm)
• Low-profile durable aluminium frame
• Double-sided anti-reflective nanocoating
• Screw thread on top
• Hardened water and oil repellent surface
• 4mm thick frame with knurled edges and non-slip matte finish

IRIX Edge Light Pollution Filter Performance

The performance section is where we look at the image quality of the product. Additional sample photos and product shots are available in the Equipment Database, where you can add your own review, photos and product ratings.

We used the Canon EOS 250D, and the IRIX 15mm f/2.4 lens, giving a 24mm wide-angle on the APS-C 250D.

Irix EDGE Light Pollution Filter Sample Photos

The results possible are likely to change depending on how much light pollution is in your area, and in your photography. The recent installation of lights in many cities in the UK are now using bright LED lighting, so may not be as "polluting" as traditional sodium lighting. These images are straight from the camera, with no editing at all.

The first set of photos shows the building, Park Hill flats, without the filter, and then with the filter. Looking at the sky, you'll notice a slight difference in colour, with the yellow tint going from the image. This is quite subtle. However looking at the building, there's much-improved colour saturation, and the whole image has lost the yellow tint. There is no degradation of image quality, with sharpness remaining high. 

The second set of photos showing the green tree and a large, bright, modern light are taken first without the filter, and then with the filter. There's a noticeable difference in the colour of the clouds, with the yellow tint gone. There is some ghosting visible, however, this isn't visible in the first set of photos, so as long as you don't have a large, and bright, light source in your images you should be fine. 

You'll also notice an increase in the shutter time, with a 10-second exposure becoming a 15-second exposure, something to bear in mind when using the filter. 

Value For Money

The Irix Edge Light Pollution Filter is available for €149 / £127 GBP from the Irix on-line store, which makes it quite expensive. The filter starts at €97 / GBP for the 67mm filter. If you're shooting in the scenarios whereby you need this filter, then the price will most likely be reasonable. The other Irix Edge filters are more affordable, with the Irix Edge CIR-PL 95mm filter available for £99, which is actually quite good value for money for a branded filter. The Irix Edge UV 95mm protective filter is available for around £75, which is reasonable value for money, compared to other branded filters.

IRIX Edge Light Pollution Filter Verdict

These filters could be particularly useful if you're a big night photography person, shooting in or around cities. If you shoot astrophotography and are plagued by sodium lighting then this filter will be ideal. The amount of sodium lighting and sodium light pollution will vary from country to country, and place to place, so your needs will vary. The filter is a high-quality item, with a clear improvement in colour reproduction. If your night photography is regularly plagued by light pollution, then this could be the answer you've been waiting for. 

The IRIX Edge Light Pollution Filter performs well and is perfectly suited to the Irix 15mm lens.