Hoya HMC UV(0) 77 mm Filter Review

Do you have an SLR camera with a 77 mm lens? 

If you do, you should get the 77 mm UV filter from Hoya.  It's advertised for its haze reducing capabilities, but the real reason to get a UV filter is to protect your expensive lens from scratches and dirt.

That's why I got this filter.  Sure, it does help reduce haze, but I just had purchased a new lens for my camera and I wanted to make sure it was as protected as much as it could be.

This filter is pretty easy to use.  It's threaded for a 77 mm lens and all you have to do is screw it on to the front of the lens.  It also has threads on its front side, so you can screw another filter on top of this one (say you wanted to add a polarizer).  The filter isn't heavy, is very thin and you won't notice any change to your camera weight or bulk when you add it.

By putting the Hoya UV Filter on your camera, you do two things.  First you protect your lens.  The UV filter acts as a first line of defense.  If something scratches the filter, it hasn't scratched your lens.  A filter is a lot cheaper to replace than an entire lens.  The second thing that the UV filter does is to provide some amount of haze reduction in your photos.  This doesn't mean it'll make a clear photo out of a really hazy day, but it will provide slightly crisper photos in a hazy environment.  Just don't go expecting miracles.

Really, this filter is more about protecting your lens than providing any real amount of haze reduction.

My Thoughts

While it's hard to say that you should get this filter for haze reduction, it is easy to say that you should have it to protect your camera lens.  I've been happy with my 77 mm UV filter from Hoya.  It's done what I wanted it to do and that's protect my lens.