Last updated on December 4th, 2023
If you’re a photographer, you know that having a good polarizer filter is key to getting great shots. With just one filter, you can improve your photos in various ways. You’ll be able to reduce reflections, bring out more colors and details in skies and water, and much more. So if you’re looking to take your photography skills up a notch, check out our list of the ten best polarizer filters today.
Overall Best Polarizer Filter
PolarPro QuartzLine CPL
The PolarPro QuartzLine Circular Polarizer Filter is one of the best polarizer filters because it can reduce glare and reflections while enhancing color saturation. This filter also has an anti-reflective coating that helps to improve light transmission, which ultimately results in better image quality. Additionally, the quartz glass construction of this filter ensures superior optical clarity and color fidelity.
There are a few reasons why the PolarPro QuartzLine Circular Polarizer Filter is one of the best polarizer filters on the market:
- Its material is high-quality glass that ensures sharp images and accurate colors.
- It has a slim design that makes it easy to use and store.
- It is affordable without sacrificing quality.
- It comes with a lifetime warranty which guarantees you will be satisfied with your purchase.
What We Like/Dislike About the PolarPro QuartzLine CPL
Like:
- Great Build Quality
- Brass Ring
- Amazing Colors
Dislike:
- Expensive
What Consumers Are Saying
“Excellent build, excellent color reproduction, and cuts reflections wonderfully!”
“The best CPL filter I’ve ever used. The colors are so much richer, and the skies are so much bluer.”
“I have used many different brands of polarizing filters over the years, but this is by far the best one I have ever used.”
Best Budget Polarizer Filter
Tiffen Circular Polarizer Filter
The Tiffen circular polarizing filter does a decent job of reducing reflections and saturating skies. You’ll notice a slight vignette; if this bothers you, you should be able to crop it out reasonably quickly. Unfortunately, your image quality will take a hit–sharpness and contrast drop with this Tiffen on your lens.
Like competitors in its price range, the Tiffen frame material is aluminum, not brass. This means you want to be careful not to give it too much of a beating. And the filter itself is pretty thin. For some users, this might not be a problem. But others may struggle to twist the glass or get the filter off the lens.
What We Like/Dislike About the Tiffen Circular Polarizer Filter
Like:
- Inexpensive
- Reduces Glare
- Saturates Skies
Dislike:
- Image Quality Suffers
What Consumers Are Saying
“For the price, this is an excellent filter.”
“If you’re on a budget and need a good polarizer, this is the one to get.”
“A good inexpensive filter. There are better polarizers, but they also cost significantly more.”
Runner Up Polarizer Filter
B+W Circular Polarizer Filter
The B+W Circular Polarizer Filter is one of the best filters on the market. It helps to reduce reflections and glare, creating an incredible polarizing effect while increasing color saturation. This filter is perfect for landscape photographers, as it helps to improve the overall look of photos taken in natural settings.
This camera filter can also help improve the final image’s clarity and color saturation. One of the main benefits of using a circular polarizer filter is that it can help to reduce reflections and glare from non-metallic surfaces, such as water or glass. This can be helpful in situations where glare would otherwise cause problems with capturing an image. The filter can also help increase contrast and vibrancy in images.
What We Like/Dislike About the B+W Circular Polarizer Filter
Like:
- Great build quality
- Great color and contrast enhancer
- easy to use
Dislike:
- Hard to remove
- Rotating the polarization ring is overly stiff to engage
- Interferes with some lens hoods
What Consumers Are Saying
“Takes away glare like a charm.”
“I used this filter for the first time yesterday, and I’m already in love with it!”
“The best polarizing filter I’ve used.”
Honorable Mentions
Nikon Circular Polarizer II Filter
When it comes to filters, the Nikon Circular Polarizer is one of the best. This filter helps to reduce reflections and glare while also improving color saturation. It’s perfect for landscape photographers who want to capture the most vivid colors possible. Additionally, the Nikon Circular Polarizer helps to improve contrast and clarity from polarized light.
This top-quality polarizing filter is perfect for professional photographers. The colors are stellar, and the image quality is high, thanks to the multi-coated glass. You can easily rotate the front filter element to change the amount of polarization, making it easy to eliminate reflections or bring them back. This filter is perfect for Nikon lenses, but you can also use it with non-Nikon lenses.
What We Like/Dislike About the Nikon Circular Polarizer II Filter
Like:
- Very color neutral
- Cleans easily
- Wide gripping area
- Good Quality
Dislike:
- Have to use a Nikon hood
What Consumers Are Saying
“Excellent, top quality filter! I have used Nikon polarizers for years, even the old chunky ones.”
“I bought this with my Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 lens, and it works great. The colors are much more saturated, and the contrast is improved.”
“I’ve been using this filter for a few months now and am very happy with it. It’s well built and does a great job.”
Urth Circular Polarizing Filter
The Urth Circular Polarizing filter is a great way to improve the quality of your photos. Reducing glare and reflections helps you capture stunning images with more excellent color saturation and clarity. This filter is also perfect for removing haze from outdoor shots, making it one of the best polarizer filters on the market.
Urth, formerly Globe, is an environmentally conscious company using recycled packaging. Their polarizing filters come in the standard (premium) or the Plus+ (professional) model. Globe’s rebranding created a price increase that upset some customers. Still, the professional filter has high-level features with a lower price tag than other filters on this list.
The Plus+ filter is German Schott glass with 16 layers of nanocoating. The anti-reflection, true-color coatings remove lens flare and glare. The coatings also protect the filter from scratches and dirt. Light transmission is on par with the higher-priced filters. The slim casing reduces vignetting and is made from an aluminum alloy.
What We Like/Dislike About the Urth Circular Polarizing Filter
Like:
- Strong Colors
- High Contrast
- Eco friendly
- Intuitive interface
Dislike:
- It can be challenging to unscrew
What Consumers Are Saying
“The filter is of strong construction and is what I expect from a professional quality CPL filter at a mid-range price.”
“The best thing I can say about Urth is that their customer service is excellent.”
“I would recommend this product to anyone in the market for a CPL filter.”
Hoya NXT Plus Circular Polarizer
The Hoya NXT Plus is an excellent option if you’re looking for a great circular polarizer filter. It’s one of the best filters on the market and can help improve your photos drastically. Its thin profile makes it easy to use and won’t take up too much space in your bag.
The Hoya NXT Plus Circular Polarizer is a valuable addition to any photographer’s toolkit, as it helps to reduce glare and reflections while enhancing saturation and contrast. This filter is designed to fit a wide range of lenses. The low-profile aluminum frame makes it unobtrusive, even when used with large telephoto lenses. Additionally, the NXT Plus Circular Polarizer features ten layers of HMC multi-coatings, which help to ensure maximum image clarity and color fidelity.
What We Like/Dislike About the Hoya NXT Plus Circular Polarizer
Like:
- Reduces glare and reflections
- Enhances saturation and contrast
- Low-profile aluminum frame
- Ten layers of HMC multi-coatings
Dislike:
- None
What Consumers Are Saying
“Just love the polarizing shades of blue and the Clare reduction on windows and car shine.”
“Best filter I’ve ever used.”
“Makes such a difference in my photos.”
Kase Wolverine CPL
The KASE Wolverine CPL Filter is one of the best available on the market. It’s made with a hard, easy-clean top coat and tempered optical glass that makes it shockproof. The filter also helps to reduce reflections and glare, making your photos look much better.
The Kase Wolverine CPL filter is an excellent addition to your camera kit. It features a magnetic adapter that makes it quick and easy to swap filters. The filter rotates for different effects. The filter is also water, oil, dust, fingerprint, and scratch resistant, making it an excellent option for any shooting situation. Additionally, it is incredibly lightweight, weighing just over 1.5oz, which makes it easy to take with you wherever you go.
What We Like/Dislike About the Kase Wolverine CPL
Like:
- The magnetic adapter is quick and easy to swap filters
- Great build quality
- Optically crystal clear
Dislike:
- Need magnetic system
- Can’t stack filters
What Consumers Are Saying
“the CPL is one of the best I have ever used.”
“This thing is amazing. I have used it in so many different situations.”
“I highly recommend this filter to anyone.”
K&F Concept Nano-X Series Circular Polarizers Filter
The K&F Concept Nano-X Series Circular Polarizers Filter is a great way to improve color saturation and contrast in your images. You’ll get deep, dramatic blue skies and more vibrant colors by removing the glare from reflective surfaces. This filter is also great for removing haze from landscapes, making them look more precise and pristine. Suppose you’re looking for a way to improve your images. In that case, the K&F Concept Nano-X Series Circular Polarizers Filter is a great option!
The K&F Concept Polarizers Filter has a multi-layer of (MRC) helping to repel water, dust, oil, and scratches while also preventing ghosting. The ultra-thin filter frames are designed to help avoid vignetting on super wide-angle lenses and also hold a lens cap. These filters are equipped with multi-layer nanometer coatings glass to reduce the chance of light reflecting off the edge. These filters have a straight knurling edge for non-slip, easy attachment and removal.
What We Like/Dislike About the Nano-X Series Circular Polarizers Filter
Like:
- Well built
- Light and strong
- Scratch resistant
- Prevents ghosting
Dislike:
- The lens cap tends to pop off
What Consumers Are Saying
“Polarizer fits well and effectively neutralizes glare as it should.”
“I’m very impressed with the quality of this filter.”
“It’s a great filter and does exactly what it’s supposed to do.”
NEEWER Polarizer Filter
A polarizing filter is a must-have if you want to take your photography to the next level. NEEWER’s multi-resistant coated CPL filter blocks ultraviolet rays and reduces flare and ghosting while ensuring accurate color rendition. With 30 layers of polarizing film on both sides of the filter, this high-definition filter is perfect for enhancing your photos.
The NEEWER Polarizer Filter is an excellent accessory for anyone who enjoys photography. This filter helps reduce reflections and glare, which can often be a problem when taking pictures outdoors in bright sunlight. The filter also helps improve color saturation, making pictures look more vibrant and lifelike. Overall, the NEEWER Polarizer Filter is a great way to improve your photography skills, and it’s a small investment that can make a big difference.
What We Like/Dislike About the NEEWER Polarizer Filter
Like:
- Rotation motion is smooth
- Lightweight
- Great contrast
Dislike:
- Not as good as others on this list
What Consumers Are Saying
“This polarizer is good enough to throw on a lens. It’s not competing with high-end filters.”
“Great for beginners that don’t want to invest $100 for a CPL.”
“Great quality at a great price.”
AmazonBasics Circular Polarizer filter
If you’re looking for an excellent filter to improve your photography, an AmazonBasics Circular Polarizer filter is a great option. This filter helps reduce reflections and glare while enhancing colors and saturation. It’s perfect for shooting landscapes, nature scenes, and architecture.
It features seven layers of anti-reflective coating and a waterproof coating to protect it from the elements. The filter also has a PVA polarizer to help ensure accurate colors. Unlike many other filters on this list, this one is made of plastic.
What We Like/Dislike About the AmazonBasics Circular Polarizer filter
Like:
- Makes clouds pop
- significantly reduces light reflections
Dislike:
- some degradation at the corners
- Feels cheap
What Consumers Are Saying
“This little guy helps get great HDR photos out in the sunlight.”
“I’m not a pro, but this has helped me take some great photos on my trips.”
“I was shocked at how well this worked. I highly recommend it.”
Conclusion
A polarizing filter is a great place to start if you’re a photographer looking for ways to improve your shots. We’ve listed the ten best polarizer filters on the market, so you can find one that fits your needs and budget. These filters offer features that help reduce reflections and glare while enhancing colors and saturation. So if you’re ready to take your photography skills to the next level, check out one of these polarizing filters.
FAQ
Can I use a polarizer filter at night?
No, you should only use polarizer filters during the daytime.
Do I need a unique lens for a polarizing filter?
No, you can use a polarizing filter with any lens. However, wide-angle lenses will provide the best results.
How do I know if a polarizer filter is working?
If you see more saturated and vibrant colors, the filter is working correctly.
What’s the best way to clean a polarizing filter?
You can use a soft cloth or brush to gently remove any dirt or fingerprints from the surface of the filter. Never use harsh chemicals or abrasives, as this could damage the coating on the filter.
