Well known in the drone world for its accessories, PolarPro announced a new series of filters called QuartzLine for photography and video applications. Here is a quick preview and unboxing of these filters.
As a member of the team PolarPro, I had the chance to receive a sample of the 77mm filters but PolarPro also offers them in 67mm and 82mm. These are the most common type of lens thread sizes, and they can be adapted easily with step-up rings. As with the drone filters, they come in different flavors such as Neutral Density, Polarizing, and a combination of the two. Here is the complete list of the 67mm, 77mm, and 82mm filters:
- UV
- CP
- ND8
- ND8/PL
- ND16
- ND16/PL
- ND64
- ND64/PL
- ND1000
- ND1000/PL
- ND100k
The ND8 to ND64 filters are ideal for filmmakers who want to respect the 180 shutter angle rule while shooting wide open in order to obtain the shallow depth of field effect. Beyond that, landscape photographers can count on the ND1000 (10 stops) and ND100k (16.6 stops) for long exposure times in bright daylight. The combination of extreme density and polarization in one filter (ND1000/PL) is rare, and I’m curious to try this model.
The QuartzLine filters can be attached on top of each other (stackable)
The ND filters can be used for video applications to reduce the shutter speed.
High density filters such as the ND1000 and ND100k are ideal for long exposure photography in bright daylight.
In terms of build quality, the filters are made of glass. PolarPro claims these filters feature a “99.9-percent pure quartz element featuring a refractive index of 1.46.” Each surface is specially coated to be scratch resistant and hydrophobic (water-repellent). Unlike most filters, the curved brass frame of the QuartzLine is not flat, which aids in easy removal even if you over-screw the filter.
The box includes the filter, a soft case, a hard case, and a microfiber cleaning cloth. The cases are labeled with the filter size and type in order to avoid confusion in the field.
Content of the box.
Quick look at the 77mm filters.
PolarPro also proposes step up adapters to fit the filters on various lens threads.
As for the price, the QuartzLine starts at $120 and goes up all the way to $250 for the largest and most complex models. They will be available on the May 15th.
Without discussing color shift, there's not much to recommend them.
The ridged frames look strikingly similar to Breakthrough Photography's products.