Review on 🔍 Hoya 77mm NXT Plus UV HMC Multi-Coated Slim Frame Glass Filter: Enhancing Clarity and Protection by Erik Haynes

I'm so tired of sorting through conflicting reviews of things and choosing a new circular polarizer for my new Sony rx10 Mark 4 was starting to get frustrating . Ultimately, I decided on this device, mainly because of its flat design and the threads on both sides. It actually fits a Sony lens while still allowing you to attach a factory lens hood and lens cap. And yes, if you're careful with your finger, you can reach up to the lens hood and press the handy tabs on the leading edge of this polarizer to rotate it without leaving fingerprints on the filter. Yes, you have to be careful, but it works well. I've been a photographer for a long time, since the early 80's, and have used many cameras with different polarizers. I dropped the "warming" polarizer because now with digital photography, all color adjustments can be made in software after the fact. The polarization effect is nice and quite noticeable, and I don't notice a lot of extra flare artifacts. Layering seems to do the trick. The Sony rx10 Mark 4 has no vignetting at the maximum zoom of the lens. Finally, there are enough threads on the front of this filter to securely attach the factory lens cap. I don't use it with a UV filter. I think it's unnecessary. I use a polarizer right on the front of the lens if needed. Let me share a few secrets to make this polarizer more useful: 1) Definitely don't screw it too tight on the lens or it will jam. You will see that this happens again and again to people with spin-on filters. It's easy, just twist it slightly until it stops spinning. Don't tighten! After that don't worry. Thanks to the nice groove on the outer diameter, it is always easy to remove. 2) After removing the filter from the chamber, locate the white triangle on the OD. Using a small file, file off a tiny area of the black coating on the face of the rotating polarizer near the index mark (see photo). Tip: The index mark is a place where you know which direction the effect of the polarizer is pointing. You usually align these with the position of the sun to darken the sky when you look at the sun at a 90° angle. Or you can set the index point to the top center to block reflections from horizontal objects like water. Or you can just rotate it and look through the viewfinder until you get the effect you want for leaves, clouds or other compositions. The trick is to see the index mark face-on while still using the lens hood, which prevents you from properly gripping the outside of the rotating part of the filter. The teeth visible in the photo on the front of this filter allow you to rotate it from the front with your fingertip, and with a shiny new index mark visible from the front, you're all set without having to remove the lens hood to make adjustments . Super comfortable!