Filter Comparisons & Compatibility – PolarPro

Filters Left to Right: 82mm Everyday, 82mm 135 Series Black Mist, 82mm Chroma VND/PL 2-5, Helix VND/PL 2-5

Cases Left to Right: Clamshell Case, Retro Film Canister, Defender360, Helix Defender

PolarPro filters come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes - even two same-size filters may look different from each other, depending on which series they're part of. For more info about specific filters or series, check out the FAQ section of our website!

Other Useful Resources:

Filter Glass Compatibility

The following table shows which types of filters can be used together. Filter pairings in red will interfere with each other if stacked. Note that the information here relates to the filter glass only - this table does not account for whether the filter frames allow stacking.

Filter Type	UV	CP¹	ND	ND/PL	VND	VND/PL	Mist²	Morphic	Distortion³
UV
CP¹
ND
ND/PL
VND
VND/PL
Mist²
Morphic
Distortion³

Compatible

Not Compatible

¹ Stands for "Circular Polarizer". Includes the 135 Series Chroma PL, Arctic CP, Portra, Goldstache, and Shortstache filters.

² Includes all mist sub-types, like black and gold mist. Only applies to traditional mist filters. For hybrid polarizer-mist filters, refer to (1).

³ Any filter that distorts light to create an effect. Includes warp filters, SHIFT diopters, and CineFlow filters. These filters always need to be in the front of any stack, since the glass shape prevents other filters from being stacked on top.

Filter Series Comparison

Click on the series name to view the product page.

Filter Series	Front Threading	Includes a Cap	Hood Compatibility	Matte Box Compatibility
Arctic CP	No	Yes	Most Stock Hoods	No
Armor UV	Yes	No	Varies¹	Partial²
135 Series	Yes	No	Varies¹	Partial²
Portra	Yes	No	Varies¹	Partial²
QuartzLine	Yes	No	Varies¹	Partial²
Shortstache	Yes	No	Varies¹	Partial²
CineGold	Yes	No	Varies¹	Partial²
CineBlack	Yes	No	Varies¹	Partial²
CineFlow	No	No	No	No
Warp	No	No	Varies¹	No
SHIFT	No	No	No	No
PMVND Edition II	No	Yes	No	No
Chroma VND/PL	No	Yes	No	No
Helix Maglock³	No	Yes	No	No

¹ Hit or miss depending on the lens hood. Some hoods allow enough room inside, and others do not.

² Matte box adapters can be installed in the filter's front threads, or a matte box version of the filter exists.

³ There is a dedicated Helix MagLock version of most of the other filter series.

Threaded vs. Magnetic

A popular question we hear is whether it's better to commit to magnetic filters, or threaded ones. Both are excellent choices! The answer is that it largely comes down to personal preference for each user. The following video goes over the differences between the two systems in more detail:

Most of the filters we make come in both a threaded and a magnetic version, so you're not missing out on flexibility no matter which system you go with. The image quality is also equal between the two setups, so you'll be able to get great shots with either. The threaded filters are more compact and lightweight, while the magnetic filters are much quicker to set up and swap between.

I have existing threaded filters. Can I get an adapter to make them work with the magnetic base plates?

No, the diameter wouldn't be right. Helix filters are 101mm wide, and the base plates are designed to accommodate that width. This design lets the filters be used on a broad range of lenses, essentially as a one-size-fits-all system.

Filter Storage by Series