Haida PROII CPL-VND 3-7 Stops Review

The Haida PROII CPL-VND 3-7 Stops is a variable ND and Circular polariser in one. That’s no mean feat, as most VNDs are two polarisers that rotate together to create the stop-down effect.

Here, however, the Haida PROII CPL-VND 3-7 Stops not only utilizes the two polarisers in the usual fashion, rotate, to adjust the amount of light able to pass through the filter but when you rotate the entire filter you get a standard polarising effect.

.As with any good VND, there are end stops on that rotation, this just helps avoid pushing the effect too far and causing cross polarisation. While most VNDs enable you to rotate the front element, the Haida PROII CPL-VND 3-7 Stops works slightly differently.

When it comes to the adjustment of the VND, you’ll see that there’s a pin that sticks out through a slit in the red outer ring; this pin is rotated to adjust the effect of the VND rather than rotating the entire element, as that adjust the polariser.

This action of rotation is relatively smooth, and a nice feature here is that the Exposure STOP numbers can be seen as you look through the slit. This graphical depiction of exposure reduction is handy if you need to work out exposure times manually. When it comes to the polarising effect this is adjusted by rotating the front red ring, and works the same way as other CPLs.

Arriving in a solid plastic protective case, the Haida PROII CPL-VND 3-7 Stops is well protected.

Attaching to a Sony 35mm f/1.4, the filter thread is accurate with a smooth fit to the barrel of the lens.

In use adjusting, the effect of the filter takes a two-step approach; with the VND being adjusted first, by using the pin on the side to adjust the exposure reduction effect, and then the entire filter being rotated to adjust the polarisation.

A feature that I like here is the ability to see the stop reduction value marked on the ring, the numbers are small, but they act as a good guide to what you can expect as the filter is adjusted. Reading the adjustment amount comes in handy at the denser end of the scale. This is because the adjustment between 6 and 7 stops is only a few degrees compared with the larger adjustment angle required when using the lesser densities.

Once the VND has been adjusted, it’s possible to adjust the polariser by rotating the entire filter with the red ring. Here it’s a good idea to make sure that you adjust the exposure settings on your camera so that you can see what’s going on.

In use, the filter works well, it is just a combination of a VND and CPL conveniently stacked together in a compact and highly transportable form.

After the shoot and back home, checking through the images and it’s instantly apparent that the quality of the optics is excellent. The images are clear and crisp, and the exposure extension’s effect works well with no signs of colour fringing introduced by the filter.

Looking over the image, there are also no signs of a vignette, and although there is a small amount of warmth to the colour cast, this is quite standard for this type of filter.

Overall the detail and tonal content of the images are excellent. When it comes to the polarizing effect, it can be a little challenging to see the impact of the CPL through the viewfinder if the VND is set to the maximum density, but adjusting the Sony A7 III monitor to show a good exposure, rather than a preview of the exposure, enabled easier adjustment and ultimately the positioning of the polariser.

The polariser had the desired effect of helping reduce reflections in water and boost cloud detail; while the effect is apparent, it is well balanced.

As an all-in-one filter, the Haida PROII CPL-VND 3-7 Stops works incredibly well. Having the two filters in one is certainly a lot more convenient than carrying around two or taking a full filter system.

Hadia has worked out a good balance between the filter and the design. The pin and outer ring enable an easy two-step process to get the effect that you want for your images. It’s just really nicely designed.

When it comes to the impact of the filter, it certainly has the desired effect, with the VND in the first step helping to extend exposures and enabling you to capture smooth water and fluffy clouds. At the same time, the polariser adds that dynamic impact, detail and contrast that you want.

What this filter manages to do in one step is to give your images a very defined style, and that’s something that any good filter should do. It enhances the scene and makes it better than life.
If you shoot landscapes and want a simple-to-use filter that will make a big difference to your photography, then I highly recommend the Haida PROII CPL-VND 3-7 Stops.