Subscribe here for an ad-free experience!

The Phoblographer may receive affiliate compensation for products purchased using links in this article. For more information, please visit our Disclaimers page.

Photography Accessories

PolarPro’s Center-Split Filter Brings a New Perspective to Getting it In-Camera

Alberto Lima
No Comments
Last updated on 11/17/2025
11/20/2025
7 Mins read
Close-up of a camera lens with a gold filter, surrounded by blurred autumn leaves.
Spread the love
    11     
11
Shares

There’s something about tools that can help you get the image you’ve envisioned in your mind right, and without having to spend hours editing it. PolarPro recently released a Center-Split filter that works similarly to a split diopter filter – creating unique bokeh effects while keeping the center of your frame sharp. If you’re looking for tools to help expand your creative potential, let’s take a minute to familiarize ourselves with the PolarPro Center-Split Filter.

The Big Picture: Split the Frame and Your Time Between Editing and Your Next Shoot

Shooting with the PolarPro Center-Split Filter has been equal parts enjoyable and frustrating, depending on the lens used. In hindsight, I should’ve reviewed the 77mm filter, as it would’ve allowed me to use it with better lenses than those available to me that could fit or adapt to a 67mm filter. Still, it’s extremely simple to slap onto your lens and get right to work. In our testing, the Center-Split Filter stayed in position reliably and required an intentional twist to change the angle of the final effect. While typically intended for portraits, I found it a joy to use for street photography. The PolarPro Center-Split filter is not the cheapest option by far, but I enjoyed the quality of the construction of the filter and that adds a certain level of confidence that I won’t be replacing it anytime soon.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

We’re giving the PolarPro Center-Split Filter three out of five stars. Want to try one for yourself? Check it out on xxx with pricing starting at $79.

  • Pro: Solid construction, with an all-metal frame and high-quality glass.
  • Pro: Facilitates creativity across all photo genres.
  • Pro: Compatible with the Helix Lock system if you’re already within the PolarPro system.
  • Con: Pricey compared to the competition.
  • Con: One-trick pony, no matter how cool the trick is.

Experience

Close-up of a camera lens with water droplets and a red circular logo in the bottom right corner.
The PolarPro Center-Split Lens Filter has a beautiful finish and strong frame that feels premium over other filters.

Working with lens filters is a pretty straightforward affair; screw it on and get ready to shoot. That being said, there are some notes about the PolarPro Circular-Split Lens filter that really stood out to me. For starters, the Center-Split filter features an attractive bronze-colored control element. It’s a very eye-catching design, and while it won’t make your photos better, it does add a little flair to the otherwise plain look of similar lens filters. The grooves on the control ring are adequately sized, and I can even see this being easy to use with thinner gloves in the winter. That said, thick gloves or mitts will likely need to be removed to work with this lens filter accurately.

A split diopter lens filter on a green cutting mat next to a black lens pouch and camera lens.
The PolarPro Center-Split Lens filter includes a nice carrying pouch.

Another thing to note is that you will most likely end up not being able to use the camera’s lens cap and in some instances your lens hood. A good example of this was when I used the Center-Split Lens Filter with my Tamron 17-80mm F2.8 for Fujifilm. I didn’t expect to be able to use my lens cap with the filter on, but I didn’t expect the lens hood to no longer fit over the combination of the filter and the lens. This gave me a newfound appreciation for the little window in the Nikon Z 24-70mm F2.8 S II’s hood – hopefully an innovation that other lens manufacturers will consider.

For day-to-day use, PolarPro recommends using the filter with lenses of focal lengths 35mm and above, and apertures of 2.8 and above. Having tested the filter on various lenses, including a LUMIX S 35mm F2.8, Viltrox 85mm F2 EVO, the Canon 16-28 F2.8 IS STM, and the Tamron 17-80mm F2.8 Di III-A VC RXD, I’m inclined to agree with the recommendation and go one step further – try to use this on a lens with maximum aperture of 1.8 and larger.

Image Quality

A tree-lined city street with parked cars on both sides and autumn leaves scattered on the ground.
Sample image taken with the Polar Pro Center-Split filter on the Canon EOS R8 and RF 16-28mm F2.8 at 24mm. The PolarPro Center-Split Lens filter can be used with wider focal length lenses but it will be more pronounced above 35mm.

As mentioned earlier in this review, this lens aims to provide a unique perspective on otherwise “boring” subject matter. The beauty of this lens filter is that it will create a dual blur around an otherwise sharp subject. For photographers, this can help you create unique ways of telling stories or simply create a different mood in your images. I found that the PolarPro Center-Split lens filter helped me amplify the environment during a soggy parade or create images that highlighted a subject within a composition where it might not have otherwise stood out.

A smiling woman in a crown and sash waves during a parade; people with umbrellas watch behind a barrier.
A sample image taken with the Viltrox 85mm F2 EVO with the Polar Pro Center Split lens filter.

The shot above from the Panamanian Heritage Day Parade is a great example. While it was a gloomy day which allowed some of the costumes’ colors to pop, the Center-Split lens added an additional layer of character to what would’ve been just another parade photo.

Person with long hair in a blue shirt standing in bright light, eyes closed, with a red logo in the corner.
Shooting with the PolarPro Center-Split Filter can help you create dreamy images like the one above.

In portraiture, you can create dreamy images with a simple flash and the Center-split Filter. The image above was made by bouncing some off-camera flash straight up to a white ceiling and shooting at f2.8. While my teenage nephew was uninterested in sitting with me for this, he was very pleased with the final image, which he referred to as “an album cover” photo.  

Below are some additional edited images taken with the PolarPro Center-Split filter:

A hand cuts a chocolate cake with strawberries and birthday icing on a decorated table.
Edited sample image taken with the PolarPro Center-Split Filter.
A person cuts a chocolate cake topped with strawberries and icing on a decorated table.
Edited sample image taken with the PolarPro Center-Split Filter.
Person in a white shirt holding a small brown dog indoors, partially obscured by a reflection.
Edited sample image taken with the PolarPro Center-Split Filter.
A person sitting indoors gently holds a small dog in their arms, both looking off into the distance.
Edited sample image taken with the PolarPro Center-Split Filter.
A foldable smartphone with dual cameras rests on its partially opened box, showing a charging cable inside.
Edited sample image taken with the PolarPro Center-Split Filter.
A Google Pixel phone rests on its box with a charging cable, on a wooden surface.
Edited sample image taken with the PolarPro Center-Split Filter.
A brick building with “NO PARKING” spray-painted on a garage door, bikes behind a fence, and a parked car.
Edited sample image taken with the PolarPro Center-Split Filter.
A single bike is parked at a bike-sharing station on a city sidewalk in front of a closed storefront.
Edited sample image taken with the PolarPro Center-Split Filter.

Below are some unedited photos also taken with the PolarPro Center Split Lens Filter:

A city street lined with parked cars and autumn trees, viewed from the middle of the road.
An unedited sample image taken with the PolarPro Center-Split Filter.
A tree-lined city street with parked cars on both sides and an arrow painted on the road.
An unedited sample image taken with the PolarPro Center-Split Filter.
A tree-lined city street with parked cars on both sides and a white arrow painted on the road.
An unedited sample image taken with the PolarPro Center-Split Filter.
A city street lined with parked cars and autumn trees, viewed from ground level with a white arrow on the asphalt.
An unedited sample image taken with the PolarPro Center-Split Filter.
A city street lined with parked cars and autumn trees, with a white arrow painted on the road.
An unedited sample image taken with the PolarPro Center-Split Filter.
An orange marigold flower in focus with blurred green leaves and a pathway in the background.
An unedited sample image taken with the PolarPro Center-Split Filter.
A tall tree with yellow leaves stands near buildings on a cloudy day.
An unedited sample image taken with the PolarPro Center-Split Filter.
Person in a vibrant costume and spiked mask walks in a street parade, holding a rattle, with blurred onlookers.
An unedited sample image taken with the PolarPro Center-Split Filter.
Runners in a race move along a sunlit street, with blurred spectators and sunlight in the background.
An unedited sample image taken with the PolarPro Center-Split Filter.
People gather and socialize on brownstone stoops along a city street on a hazy day.
An unedited sample image taken with the PolarPro Center-Split Filter.
A blurred image of marathon runners, with one runner in focus wearing a cap and orange shirt.
An unedited sample image taken with the PolarPro Center-Split Filter.
A copy of George Orwells 1984 is displayed on a shelf next to other books in a softly lit room.
An unedited sample image taken with the PolarPro Center-Split Filter.
A smiling woman in a crown and sash waves in a parade, with people and umbrellas in the background.
An unedited sample image taken with the PolarPro Center-Split Filter.
People in colorful traditional clothing walk in a parade on a rainy street, some holding flags and banners.
An unedited sample image taken with the PolarPro Center-Split Filter.
People in colorful traditional clothing march in a parade on a rainy city street, carrying banners and flags.
An unedited sample image taken with the PolarPro Center-Split Filter.
Person in an orange demon mask and costume with wings, holding a drum, at an outdoor parade or festival.
An unedited sample image taken with the PolarPro Center-Split Filter.

Will This Improve Your Photography?

Close-up of a Sony Alpha camera with a lens mounted, set up on a tripod outdoors.
The PolarPro Center-Split Lens Filter with a step-down ring for use with the Viltrox 85mm EVO for E-Mount.

At the end of the day, we’re always looking for tools that can help us speed up our workflows or help us achieve a specific look. I’m a big proponent of getting it done in-camera – sitting around editing isn’t my cup of tea. For those of you who are like me, you’ll appreciate the PolarPro Center-Split Filter and how it will help you push your creativity without having to relearn Photoshop.

Key Features via PolarPro.com

  • Split-Field Effect – Keeps the subject sharp in the middle while diffusing above and below.
  • Creative Edge – Adds a dreamlike, music-video style look you can’t replicate in post.
  • Cinema Series Glass – Premium build with anti-scratch and anti-reflective coatings.
  • Field Ready – Rugged housing, reliable mount, compact size.
  • Specialty Tool – A unique filter for stand-out creative sequences.

Declaration of Journalistic Intent

The Phoblographer is one of the last standing dedicated photography publications that speaks to both art and tech in our articles. We put declarations up front in our reviews to adhere to journalistic standards that several publications abide by. These help you understand a lot more about what we do:

  • At the time of publishing this review, PolarPro ISN’T running direct-sold advertising with the Phoblographer. This doesn’t affect our reviews anyway and it never has in our 15 years of publishing our articles. This article is in no way sponsored.
  • Note that this isn’t necessarily our final review of the unit. It will be updated, and it’s more of an in-progress review than anything. In fact, almost all our reviews are like this.
  • None of the reviews on the Phoblographer are sponsored. That’s against FTC laws and we adhere to them just the same way that newspapers, magazines, and corporate publications do.
  • POLARPRO sent us the unit and accessories to the Phoblographer for keeps. There was no money exchange between us or their 3rd party partners and the Phoblographer for this to happen. Manufacturers trust the Phoblographer’s reviews, as they are incredibly blunt.
  • POLARPRO knows that it cannot influence the site’s reviews. If we don’t like something or if we have issues with it, we’ll let our readers know.
  • The Phoblographer’s standards for reviewing products have become much stricter. After having the world’s largest database of real-world lens reviews, we choose not to review anything we don’t find innovative or unique, and in many cases, products that lack weather resistance. Unless something is very unique, we probably won’t touch it.
  • In recent years, brands have withheld NDA information from us or stopped working with us because they feel they cannot control our coverage. These days, many brands will not give products to the press unless they get favorable coverage. In other situations, we’ve stopped working with several brands for ethical issues. Either way, we report as honestly and rawly as humanity allows.
  • At the time of publishing, the Phoblographer is the only photography publication that is a member of Adobe’s Content Authenticity Initiative. We champion human-made art and are frank with our audience. We are also the only photography publication that labels when an image is edited or not.

More can be found on our Disclaimers page.

Reader Rating0 Votes
0
'
0