Mini test: Polarpro Shift Dioptre Shortstache
Posted on Feb 25, 2026 by Pro Moviemaker
We get up close and personal with the three-dioptre filter set from US brand Polarpro
Words Adam Duckworth
Using screw-in dioptre filters to get closer to your subject is not a new idea, but the funky filter brand Polarpro has made it sexy and relevant again – especially to mirrorless shooters or filmmakers who don’t want to lug a full-size matte box around.
Of course, you can buy super-high dioptre filters from cinema brands that are made for these large matte box attachments and especially suited to making anamorphic cine lenses focus much closer.
But with far more affordable anamorphics available in smaller sizes to suit indie rigs, and the explosion of AF lenses being used with filter threads on the front, there is a need to revisit screw-in dioptre filters.
By teaming up with Shortstache – the online brand of adventure shooter Garrett King – this new set of three filters from Polarpro comes in either threaded sizes or a Polarpro Maglock fitment complete with a trademark green Shortstache case. They are designed so that shots retain the look of your original lens; they offer very little decrease in light transmission, are colour-neutral and combat fringing. And of course, it’s far easier to quickly screw a close-up filter on the front than change lenses mid-shoot, especially for run-and-gun work.
The price varies according to size, but the threaded 82mm set we used is £249/$250. A set to fit the Polarpro Helix Maglock system is £400/$400 and comes with the advantage of a quick-attach bayonet, which many filmmakers who use this system will already have mounted on their lens, possibly with an ND filter.
All sets come with +2, +4 and +8 dioptre filters that go on the front of your lens and reduce its minimum and maximum focus distance. So, you can just fix on a filter for superfast, macro-style shots without changing your lens to get instant close-ups. They have no visible effect on exposure so it’s easy.
They decrease the maximum focus distance to approximately 50cm/19.7in for the +2, 25cm/9.8in for the +4 and 12.5cm/4.9in for the +8, so you can’t leave them on all the time. They also can’t be combined without producing significant vignetting. However, since the larger filters have a very bulbous front glass element, they don’t fit together anyway.
We tried them out on a full-frame Sony A1 with a 24-70mm f/2.8 Sigma lens set at 70mm and its minimum focus distance to shoot details of a watch. The +2 and +4 versions get you in a lot closer than the standard lens for some instant macro style.
The strongest version not only gets you even closer, it also adds a unique look of its own as the depth-of-field can be incredibly shallow.
While the two less powerful dioptres are very good at fending off flares, the +8 has a much larger front surface, so it flares and creates unusual effects at the edge of the frame. Purists may not like it, but it is a more creative option.
For a reasonable amount of cash, you can have a quick-fix kit for instant close-ups without having to change your lens. It is ideal for stills or video work, and the strongest dioptre offers a unique look, for something a little bit more dreamy and unique. So, the Polarpro kit is a valuable addition to your gear bag.
Specifications
- Material: Optical-grade, multi-coated, cinema-series glass in aerospace aluminium rim
- Fitment: Threaded 49, 67,77, 82, 86 and 95mm, Polarpro Helix Maglock fit
- Grades: +2, +4 and +8 dioptre
- Transmission: 94%
- Weight (with case): From 98g/0.22lb threaded, 140g/0.31lb Maglock (depending on filter size)
Pro Moviemaker rating: 9/10
A quick fix to getting instant close-up results in a hurry, and you don’t have to part with a vast amount of cash
- Pros: Fast to use, top quality
- Cons: Cuts maximum focus distance
This review was first published in the March/April 2026 issue of Pro Moviemaker
