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Best ND Filter Set In 2018

A

Alex Weinberg

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For screw in filters what would you guys recommend?

1. Tiffen NATural Full Spectrum Neutral Density 1-7 stop set.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPFHpu0bD7w

2. SLR Magic Circular Fixed ND Filters 1-10 stop set.
https://www.newsshooter.com/2017/10/26/slr-magic-circular-nd-filters/
https://vimeo.com/238741439

3. PolarPro Quartzline only 3, 4 and 6 stop filter.
https://www.cinema5d.com/polarpro-quartzline-filter-review-gold-standard/

4. Breakthrough Photgraphy X4 ND only 3 and 6 stop filter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7bKaAG5SNo

I care about color neutrality and no apparent image degradation.
Some of the ones above are not full sets as they are more targeted to still shooters.
 
You check out Formatt-Hitech firecrest NDs? Just bought some, no noticeable color shifts, best i’ve seen so far.
 
I heard some bad things/read some bad reviews about formatt-Hitech firecrest NDs a year or two ago and stayed away.

For variable ND I hear the SLR Magic 82mm ND 0.4 to 1.8 Filter is the best variable ND on the market right now.

Besides for the review I posted in my top comment there is not too much info/reviews about SLR magic's fixed ND set.
 
Hi Phil,

Would you consider the Tokina filters color neutral (I hate any color cast with a passion)?

Did not know Tokina even made high end ND filters.
 
Alex Weinberg said:
Hi Phil,

Would you consider the Tokina filters color neutral (I hate any color cast with a passion)?

Did not know Tokina even made high end ND filters.
Click to expand...

I only use neutral filters.
 
Patrick Tresch said:
Why IR ND and not ND?

Pat
Click to expand...

Evils of the past haunting present day.

Remember when all this IRND stuff started that the "og" filters we not actually IR cutting, blocking, or even absorption tech but rather just green tlnted bastards. This effected RED and Arri shooters back when MX was the main sensor and well Alev III was closer to their OG spec.

These modern metallic and nano-tech coatings do protect against IR in a more desirable way, but the industry never figured out a proper way to differentiate between those older IRND tinted filters and modern things like Rhodiums, Nisi, Firecrests, Tokinas, Mitomo, etc.....

So here we are because nobody could name them right :)

Which is yet another reason why I literally test everything, especially when it comes to bloody NDs.
 
OK

I've kept away from IR ND's since Dragon because of the green tint. Now this is interesting, next time I'll have to buy ND's I'll look at them.
I'm now playing with the Kippertie Revolva wich don't cut IR. Wich is good because I also do some IR shooting.

Thanks for the info Phil.

Pat
 
Alex Weinberg said:
I heard some bad things/read some bad reviews about formatt-Hitech firecrest NDs a year or two ago and stayed away.

For variable ND I hear the SLR Magic 82mm ND 0.4 to 1.8 Filter is the best variable ND on the market right now.

Besides for the review I posted in my top comment there is not too much info/reviews about SLR magic's fixed ND set.
Click to expand...


In addition to hearing and reading reviews, something like this must be seen. I highly recommend the many test people have conducted so far.

The IRND /ND are the best i’ve come across. The blacks look black.
 
Last edited:
Phil Holland said:
Which is yet another reason why I literally test everything, especially when it comes to bloody NDs.
Click to expand...

Hey Phil, have you had a chance to test and eval the Kemp Tie Revolva ND's? Interested in them but am hesitant until someone credible publishes results using Gemini and Otus for my purposes.
 
Zeb B said:
Hey Phil, have you had a chance to test and eval the Kemp Tie Revolva ND's? Interested in them but am hesitant until someone credible publishes results using Gemini and Otus for my purposes.
Click to expand...

I'll have to get one in to test out, but John's a bright guy. I don't think he's put something weird in there.
 
Phil Holland said:
I'll have to get one in to test out, but John's a bright guy. I don't think he's put something weird in there.
Click to expand...

No question that John is a smart guy. But then isn't everyone in this biz? ;-)

I agree with your that, for whatever reason, ND's in particular must be tested to really know how they intereact with all the components and color science of intended use. Since they are a real rare beast in the wild at this point, does anyone rent the KT unit? Would love to spend a couple days with one to see how it compares to the stack of ND's I have on the studio shelf

Has anyone you trust done and published a test on the Revolva? Curious how quite it is on this product . . . I mean DJI released their new drone a couple days ago and there are already raw files to be downloaded and studied. Why the KT mystery or am I just missing something already posted?

-Inquiring Mind
 
Zeb B said:
No question that John is a smart guy. But then isn't everyone in this biz? ;-)

I agree with your that, for whatever reason, ND's in particular must be tested to really know how they intereact with all the components and color science of intended use. Since they are a real rare beast in the wild at this point, does anyone rent the KT unit? Would love to spend a couple days with one to see how it compares to the stack of ND's I have on the studio shelf

Has anyone you trust done and published a test on the Revolva? Curious how quite it is on this product . . . I mean DJI released their new drone a couple days ago and there are already raw files to be downloaded and studied. Why the KT mystery or am I just missing something already posted?

-Inquiring Mind
Click to expand...

I trust no one :)

But yeah, I'll see if anybody has one in LA and add it to my next ND test. Got two new sets of "things" coming in to test anyways. In for a penny, in for a pound.
 
I have Kippertie Revolva and my quick and simple test was to white balance with "clear" and look for changes in WB and/or green/magenta with varying amounts of ND using both filter cartridges. Answer is negligible change, they are great. This is with Helium and the usual suspects for lighting. On the other hand, I found some significant changes between lenses of the same brand that were supposed to be color matched, but that is a different story.
 
I dind't do a throughout test with charts in controlled light, just a quick one from my window.
I was looking for loss of resolution and color tint but was positively surprised.

That's all I can offer now.

Don't trust any one.

See you.

Pat
 
We tested Nisi and Lee IRND filters. Both passed the muster. However Nisi had the price advantage. We settled for Nisi and are happy with our selection.
 
We have multiple sets of firecrest NDs which we painstakingly matched a year or 2 back... but if I was looking again I would probably look also at LEEs new NDs co-designed with PV (who have an invested interest in them working great with Red chips)... only issue is there is no 2.4 which is def needed by me in the eara of Monstro sensitivity...
P
Ps ARRI also do some NDs that seem very good but they won't do screw in stuff..
 
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