FREEWELL Magnetic Quick Swap System 67mm Neutral Density ND64 (6 f-stops) Camera Filter

Product Information

And then there’s the magnetized lens cap. It works fine with the base ring, but not with mounted filters. The lens cap removes filters when detached, which means you then have to separate the cap from the VND, then re-attach the VND. In fairness, I don’t think Freewell could have designed this any differently due to the magnetized nature of everything. One will just have to get in the habit of detaching a VND before using the lens cap.

I'd primarily be interested in adapting to zoom lenses, i.e. 10-24, 16-55, 55-200. From what I can tell, the 77mm would be good, but I'm not sure. The company also says the kit’s magnetic adhesion will keep the filters in the holder firmly affixed, which prevents vibrations while they still remain easy to remove and adjust. The metal knurling on the bezel along each ND level helps grip when turning to change values and allegedly improves the accuracy of stop setting. The company also claims that transitioning from one-stop value to another is smooth and gradual, and should give a reduced occurrence of “x-pattern overlaps” seen in other variable NDs. The K2 filter system consists of screw-on base filter holder rings, that you only have to screw onto your lens once, afterwards, the filters snap on magnetically. The system includes the K2 Island Slot, a gradient tool integrated for slide-in effect filters like gradient, glow mist, snow mist, and streak. The effect filters slide in from the top and can be rotated in any direction. Magnetic Filter System K2 – Source: Freewell True Color VND Quality neutral density filters darken photos and videos without affecting color. A filter with high color accuracy contributes less color cast, which translates into less work in post fixing what the filter added. Using magnetic filters is, quite simply, a pleasure. It makes it so much faster to mount filters, swap them, change lenses, adjust to the scene. It’s hard to emphasize just how much magnetic filters make the photographer’s life easier. In particular, when a part of a group with non-photographers, every second spent fiddling with photo equipment can get bothersome for the whole group. Anything which can speed up the process is welcome.

Rotating a CPL filter with the M2 system is a straightforward process. We’ve made it simple and intuitive to adjust the polarizer to achieve your desired effect.

Conclusion: Here, the Freewell VND filters are no worse than the very expensive PolarPro and less expensive Moment, but none of them give acceptable results. If I had just flown to Iceland with these filters and discovered results like these on my memory card at the end of my day, I’d be pissed off. A polarizer is a great filter to help cut glare and enhance colours. By rotating the filter you are able to target different areas of glare in your frame. A polarizing filter is also extremely useful when shooting in an area with lots of highlight since it helps to get a more balanced exposure. When I tested the PolarPro and Moment VND filters in the past, I found that neither of them were perfectly accurate in terms of their f-stop designations. Both filter brands promised 3 full f-stops (EVs) worth of density, but only provided 2 1/3rd stops.All told, Freewell is effectively providing with this system four VNDs (two with diffusion, two without) and two circular polarizers filters for hundreds less than buying each filter type individually. Lens compatibility and vignette performance Like other manufacturers, Freewell claims that their variable ND filters are very color-accurate. However, VND filters are always critical to color shifts and therefore we should take the marketing announcements with a grain of salt. To truly know, we would have to test how accurate the VND filters are in the real world. Magnetic Filter System K2 – Source: Freewell Futureproof Alongside the distinct Island Slot for gradient filters like a graduated neutral density (ND) filter, snow mist, glow mist, and streak, the K2 filter system also includes circular variable neutral density (VND), circular polarizing (CPL), solid ND, and graduated neutral density (GND) filters.

Anyone who needs neutral density filters will enjoy using the Freewell Magnetized VND system, but run-and-gun hybrid shooters using consumer DSLR and mirrorless cameras should love it. You may shoot photos one minute, flip the camera to video mode, throw on a variable ND to control shutter speed, and keep going. The Magnetic Filter System K2 comes in one size with different adapters to fit your specific front lens diameter. Magnetic Filter System K2 – Source: Freewell Pricing and availability Colour cast is the hue that the filter gives your image. Kind of like how your sunglasses change the tint of everything you see, filters do the same for our cameras. Colour cast isn’t always a bad thing, however; some colour casts are more pleasing than others. You’ll begin by attaching the main ring to your lens. This ring has a slot for an inner filter (either the VND base filter or the VND Mist filter) and a top filter.If you want to use a circular polarizer, simply flip the 2-5 stop VND filter outward (it is marked “CPL”on one side), and snap it onto the base ring on the lens, and that’s it. You’re ready to go.In addition to using the system as a CPL or VND filter, you can also replace the inner VND base filter with a “Mist” VND filter, which works just the same as the other VND filters but adds a “Glow Mist” effect, essentially a bit of diffusion that will smooth out your image a bit. I generally don’t like diffusion filters, so I didn’t test this heavily. The Only Problem

Like other magnetized filters, the speed at which these filters are attached and detached from a lens is fantastic. Each filter rotates nearly as smooth as a threaded filter, and the hard stops effectively prevent the VNDs from being overturned in either direction. When flipped over, the CPL filters rotate smoothly and easily.Additionally, when the kit is setup for VNDs, removing a magnetized VND won’t immediately return your camera to “normal” exposure. There will still be the 1-stop VND base filter inside the base ring. You could of course remove the base filter, but for speed and convenience, it’s easier to leave it in and open the camera aperture or raise ISO a stop to accommodate. The ND32 did a good job of increasing contrast and clarity — especially in the trees and green foliage. The five-stop reduction in exposure also allowed the camera to shoot at a larger aperture. When five stops aren’t necessary, you may use the CPL from the 2-5 stop VND filter for similar results. User experience Remove the base ring filter, and there’s now one pane of polarized glass (which is effectively a circular polarizer is).