Variable ND3-450 + C-PL
I’ve recently been testing a innovative new filter system by Kenko which I have to say is one of those things that is so obvious that it makes you think why wasn’t this done earlier!
We photographers all use filters in our work, whether Polarizers,Neutral Density (ND), as well as UV filters to cut out UV light and protect our lenses. However sometimes attaching a traditional screw-in filter can slow us down and and result in missing that crucial moment. Cold hands when out in the field can also make it difficult to attach a filter too. Often I have personally found that when taking long exposure images, once I have set up the shot and taken the necessary exposure readings, I have accidently moved the camera or focus ring when attaching the screw-in ND filter.
It would seem that these may all be problems of the past. The Kenko PRO1D+ Instant Action Magnetic Filter System is a new two-part system that consists of a range of magnetized filters that instantly attach to a separate filter ring that you have fixed onto your lens. The filter ring is incredibly thin and comes in a range of sizes to fit your lens diameter and is designed to stay in place on your lens once attached.
Available filters
The current filter line up consists of a Circular Polarizer, UV L41 (which reduces unwanted UV light at 410nm) and a combined Variable ND and Polarizing Filter (which is an ND3 – 450 and reduces between 1.5 – 9 stops of light) and a unique set of close-up filters, but there are more filters coming out soon.
Using the filters
Once the adapter ring was attached to the lens, I was able to simply change filters almost instantly. The magnet is strong enough that the filters attach easily and feel secure, but removing them really wasn’t an issue.
The filters themselves are the usual incredibly high quality you expect from Kenko and I think that you can see from the images I obtained that there is certainly no reduction in quality from the ‘regular’ screw-in filters at all.
Testing the actual filters individually, the polarizer helps saturate the sky and still can easily rotate in the traditional way when attached to increase or decrease the effect where required.
The combined variable ND and polarizer works well to enable longer exposure times in brighter conditions. It is useful to have the built in polarizing filter that works together with the NDfilter, yet you can still control this independently in the traditional way. You just have to take a little extra care if you are shooting with a wide-angle lens at certain angles from the sun as you may encounter a slight uneven polarizing effect to the sky. This is of course the same when using any ‘traditional’ polarizing filter too.
You can stack the lenses easily although this seemed currently unnecessary with the existing range of filters. This will definitely be a great benefit in the future however.
C-PL
The only current issue I found was that the current range of filters are somewhat limited. I have an extensive range of ND and polarizing filters and want to continue using those. Thankfully however Kenko have thought of this and recently brought out converter rings that will attach to your existing screw in filters to enable them to be used by the magnetic system.
Variable ND3-450 + C-PL
Overall
I can’t help but feel that this is a game-changer where it comes to using filters – I really see this as the way forward. As soon as I have the conversion adapters for my current filters, I will certainly have this system in place on all of my lenses. I can’t see the need to return to the traditional way to apply and remove a filter.
UV L41
Just to clarify, I am an Ambassador for Hoya/Kenko filters but I wasnot rewarded for this review. I have tried to remain completely impartial in this article. Further, I certainly wouldn’t recommend something that I truly don’t feel is indeed useful nor something that I wouldn’t regularly use myself.
Once again if you have any questions then please don’t hesitate toreach out.
Antony
Variable ND3-450 + C-PL
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