I’ve never used a variable ND filter, so this was really cool to be able to test out. It came in a protective plastic hard case along with three microfiber cleaning cloths. While slightly heavier than normal nano filters, I still was surprised at how lightweight it was comparatively.
Adjusting the strength of the ND was smooth as butter. The ring glides with minimal effort to achieve a lighter or darker filter between the min and max settings. If you keep twisting it past these points, it goes through the same grading scale until it reaches the starting point again. The threading is well made, so installing it on my lens was easy.
After some testing, I haven’t seen any vignetting or loss in sharpness. There is only minimal color shifting, and I didn’t notice any until around the ND1000 mark.
The image quality is fantastic with this, but the really beauty of it is the convenience. While it doesn’t take a long time to change a filter, it becomes annoying quick having to switch multiple times. It also takes up precious space in your kit when you are trying to travel light. With this, there is no more fumbling with multiple filters trying to get the right combo for the shot. If I need to adjust, I just give the ring a quick twist and I’m good to go. And instead of a case with multiple filters taking up space, I have one filter that does the job of a whole set. It’s absolutely fantastic. Nice job K&F!