49mm Variable ND Filter ND3-ND1000(1.5-10 Stops) Ultra-thin HD with Double-sided 28-layer Nano-coating Nano-Xcel Series
SKU: KF01.2004
As usual with K&F Concept, you get solid quality for a good price.
With this filter, however, you must clearly consider the range of glare. In my opinion, ND3-ND1000 is simply too much to really implement perfectly. Color shift, difficult fine adjustment, etc.
So if you really only want to use a single filter, this is a good price to get you started. However, I would recommend fixed ND levels for photography. A significantly smaller range is also sufficient for filming. So I don't quite see the purpose of this filter, but you have to say unbeaten in the price range. So full points!
With this filter, however, you must clearly consider the range of glare. In my opinion, ND3-ND1000 is simply too much to really implement perfectly. Color shift, difficult fine adjustment, etc.
So if you really only want to use a single filter, this is a good price to get you started. However, I would recommend fixed ND levels for photography. A significantly smaller range is also sufficient for filming. So I don't quite see the purpose of this filter, but you have to say unbeaten in the price range. So full points!
24/01/2024
Maybe I've simply picked a better model, or the expectations of some other reviewers regarding the effects of a completely darkened ND3-1000 are simply too high. Of course, you can see optical effects when you set the ND filter to ND1000. It is not without reason that there are significantly more expensive ND filters, which then only cover the ND2-ND32 range. Everyone of us is looking for the egg-laying woolly milksow, but it doesn't actually exist.
I really like the Nano X series. I already own several filters in the series and am absolutely satisfied. You simply can't complain about the price called up and I personally find the effects of ND1000 also bearable. If I want to take particularly high-quality photos, for example with long exposures, then I use a fixed ND1000 filter anyway. However, if I'm traveling and want to be prepared for various situations, I'll take the ND3-ND1000 with me.
The filter is superbly made, and you can tell by the feel when you pick it up. I am also used to this processing from K&F Concept, because my tripod, lens adapters and other filters are also correspondingly well made. From my side, I can make a clear purchase recommendation if you are traveling with the right expectations for such a filter.
I really like the Nano X series. I already own several filters in the series and am absolutely satisfied. You simply can't complain about the price called up and I personally find the effects of ND1000 also bearable. If I want to take particularly high-quality photos, for example with long exposures, then I use a fixed ND1000 filter anyway. However, if I'm traveling and want to be prepared for various situations, I'll take the ND3-ND1000 with me.
The filter is superbly made, and you can tell by the feel when you pick it up. I am also used to this processing from K&F Concept, because my tripod, lens adapters and other filters are also correspondingly well made. From my side, I can make a clear purchase recommendation if you are traveling with the right expectations for such a filter.
23/01/2024
Transparency notice:
The product was made available to me free of charge as an evaluation sample, free from any influence or expectations. My review is based solely on my personal assessment and experience of using the product.
Review:
For quick readers, I'll anticipate my review, below I'll explain the details of my decision making, my impressions of the product.
It is not difficult for me to give it a 5 star rating, because the ND filter meets my expectations accurately, its function is impeccable, the mechanical manufacturing quality is also more than convincing, not forgetting the useful and practical storage case.
One small thing bothers me in the product description, the suitability for 8K videos. What's the point, is that pure marketing? It seems that way. I find this advice unnecessary, because you could also say that you can also take photos with it, or is also suitable for color rendering, as well as for b/w. A useless statement.
I have a piece of workmanship in my hands and I can tell that from the first impression, purely from the mechanical quality. Wow, what a milled part, the mount ring. No material has been spared here, nor has the precision of its processing, so the fine thread is also precisely cut and, of course, there is no manufacturing residue on the filter.
The glass, which is high-quality coated optical glass, is absolutely pure and flat, with a straight and oblique view, rotating, I do not recognize any distortion, which is later confirmed in my photos too, and the sharpness of my lens is not adversely affected either.
For direct image comparison, I took a picture with a filter and one without on a tripod, of course with an adjusted exposure in each case. I left the aperture and time as I did, I adjusted the light difference via the sensor sensitivity on the ISO controller, and my premium class German full-frame camera offers plenty of work space.
I see almost no differences, only in contrast do I think the filter recognizes a minimally more inanimate image, slightly less brilliance. With regard to the shades, I recognize a slightly “colder” image, i.e. minimally bluish.
I can easily adjust both in the RAW Converter and I think these minor influences are acceptable, and I only recognize them in a direct comparison and you don't normally have them. As you would expect, K&F Concept really delivers quality.
I also really like the grip of the filter, so I can grip and unscrew it securely even now in winter with cold fingers, without having to worry about it slipping on my fingers.
For another smaller filter thread, I have a comparable ND filter from a well-known German brand, it is significantly more expensive and only slightly surpasses the image quality of the K&F Concept filter. Direct comparison is not possible, they are different lenses, which is why the filter diameter is different.
In conclusion, I fully recommend buying the K&F Concept ND filter. It clearly serves the premium class, at least the lower premium class; it clearly stands out in terms of quality from the cheap ND filters in the 20-30 € class.
Thanks for your attention while reading my review. If you would like, feel free to give me feedback or a “thumbs up”, I would be happy to hear from you.
The product was made available to me free of charge as an evaluation sample, free from any influence or expectations. My review is based solely on my personal assessment and experience of using the product.
Review:
For quick readers, I'll anticipate my review, below I'll explain the details of my decision making, my impressions of the product.
It is not difficult for me to give it a 5 star rating, because the ND filter meets my expectations accurately, its function is impeccable, the mechanical manufacturing quality is also more than convincing, not forgetting the useful and practical storage case.
One small thing bothers me in the product description, the suitability for 8K videos. What's the point, is that pure marketing? It seems that way. I find this advice unnecessary, because you could also say that you can also take photos with it, or is also suitable for color rendering, as well as for b/w. A useless statement.
I have a piece of workmanship in my hands and I can tell that from the first impression, purely from the mechanical quality. Wow, what a milled part, the mount ring. No material has been spared here, nor has the precision of its processing, so the fine thread is also precisely cut and, of course, there is no manufacturing residue on the filter.
The glass, which is high-quality coated optical glass, is absolutely pure and flat, with a straight and oblique view, rotating, I do not recognize any distortion, which is later confirmed in my photos too, and the sharpness of my lens is not adversely affected either.
For direct image comparison, I took a picture with a filter and one without on a tripod, of course with an adjusted exposure in each case. I left the aperture and time as I did, I adjusted the light difference via the sensor sensitivity on the ISO controller, and my premium class German full-frame camera offers plenty of work space.
I see almost no differences, only in contrast do I think the filter recognizes a minimally more inanimate image, slightly less brilliance. With regard to the shades, I recognize a slightly “colder” image, i.e. minimally bluish.
I can easily adjust both in the RAW Converter and I think these minor influences are acceptable, and I only recognize them in a direct comparison and you don't normally have them. As you would expect, K&F Concept really delivers quality.
I also really like the grip of the filter, so I can grip and unscrew it securely even now in winter with cold fingers, without having to worry about it slipping on my fingers.
For another smaller filter thread, I have a comparable ND filter from a well-known German brand, it is significantly more expensive and only slightly surpasses the image quality of the K&F Concept filter. Direct comparison is not possible, they are different lenses, which is why the filter diameter is different.
In conclusion, I fully recommend buying the K&F Concept ND filter. It clearly serves the premium class, at least the lower premium class; it clearly stands out in terms of quality from the cheap ND filters in the 20-30 € class.
Thanks for your attention while reading my review. If you would like, feel free to give me feedback or a “thumbs up”, I would be happy to hear from you.
22/01/2024
I already know other filters from K&F and was able to request this one here for testing.
The packaging alone makes a good impression and when you open it, it continues with the case. That makes a difference. But okay, it's about the filter. The filter itself is a variable filter of ND3-1000, which is quite a bandwidth. I've never had a variable ND filter before and was skeptical at first whether it really worked. But yes, it works.
The filter itself makes a high-quality impression. It can be easily screwed onto the filter thread of the lenses and, above all, removed again. Adjusting the filter works wonderfully with the orange lever on the side. I could not notice any loss in image quality.
The price is quite high, but the filter is also very well made.
The packaging alone makes a good impression and when you open it, it continues with the case. That makes a difference. But okay, it's about the filter. The filter itself is a variable filter of ND3-1000, which is quite a bandwidth. I've never had a variable ND filter before and was skeptical at first whether it really worked. But yes, it works.
The filter itself makes a high-quality impression. It can be easily screwed onto the filter thread of the lenses and, above all, removed again. Adjusting the filter works wonderfully with the orange lever on the side. I could not notice any loss in image quality.
The price is quite high, but the filter is also very well made.
22/01/2024
As usual with K&F Concept you get solid quality for a good price. With this filter, however, you clearly have to consider the range of the stop-down. In my opinion, ND3-ND1000 is just too much to implement it really perfectly. Color shift, difficult fine adjustment, etc. So if you really only want to use a single filter, you are well advised to start with the price. However, I would recommend fixed ND levels for photography. A much smaller range is also sufficient for filming. So I don't quite see the purpose of this filter, but you have to say unbeaten in the price range. So full marks!
20/09/2023
The filter's mounting rings (one of which is a rotating ring) are heavy brass. This filter will therefore not jam on the lens and can no longer be removed without tools like its "brothers" from other manufacturers, which are mostly made of aluminum. The high-quality filter consists of two polarizing filters connected in series, which can be twisted against each other until it is almost completely dark. The brilliance of the photos does not suffer at all. The filter is a high-performance product and is therefore comparable in price to similar products from German manufacturers. This price is justified and I can therefore warmly recommend the ND filter.
19/09/2023