Fix Your Variable ND Filter Problems With This New Style of Filter!

[@Ngojohnny_dp]

GOD YOU'RE LITERALLY READING MY MIND, i've been in the market to upgrade my K&F for either the haida or freewell but never saw any good comparisons! THANK YOU DUNNA

[@dunnadidit]

Glad I could help!

[@Ngojohnny_dp]

@@dunnadidit I wish you added the NiSi ones in this too honestly!

[@jarlberger2194]

@@Ngojohnny_dp why?

[@LooeyvilleSlugger]

K&F makes a variable ND/CP filter with individual control. Wondering if that's what youre upgrading from or if you feel as if there's an issue with that filter that needs to be addressed.

[@Ngojohnny_dp]

@@LooeyvilleSlugger Nope, upgrading from an older version of the ND2-400, Nano B Series, which is their low end line that has a lot of glare from reflections.

[@linus.olofssonn]

Literally the video i was looking for today

[@dunnadidit]

Noice!

[@ianjmfilms]

I just built my own adjuster for under $40 and it works on any VND without breaking the bank on a new system.

[@dunnadidit]

NICE! Thats super smart!

[@ayoubthegreat]

How you made it 😊

[@ianjmfilms]

@ayoubthegreat I posted a step by step on the Tubes.

[@vincevenom3377]

Rocking the Haida 82mm and absolutely love it. I primarily use it in my Sigma 35 1.2 and is pretty much essential to shoot wide open.

[@dunnadidit]

Love to hear it!!

[@TECH3_]

have you tried any ultra wides ? hows the performance ?

[@dunnadidit]

Nothing beyond 16mm. Even with 16mm sometimes I can see a little vignette in photo/opengate.

[@TECH3_]

@@dunnadidit cool my widest is 16mm ( have a full frame body as well ) i guess getting a bigger filter than the lens will solve it

[@dunnadidit]

Thats definitely helpful! Big and thin is the key. All of these ones were mostly good to 16mm with maybe a tiny bit of vignetting for photos (because of the slightly larger 3x2 frame)

[@Berna75]

Is it just me or is there a stutter in the audio every few seconds across the whole video that's driving me cracy?

[@Pyrichia]

It's not just you, it's happening to me also

[@dunnadidit]

Ugh, sometimes technology is so frustrating.

[@enockkotchi8471]

I thought my computer was dying 😅

[@Dimitar.Tsonov]

Was about to throw my PC through the window. Glad I got into your comment seconds before that 😆

[@JohnnyMcMillan]

Yyp same for me

[@YaleWall]

I’ve been using the Freewell V2 for a few weeks and I really love it!

[@dunnadidit]

Nice! It’s so close to being a complete system too. Hopefully they complete it!

[@TECH3_]

you dropped the video on the best possible time , i bought my first camera last sept now planning to get a VND and this one seems perfect i just dont want that cross pattern and tha HAIDA seems perfect, i already had planned to go the store tomorrow morning , if i can get the haida i will get it

[@dunnadidit]

Nice! So glad to hear it!

[@markwilliams1680]

Awesome video Dunna! Very thourough and you answered a lot of my questions. I lean toward the Haida because of simplicity and cost. I would recommend using Permatex thread locker for the pin that loosens. I assure you it will no longer work its way out.

[@dunnadidit]

Thanks for the tip! Glad the video was helpful! I definitely like what Haida has done with this one!

[@brianbracherphotography]

Perfect timing as I needed to update due to new lens size - Haida just ordered as don’t need magnetic as it’s for video work (and I have lost too many filters) and price compared to performance for me it was easy! Also bought 82mm with step up ring to prevent problem in the future…. Thank you 👍👍👍

[@dunnadidit]

Nice! Definitely the way to go with stepups! Future proofing is the way to go!

[@tigoxbrata]

the problem introduction was so long i forgot this was a video about comparing the vilters hahah good stuff

[@HeathcliffBlair]

Thanks for the video. Very useful. I've been searching for ages for a video regarding these VND systems that include good info about usability and, in particular, sharpness. They're rarer than you'd think. Most of them lean too heavily toward a sales pitch to be particularly useful. Thanks again. 👍

[@TotalRADandMORE]

You should run a color chart test in daylight. I’ve been getting magenta casts on my freewell filter at certain CPL angles

[@MagnetiqLabs]

OH MY GOD! I thought that Chroma finally will be perfect variable ND... But I'm grateful for this video because to me the method that PolarPro used to change the ND stops is killing the whole experience :-( I like to change the stops by rotating with one finger. Use two hands is totally kills this filter for me. God.... Why

[@tamilkoreanvlogs]

Last week I bought Freewell v2 Na its really great. SO handy with many situations like easy to switch. Outputs are really great and its really worth it. My camera is Canon R6 mark ii with RF 24-70mm lens.

[@SummersSnaps]

One crucial absent piece of info here is how well each of them cut IR. I have the Haida, happy in every way but it does look like it does a poor job with IR. In certain light I am left with redish skin tones which are annoying to clean up in post (Fuji XH2S is poorly rated for eliminating IR). Some of these VD/CPL combos actually do a great job on IR cutting yet fail to mention this anywhere on their specs.

[@dunnadidit]

Very interesting! I’ll have to keep an eye out for that!

[@SummersSnaps]

@@dunnadidit There's a good video on YT floating around on it.

[@jakubmalycz]

​@@SummersSnaps can you please send a link? Thx 😊

[@volkom91]

Such a well put together and informative video, you're amazing at this! Wonderful job

[@ericphilpott9468]

Thanks for this overview, Dunna! This was super helpful since I’m looking for a VND/CPL solution right now. I like the convenience of the Freewell magnets, but I guess I’ll have to weigh up their different systems since they aren’t perfectly matched with each other.

[@dunnadidit]

That’s really the trick… finding a complete system!

[@BarunDey7]

I use a Canon R50 with 18-150. I have been using a 9 stop variable ND filter. I am going to buy the RF 1.8 50 mm for mostly outdoor portraits with a few night street photography in between. Will I be better off with a lens hood or a variable ND for the 50mm would be better?

[@tanner.quintero]

I would love to know your opinion on the NiSi Swift System the true color one

[@smartideas-pedro1690]

I can't believe how good Haida is. I've tested against NISI expensive alternative that claims to be truecolor and Haida blows it out of water in every single way. 3-7 stops is a much better range for a vnd. If you're looking to buy it and you want to stack filters, don't get 82mm, get 77mm. The front thread is 82mm in the smaller one and 95mm in the bigger.

[@dunnadidit]

Thanks for leaving your thoughts!

[@ianbrowne9304]

Thank you; I have just been told there are or can problems with variable ND filters when used a long lens --- say 200mm ++ (???) Is there anything to know or is it just typical online fake info because uses over rotated the filter

[@DIRTBIKEMEDIA_DBM]

I need to know the same info , Iv got a polar pro on my Amazon basket all the reviews on there seem good , I have been using a cheap nd for my Sony 70-200 f2.8 and at 200 the image quality is sooo bad , painful , I just need to know if this filter (polar pro) will actually work for me and work at 200 with clean image quality still !?? Pls help someone

[@stkuj]

I started using a combo hack of the Freewell M2 and threaded VND (timestamp 22:12)

[@dunnadidit]

Nice! Samesies!

[@JasonGillmanJr]

Glad I stumbled on this. Been finally looking at getting a set of ND filters given the polarization concerns with VNDs, but now I may have to do some more looking to see if one of these might fit the bill. Thanks!

[@wastedtalentusa]

Awesome video! I have a question, the force that we use to rotate the CP filter and the ND filter, doesn't it damage the lens? It forces that part of the lens that moves to do the focus. I was thinking that perhaps the fact of applying this force all the time could misalign the lens somehow. Is that a possibility? Thanks.

[@BugBobsWildWorld]

Great job, Dunna! Been wondering about of those. Thank you.

[@dunnadidit]

Absolutely my pleasure!

[@ayala_javi]

Dude god damn this vid earned a sub I was literally just looking in to a vnd/cp hybrid

[@danielrehmel]

Should you only use them near reflection (water) or can they actually peplace normal VND Filters for outdoor use (forest) for example? Is it possible to turn the CPL to an amount that you can turn off the effect? Thanks!

[@Superjeanmarc]

Nisi True Color is missing here. I use it and love it

[@NdrDpDwn]

I have the Haida.Anyone tried stacking filters on it?.Suggestion on which one goes first on the lens?Black diffuson first or VND first?

[@dunnadidit]

I could be wrong but I don't believe the Haida has a thread on the front. Or if it does I think it is a bigger size, so you're likely going to have to put it on second regardless.

[@smartideas-pedro1690]

It does have but it is one step bigger. That's why i recommend 77mm so you can stack an 82mm in front.

[@JoshuaMcMullen.Official]

Very informative video - thank you so much!

[@KIMEOH]

good video, but you didn't show how this new filters fix the problems that you talked about in a first place, I mean it was like the whoIe point of this video, those filter seems great, but I was kinda waiting for those results 😢

[@johannesbgonzalez]

I got a VND from Tiffen. It works well, but when shooting towards the sun or with the sun to the side, the shot tend to get a bit washed out and loose a lot of contrast. Do the Polarizing element fix this? Is it something you experience using any of these filters?

[@PeterScream]

whats up with the audio issues in your video

[@paulthiebaut]

Is 7 stops enough when shooting slog3 during daylight with iso 800 and f/2.8 ?

[@princeperry65]

Did you ever find out?

[@paulthiebaut]

@@princeperry65 yes and it’s not enough you will need that 9 stops in some situations. I ended up picking the Freewell VND 2-5 and 6-9 stops pack. These ND have very little color shifts and a solid build, I’m super happy with my buy

[@princeperry65]

@@paulthiebaut that's super helpful, ty! Any cross hatching at the 9 stop end with those VNDs?

[@Koensol]

Hey Dunna, great video with a lot of useful information! So, I'm thinking of buying the regular Freewell 2-5 stop VND for video on my Sony RX10IV. Is this filter compatible with a lens hood? And is it possible to adjust the VND without having to take off the lens hood? Im using the stock lens hood which is a tulip shaped one.

[@AnthonyGugliotta]

Real pros know you can slightly unscrew standard VNDs to control polarization. 😜😜

[@dunnadidit]

😂😂😂

[@ThePhenomenalLife]

Thank you 🙏🏾

[@GolfRambo]

Has Freewell fixed the massive yellow/green colour shift they had with their ND filters? It's one of the reasons I have not upgraded and have been looking at the Nisi True Colour ND-vario. CPL is nice, but I don't want to be worrying about the yellow/green colour shift from these ND Filters. The Polar Pros aren't any better either. Can you please do a comparison of all of these filters and what the colour shift is like without any filter on? I feel like that would be a much better review and comparison.

[@dunnadidit]

Check out 18:50

[@GolfRambo]

@@dunnadidit dang it. I’m an idiot lol. Freewell did pretty well surprisingly. I have one of their original 2-5 stop VND Filters and the colour shift is really bad. Might look into these new ones.

[@victor.melchorfilm]

I’ve been using my freewell screw ons since 2021 and have had no issues but considering upgrading for the cpl! Overall do you like the magnet style filters more for video or prefer the screw on?

[@falcam_geartree]

Great review!! And the tripod looks solid ;)

[@AJCoReTV]

I got the Haida last year. It’s nice & affordable

[@kochaiche]

Great watch. Thank you.

[@dunnadidit]

Cheers! Thanks for watching!

[@JacobGagoOfficial]

Should I get a 2 in 1 Variable ND and Polarizer or buy them separately and stack them?

[@HDBnB1]

Is it me or is there weird Audi issues happening? What mic were you using?

[@IvoPavlik]

Audi is never reliable, always go for BMW 😛

[@chloejohnson9225]

My Freewell V2 rocks.

[@deejc04]

I was considering the Freewell 3-7 V2, but the only thing stopping me is the ND range. For some reason, I feel like 3-7 may be too limiting instead of a standard 1-5 and 6-9. In your experience, is it sufficient for shooting even in bright outdoor environments?

[@murillomr7]

Wow man...Such great comparison, and all the details, experience!! I'm completely felt in love of the freewell magnetic system + quality + price. I have a question, considering your experience Is it possible to attach (combine) this V2 Hybrid CPL/VND with the Mist Filter on top and get the same result of VND Mist? Thanks Dunna for the awesome video!

[@Charles.L.]

hi , just receive mine PMVND chroma glass but not rotate as smooth as u in the video full spin rotating VND part 2-5 stop . any hack for that ? thank you .

[@CalvinLee]

Weird! I couldn't find any step up ring options for the Frewell V2 Hybrid CPL/VND Filter on amazon or on their website.

[@adismcletchie]

wait so that means if your lens is a 67mm than you can't use it?

[@CalvinLee]

@@adismcletchie I contacted Freewell and they directed me to the right section where all the step up rings were at. They've been back ordered. I found 67 and 72 on amazon. Looks like B&H just got them in stock too.

[@dunnadidit]

@adismcletchie you just need either a 67mm lens or a step up ring. Or for the ones that use a base ring setup, you just need the 67mm base ring.

[@PaulFeinberg]

I have recently been rocking the Freewell V2 and I love it. I do wish you could use the other magnetic filters with the set like you could the old magnetic VND's but maybe V3? LOL Great video!

[@dunnadidit]

Agreed! Like I showed in the video, they “kind of” work but obviously not a great fit.

[@MagnetiqLabs]

I'm surprised to see that Freewell has a set of fixed (non variable) NDs. I have the set of Marumi magnetic Movie Kit which is include 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 stops filters. And i can combine two to achieve more stops (like 5+4 = 9 stops) without visible quality loss. I like this set because the image quality is just perfect, without compromises. But still i have to buy variable for more spontaneous situations. By the way, is the magnets strong enough in Freewell fixed NDs? My Marumi set has really thin filters with very weak magnets :-(

[@miclube]

I have the Freewell M2 Magnetic, although I see practicality in the VND, it seems to me that the best quality would be in the fixed ones

[@MagnetiqLabs]

@@miclube yes, in more serious jobs, when I have time to set up everything, I will definitely prefer fixed NDs

This video literally feels like it's inside my head right now 😂 you're awesome, my friend. I returned the Freewell V2 because it wasn't practical, and I'm managing with Haida at the moment. But I want to buy Polarpro. By the way, you can fit an 86mm lens cap in front of the 82mm Haida, but it doesn't hold very well. Does the Polarpro Helix also require two hands to use, and does the Helix version offer an advantage in terms of vignetting because it's larger? Because both Freewell and Haida give an X pattern at 16mm under some conditions.

[@dunnadidit]

Haha so glad to hear I hit the mark with this one for you. In terms of the helix system, I can only make assumptions but I think it would still require two hands and theoretically it should have less vignetting because of the size, but it's also a bit thicker and requires a base plate so that may offset it back to where it started. Also, anything under 16mm is going to be tough with most filters I think. You'd need something much bigger to not vignette.

@@dunnadidit Thank you very much for your answers. 🤘🍻

[@dunnadidit]

My pleasure!

[@TheTensecondz]

I stopped the video right when the price info was provided. I know that my toyota corolla does not go 200mph but I will live with it.

[@dunnadidit]

Haha I hear that! Did you at least get to the price of the Haida one?

[@chevonpetgrave4991]

You forgot one other problem with vari ND’s: color shifts due to change in the strengths filtering out varying degrees of visible light but not equally proportionate amounts of infrared light. For those who shoot and color their work this is a big annoyance when shooting to match exposure but throwing off the white balance when doing so. Even more so when not shooting raw.

[@mcauleyrj]

The Freewell requires a $35 adapter. Amazon only has the 77mm.

[@alecwong84]

Nice review, Please compare it to nisi swift vnd 😊

[@dunnadidit]

I definitely gotta get my hands on that one!

[@nachogoytre]

Has anyone used the Haidas with a Matte box? It is compatible? I have read that the Freewells are not usable with matte boxes...

[@studiovitta]

Nice job man I just want to see side by side the … polarising effect in exactly the same position and same lens let’s say 16 mm

[@chrisgorys]

Great comparison

[@dunnadidit]

Thanks!

[@sebasfilmedit]

I’ve had K&F vnd+cpl filter for a year now and wished you would have compared these 3 to that one. It’s amazing for the price but anything wider than 16mm is unusable because of the vignetting

[@mytio5038]

I used K&F2in1 and Haida2in1 both. k&f is little less vignetting than Haida when take photo by ultrawide angle lens. But Haida is less color shift than k&f.almost no change color shift. I'd prefer to use Haida more than k&f recently.Little color shift and thinner and easier to operate as well.

[@Cloudspell13]

new sub here! Love your videos! But I noticed there's a bit of a strange jump between cartain audio cuts D: not sure if accidental or intentional, but just pointing out if you wanted to know

[@blackcatooow]

can’t you already counter it by slightly unscrewing your vnd and rotating to adjust polarization? i’d rather do that than pay so much more for other filters unnecessarily

[@dunnadidit]

You absolutely can! The issue with that is then the filter is moving slightly further away and can fall out by accident if you’re not careful. But if that’s a trade off you’re willing to make, it’s a solid hack!

[@sladjj]

Everyone praising the Polarpro+PM, almost as if they got them for free. Overpriced and the most stupid design I've ever seen. You need two hands to change the exposure...!! The problem with these reviews is that KZbinrs talk about gear considering a controlled set where you have the time to set everything how you like it. No decent professional would ever use that piece of junk on the run. Sorry for the rant

[@JoATTech]

1-5 and 6-9 combo is annoying for SLOG3 shooting. Because you have to swap them constantly if you film in 24 or 25p.

[@skymakai]

I'm a simple man. I see "Peter McKinnon" and I buy it.

[@TECH3_]

i am a simple man , i peter mckinnon and i know i cant afford

[@dunnadidit]

Haha, part of me loves this because of the simplicity. But also I would strongly advise to change that to "I see Peter McKinnon and I look into whether it makes sense for me and my kit" lol... but if it works for you, I'm not here to knock your method lol.

[@skymakai]

@@dunnadidit So should I buy it? How do I know if it makes sense for my kit? Are there better other options I should be comparing it to? Thank you. I rely upon KZbinrs like yourself to give me honest buying advice.

[@GolfRambo]

@@skymakai Do you really need a built in CPL is the question. There are many reviews out there about how the Freewell and Polar Pro ND filters have some bad colour shifting. The Polar Pro ones suffer from vignetting in the corners if you have a wide(16mm) lens. I'd look at in depth reviews from other people here on KZbin.

[@dunnadidit]

I'm definitely with @GolfRambo in that you should do some research from other reviews as well. I also tried to be as helpful as possible at the beginning of this video by kind of explaining what the filters do and the problem that they solve. I do think everyone should have a CPL, most people should probably have ND filters of some sort, and VND's can be a more convenient way to adjust ND... then on top of that, definitely looking at the options that I showed (there were 3 options in this video) to see which one fits your budget and provides the solution you need. In this case, the polarpro might have some cool features and they're great quality, but they also have some issues that the others don't face. Not a blanket reason for everyone to make a decision, but something to factor into your own equation. The big question I always tell everyone to consider is "DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM?" If the answer is that you don't have any problems in your workflow, you don't need to buy anything else. But if the answer is "yeah, my current vnd's ruin my skies" or "I don't have any filters and I want to get into them" or "my current filter system is too cumbersome" then it's time to do the research!

[@vtrip_]

I bought an old used polarizer on ebay for $8. its all i need.

[@dunnadidit]

Bam

[@yosefortez4009]

Audio is messed up

[@zakforsman]

Not exactly new. SLR Magic's VNDs from 10 years ago could be rotated to adjust the polarization.

[@dunnadidit]

Great point! I was pretty careful not to say this was a new concept for this reason haha(though I do recognize that it is in the title lol). I knew there must be one out there that did this before. But it does seem like a bunch of companies are catching on that this is a valuable thing to implement. So it's more "new" in that it's newly being adopted more widely (from where I stand anyway).

[@MrKokom]

This could be shorter at around 10mins if you dont reexplain how polarizer and variable nd work. Almost lost it halfway but i keep watching for what really matters: the result.

[@dunnadidit]

I definitely considered doing the short version but I figured it was helpful for people who don’t know and those who know can always use the chapters or just skip ahead.

[@madfinntech]

The cheapest one performed the best. Go figure. No wonder they are sold out everywhere.

[@dunnadidit]

They definitely made something great!

[@benjaminwhatever]

look at all those FILTERS!!!!

[@sixofsix]

Once you go built-in VND you'll never look back. This all sounds very complicated lol.

[@zenstoodi]

Anyone also cleaning screen to remove this smudge on Color Check table ? Or it was just me ;)

[@SKADYT2]

I’m on a budget. So, when I see Peter McKinnon…I skip it.😂

[@vahidamini1863]

✌.....

[@mattstone8878]

Polarpro+ is Polarpoo+ 💩

[@enockkotchi8471]

First

[@dunnadidit]

Noice! Nailed it!

[@funkdrone_]

PolarPro is way overpriced. It’s ridiculous.

[@LouiseFoster-r1o]

Harris Matthew Thomas Betty Miller Michelle

[@viewfindermedia3188]

They are only good for video,

[@dunnadidit]

I disagree... however I do think they are MORE useful for video than for photography. Adding the CPL in there makes me way more likely to use them in photography.

[@viewfindermedia3188]

@@dunnadidit it gives it the blue tint

[@coin777]

Audio is fucked up

[@dunnadidit]

I concur.

[@عليالعراقي-ع2ت3ي]

علي موحان👏👏🤝👏🤎👏🤝👏👏🤎👏🤝👏🤎❣🤎❣🤎❣🤎❣❣🤎❣🤎❣🤎👏🤎👏🤎👏🤎👏🤎👏🤎👏🤎👏🤎👏🤎👏🤎👏🤎🤎