Freewell V2 hybrid VND/CPL filters... combining a circular polarizer and ND? Good idea? Bad idea??

So this is a COMBINED circular polariser AND 3-7 stop variable ND. But is combining them a sensible thing to do? Does it make your life easier? Or does it take away your options??
Get your FREEWELL V2 Hybrid VND/CPL here: linkmix.co/18849429
Well, the first thing to point out is that technically..... TECHNICALLY.... it's not a 3-7 stop variable ND. But, that's for a very good reason, and a reason that I actually think is the best feature of this filter system.
You see, it might seem like a small thing, but the 3 stop ND, as marked on the filter ring itself, is not actually a 3 stop ND. It does cause a 3 stop reduction of light, precisely three stops in fact. But that is combining the light reducing effect of the circular polariser. So it's overall 3 stops of light reduction, but that must make the ND actually a 2 stop, or a 2.5 stop at best.
But here's why that actually an awesome thing, and not a mistake - when I'm out there trying to work out exposure times shooting large format, I was fully expecting a super complicated math problem in front of me.
I was expecting to have to work out the light reduction being caused by the polariser, and then add the stops of ND on top of that to get a proper exposure.
But 3 stops is 3 stops. And that's awesome. All I had to do is halve the shutter speed three times, and voila.
Apart from testing my brain though, or not testing it, and how thankful I am that I wasn't posed a more complex photographical mathematics challenge, is combining a polariser and ND filter a good idea or a bad idea?
Well, ultimately it does take choices away from you. If you're only carrying this filter with you, then you have no option of ONLY using a polariser, or ONLY using an ND. It's all or nothing.
But I can tell you now, using this Freewell V2 Hybrid CPL/ND is a lot less hassle than using my Cokin filters. Sure I still have to screw in an adapter ring, but the whole system is then a lot less sensitive to being nudged or knocked, or being out of alignment and causing vignettes.
So, overall, whilst always remembering that I don't do landscapes and therefore have little use for a polariser, I found this set up pretty easy to use. And it is seriously good quality. Beautifully made, and beautifully presented.
Great job Freewell. I don't need it. But I like it.
Check out Stenopeika Cameras here: www.stenopeika.com

[@nvrumi]

My recollection (caveats apply) is that a polarizer imposes a couple of stops reduction in incoming light. So, a 3ND reduction makes sense for the VND combination. I run a 1/8 black diffusion filter on my X100V all the time. It makes the resulting images look quite a bit more "filmic" with a little bloom around bright areas. I like it. Fun stuff!

[@the120ist]

Right, I was guessing at one stop for the polariser, but two would also make sense. I was just happy that they had done that sum for me! Interesting, I haven't used diffusion filters at all before this. And I confess to having dismissed it after this shoot, not seeing a great need. But you use one all the time. Maybe I'll take another look at that. Thanks!

[@nvrumi]

@@the120ist I agree that in daylight the diffusion filter's affect seems less important. Although I do think it might have a small impact on general sharpness. However, in high contrast shots (like evening/night/indoors) I see some bloom on bright areas (lights, for example) and that looks more like film to me. Some don't like the look, but I'm looking for a more filmic (made up term) look in my digital images. This probably means I should be shooting film. Ha!

[@gipsyh1963]

I have a k&f cpl + nd filter nano x pro series. And it the goat

[@liveinaweorg]

I have been using the Maven magnetic system and it is very well made. Just wish they would do a yellow, orange and red analogue filter set.

[@the120ist]

I don't know that one, will go look it up now. I have always used a cokin drop in filter system. This Freewell one was very well made, and very convenient, but I switch cameras and lenses so often I would worry about having all the adapter rings.

[@killpop8255]

Around 18:18 I thought the dominant effect of the pro mist was on the shadows, unless I was seeing effects of camera side reflection. Not enough specularity to show it's thing until back in the studio.

[@the120ist]

No, for sure. I wasn't totally sure what it was doing until the moment you saw in the video! If that filter had been the main focus of the video, I would have gone out with it again, armed with the knowledge of what it was for! But hey ho!

[@danienelphoto]

I think the Snow Mist was meant to use on your camera you are using for video - lol - maybe they thought your face needed it! LOL, just kidding. I certainly need it for my gob. Polariser in black and white when you have no blue sky is a bit unnecessary in my experience, unless you want to deal with unwanted reflections. In colour, those green tones become awesome. In theory ND filters are CPL's stacked.

[@the120ist]

OUCH!! That hurts. As you know, I don't really do landscapes, and other than the reflections thing, and some effect on haze and such, I'm not totally sure what you're getting from a polariser. I know a few mountain landscape photographers who never take their polariser off, but that makes perfect sense, because they're shooting snowy mountain peaks, and there is a lot of glare off the snow. Interesting what you say about NDs being stacked CPLs. I have often wondered about the relationship between the two. I can't think of another way of achieving the variable ND effect without using some kind of microscopic lines, which when crossing offer little barrier to light, and when aligned offer more. Or vice versa. Whichever. Who knows. I understand what an ND does, use those all the time, especially graduated NDs. But for my photography the CPL can stay at home!