Is the NiSi Ture Color Variable ND Filter Really Colour Neutral?

[@jbairdexp]

What do you went you can't below ISO100? You buy a Nikon? Sorry, couldn't resist. lol

[@ChrisSalePhoto]

There has to be at least one advantage to switching from Canon to Nikon. I guess this would be it! :)

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

I only use VNDs for video, in order to control shutter speed in bright light as you demonstrated. They have two glass elements, so twice the potential image degradation of a single ND. IMO they're not ideal at all for stills. The other problem with screw-in filters is that you really can't stack them without increasing vignette, especially noticeable with wide-angle lenses. So your polarizer stacked with even a regular ND screw-in filter could result in vignetting. The advantage of drop-in systems like NiSi or Lee, or magnetic systems like Kase, is the filters are mounted on an adapter that's wider than the front element of almost all commonly-used lenses. So, no risk on vignetting even if you stack them.

[@CraigNiesenPhotography]

Chris, thank you for the very informative video about the Nisi variable ND filter. It is cool to see your comic wit shining through as well.

[@brucedelorme5026]

Good information for sure Chris. Always enjoy! Hope you are feeling better. I own a variable but dont think over ever used it.

[@DavidSwarthout]

Good job. I don't really do many landscapes but the review and analysis you presented was very well done.

[@hoodoo_taco]

Good lesson! Thanks Chris!!

[@desgardner4627]

I don't use filters for the facts that you mentioned putting a piece of glass or plastic in front of your lens simple is not good for sharpness, but because of the pandemic I watch more and more landscape photographers on here, so sometimes I just wish I had such a filter on some of the scenes that I try and photograph! Thank You for the Demo......

[@SimonBurnCreative]

Great review Chris, many will find this very useful. I have zero interest in VNDs for photography, but they are essential for video, as you mentioned. That looks like a good one! I would have paid to see you do a dishwasher review. 😆

[@hejlsberg]

Hey, great video! May I ask if you tested the filter on a wide angle lens and if so how did it perform in terms of any vignetting please?

[@jimwlouavl]

Very good demo, Chris. You seemed to be having fun with it.

[@christopherbeckerdite4273]

Well done. Very informative. I appreciate your time and effort making this for us.

[@GingerPhotographer]

Nice video Chris - filters have come along way and I believe Variable ones are the way ahead when you want to lighten the load.. Kudos.

[@TravelsofRedRover]

Chris - Enjoyed the more animated take of the video. I am a filter user and use the NISI system but I don’t use their variable filters. Very good presentation. I completely agree that purchasing a few better quality filters is definitely the way to go. Take care. Bye for now.

[@MiguelACoronaDM]

Hi Chris - I don't know. It would be nice to see you hauling that dishwasher to that waterfall to compare the cleaning abilities of machine vs rushing water. Just a thought. I owned a variable filter for a time and found it very handy for waterfalls. Unfortunately, I broke it and never replaced it due to the cost. Plus, I could only afford to purchase it for one lens. Since then I did purchase the NISi filter system and I've been very happy with the quality of the glass. As you noted, a potential challenge was the ability to cut out glare, which the traditional NiSi system does fabulously. Definitely a nice piece of kit to have for the flexibility it provides. Looking forward to the dishwasher video. Stay well.

[@giannisac1978]

Hi Chris, how are you? I have abused several brands of VND and… I believe they aren't good enough. I have experienced problems with wide lenses (well known cross effect) or strong vignette with CPL (due to fact that VND are actually 2 CPL paired). Another issue that I have found (mostly with more economic brands) is a shade in luminosity and tones from corner to corner while framing under particular light conditions. After years of struggle I throw them in the bin and bought some classic screw circular ND, every problem fixed! Thanks for sharing as usual. I keep on watching every content you provide… so helpful!

[@laurelb8372]

Circular filters can be handy & weight saving but buy size for widest lens and then a set of step down rings.

[@Nedy_Pictures]

Please help! I recently got a sony a7siii and am confused about what solid ND filter to get ... I will be mostly shooting... Aputure: F2, Shutter: 50, Iso: 640 in bright sunlight. Please any recommendation on how many stops of ND filter i should buy?

[@JandKWildTube]

Nice Vlog Chris very informative thank you

[@theoutdoordogphotographer]

Defiantly something I would like to add to my bag. I currently use Cokin square filters, knowing they were not great but we're in my price range. Nisi have always been on my list and this would be a great starting point.

[@aldoibz3553]

I would like to get the Nisi Vario 1-5 for my Fujifilm 20 aps-c, I have a doubt since I will get the Fuji 67 mm vario and will I buy a step up? Since the camera is an APS-C, this filter is fine, I can't find any information about it? Do you recommend purchasing two Vario filters for the different diameters or just the 67 mm one

[@CookedLight]

Real world testing is much more practical than lab tests 🤘🏻

[@paulcookphotography]

Great video Chris. Some great points in here. No ND filter is going to be quite as sharp as using no filter, it's about to what degree it degrades the sharpness. And I feel like almost all ND filters have a bit of blue color cast, again, it's about how much or little. I used to use Lee Filters but such a bad color cast for such an expensive product. I currently use a local Florida company for my ND filters, very sharp images and very little color cast. And the third great point, definitely avoid the cheap filters. You almost always get what you pay for. But this Nisi Variable ND definitely looks like a pretty good product at a pretty competitive price with other good circular filters. Good stuff as always Chris. Sorry for the novel.

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

FWIW I switched from Lee to NiSi ND filters (square drop-in) for the same reason: the color cast. NiSi filters cost more, but they're very color neutral.

[@Chris-NZ]

Interesting piece Chris , I couldn’t find the Nisi the same as yours here in NZ but it works out at about NZ $400 + getting it from B and H back to NZ . I do have one from a “lesser brand” which was none the less well reported on in reviews which I got to try out a couple of years back. Totally handy at lower ND values for video but for serious long exposures I found I couldn’t really get it dense enough and reverted back to standard ND filters. Maybe I’ll give it another spin (pardon the pun) at the lower end for stills :) Are you going to the same sponsored weekend as Gary G ? :)

[@andybaden9276]

Interesting video Chris, I have used variable ND’s for a while but not in landscape photography. I have used them in aeroplane photography to get what is called prop blur, where you need to get the shutter speed down to between 90-180 ish depending upon type, aperture 5.6 - 8 lens sweet spot, it saves using a high F stop. Will give it a go though,

[@JamesParkerPhotography]

"This one is reassuringly expensive" - I actually snorted my coffee. I have tried a few variable ND filters and have been dissatisfied with all of them. I can see how useful it would be for video though.

[@RiccardoPareschi]

Nice interesting video Chris. I bought one at the beginning of my experience of landscape photography. Bad experience, perhaps because I bought a variable ND not very expensive. I prefer my set of square filters and, when I want to travel light, I've a circular polarizer and a circular ND 1.2 just in case...

[@TimberGeek]

My filter situation is pretty sad, I suspect all of them combined don't add up to the price of that one. Mind you two of mine are home made using a 77 to 95mm and a 95 to 105mm(?) adapter rings with solar film rubber cemented into them to photograph last summer's annular eclipse. I think I have a 95mm CPL that cost all of $8. ;-D

[@keithpinn152]

Hi Chris: I really enjoyed the hearing about your experience with the Nice filter, and this was certainly a departure in content from your normal video. I could certainly see the advantage that having this filter would make. I have a variable ND filter but it is a really cheap one and I simple don't use it. As you rightfully indicated, you need to spend more money to get much better results. Cheers, Keith

[@sander5086]

Great video Chris!! The problem I'm having with circular filters is, that you have to buy multiples of them. If you have different lenses with more then one diameter (like 67, 77 and 82mm I'm having). But it looks like the perfect tool for your videokit👍👍

[@JeremyHalterman]

The rule of thumb is that one should purchase filters that fit the largest lens in a kit (or are even a bit larger in case a larger lens comes into the family down the road) and use step-up rings to adapt that one filter onto smaller lenses. Step-up rings are very inexpensive, but be sure to spend the extra couple bucks to get brass rings instead of aluminum ones! An aluminum ring can bind to filter threads and become very hard to remove without damaging the filter or lens to which it is attached.

[@clintwood1983]

Nice video, cheers.

[@timrosenburgh9485]

Interesting video Chris, Unfortunately i won't be investing that amount of money for one.

[@schmidt28117]

I have started experimenting with waterfall photos. I have an old full frame Nikon D700 and a couple of lenses. I bought some inexpensive filters, a circular polarizer and a variable ND. When using the wide angle lens, something like 15-35, can show banding across the photos with the filters. The front lens element is very convex and 77mm. I was using 77 mm filters. I also have an APSC Nikon D7100, and have used an 18-55 lens for this. With step up rings and the same filters. The front element of the 18-55 is flat, and I get no banding with the 2 filters. Suggestions? Get a bigger filter for the 15-35? Variable filters won't work with vey convex lenses? Thanks

[@rnavarrete1956]

I have had the exact same problem with wide angle lenses, not as much with normal to tele lenses. ☹️

[@williamcurwen7428]

It is extremely difficult and costly to make an ND filter that does not have either a colour cast nor leaks infrared light onto the sensor, and is virtually impossible on a variable ND. 1 to 5 stops is not enough if you are working at very wide apertures. If I want a 10 minute exposure @ F1.2 then it’s a job for a 15 stop ND filter. So I prefer to have my own set of large single glass ND filters and a set of stepping rings. I don’t work with polarisers as they kill the image for me. I imagine the Nisi is very good but it has its own limitations.