What is the Best Variable ND Filter for Filmmakers? NiSi True Color VS. PolarPro's PMVND II

[@timpolster]

Thanks. The NiSi is so much better from a color perspective. About the best I have seen.

[@nico_mederos]

the best comparison you can find! skin tones color its what matters

[@arhon888]

Thanks for sharing. I would be great to say how they perform when shooting towards the sun. This is where my current filter struggles.

[@NickDelDuca]

I cannot get the green shift out of my footage with the Freewell VNDs I'm currently using. The polar pros add a more pleasing shift and that's why people have seemed to like them. Other brands and the ones I'm using add a dirty nasty green yellow that just looks awful. I'm not sure that doing a custom white balance actually takes care of it. Even balancing off a gray card things still look a bit weird in post. You would also think that AWB would work to some degree as well but it definitely does not. All the AWB clips I shoot have a strong color cast. I'm really thinking these NISI filters are going to be what I need because I primarily film people and need accurate skin tones.

[@AlecKinnear]

Apparently it's absolutely necessary to custom white balance at all times when using a VND, with possible exception for NiSi True Color when using the in camera fixed settings (sunny, cloudy, tungsten, etc). The VND confuses AWB in almost all cameras and you end up with funky colours. The green shift for Freewell VND worries me. I've never liked a green cast and fighting one's footage constantly sounds hellish.

[@ChristinaDobre]

This is so so helpful!!! I'd love to see a full length test :)

[@mclovin1071]

Isn't he your boyfriend?

[@flysign6497]

@@mclovin1071 no, he isnt into men. He is a friend of mine. Love this guy, he such a cool guy

[@MarieLou3M]

I prefer the NISI true color NF filter, better skin tone

[@sladjj]

What about sharpness? is it reduced with the Nisi filter?

[@BESTOFTHEABOVE]

Yeye very useful!

[@nowornevervdo]

I have PM 1st edition I have my WB on 4200

[@ExploringWorldYouTube]

Hi, thanks to share this interesting video. Did you test B+W XS-Pro Digital ND Vario MRC Nano too? In your opinion which is better? Thank you.

[@jof1954]

Question: do ND filters interfere with the autofocus or post stabilization? I shoot Sony A7iv.

[@mclovin1071]

Always doing good work

[@JakkridMike]

Thanks for sharing.

[@JacobGagoOfficial]

Thank you

[@ginotarabotto]

Hi man, big fan of work. Can you make a tutorial on how go about setting exposure and later grading with the z6 ii? On the Atomos ninja v if possible.

[@juancruzfagin4713]

great vid! what camera and lenses did you use for this video?

[@JohannBeute]

This was shot using the Sony A7 IV, and a set of Vintage Nikkor AI-S lenses

[@BeerCharger]

Great video! Keep that SEO game on point ;)

[@AbhijitBoro]

If I Shoot In S-Log3 (800 ISO) At Bright Sunlight.... Do You Think 1-5 Stops Will Be Enough To Use At F1.8 Aperture...

[@JohannBeute]

That depends on your framerate. If you are shooting at 24fps, requiring a 1/50th shutter then no, it will not be enough. However, if you are shooting mainly 120fps, requiring a 1/250th shutter, then it would be enough. And you could even get away with 60fps at 1/125th shutter in some scenarios.

[@AbhijitBoro]

@@JohannBeute Thank You Bro... Made My Doubt Clear.... Gonna Buy 5-9 Stops ND....

[@innstikk]

@@AbhijitBoro I'd rather get a regular ND filter and use the 1-5 on top

[@Audaucity]

Just curious, which camera did you use to test these filters with?

[@Indo_chef]

Were these tests with custom white balance or standard white balance presets? The nisi looks better to me

[@JohannBeute]

Each scene was shot with exactly the same white balance, and the clips were not colour graded, except for extremely slight global exposure adjustments, as my exposure would be a tiny bit off when trying to re-expose with each filter.

[@Wha2les]

@@JohannBeute so in your video where you said one should do white balance after putting on the filter, you didn't do that in the video footage?

[@AlecKinnear]

Of course not as then we wouldn't be able to see the difference between the filters. The custom white balance was done without a filter, native, unfiltered. Johann said in the video that with custom white balance it should be hard to tell the difference.@@Wha2les On the other hand, even with a custom white balance a colour cast often does seem to be work itself into footage in a subtle way.

[@Kubrick789]

The question would be : after WB, which one is the best? Because, we NEED to do the WB when we put an ND filter. So... I don't really understand the point of this video?

[@AlecKinnear]

To show us the underlying characteristics of a filter. The less colour correction required the better.

[@Alekhind]

PMVND - skin hulk :D

[@charliemcgrain]

Did you do custom white balance once you had the filter on?

[@JohannBeute]

No I did not

[@charliemcgrain]

@@JohannBeute I know it can be a little time consuming for run and gun, but, on any movie set, you light the scene, then do a white balance. Same with any filters, put the filter on the lens then do a white balance. This generally negates most of the color shift.

[@JohannBeute]

@@charliemcgrain I am aware, thanks. However, this video's purpose is to showcase each ND's color cast, which would be a lot more complicated if each scene was custom white balanced. So it's apples to apples here!

[@charliemcgrain]

Many thanks for the content, but if newbees are watching this they might get the wrong impression.

[@dmytrokhlystun4707]

Nice

[@trueblastmixingmastering7269]

Nah. That Peter mc is whack. Unless you're TRYING to go for that, nisi is where it's at.