Variable ND Filters Compared // Is PolarPro's PMVND the Best?

[@SidneyDiongzon]

THIS. IS. PHENOMENAL. Thanks for putting in all that hard work homie!!

[@geraldundone]

Thanks, Sidney! 😃👊

[@PhilandAlex]

It is an AMAZING video, isn't it. There was SO much thoughtfulness that went into this video ( and all of Gerald's)! 👊

[@GeraldBertramPhotography]

You are really putting together a great library of information that folks can turn to if they want detailed, Sheldon Cooper level details on videography and photography subjects. I know if I'm researching something in this area I always check to see if you have done a video on it first and not just because of that glorious first name of yours.

[@geraldundone]

Thanks, Gerald! That means a lot. I would say that's the highest praise I could ask for and is exactly what I've set out to do with this channel. So thanks a lot for saying that.

[@thegreatneess]

@@geraldundone have you try VND from haida ? both pro-ii S and nanopro

[@Hunselmann]

You are so right... his videos are so valuable! Not only talking but testing in all thinkable circumstances. Gerald is great and he deserves so much more subscribers!

[@AJDivina]

100%

[@warnercortez6195]

You are just the best man 👍💯 I had to subscribe

[@MichaelCoustier]

I just spent 20 minutes being entertained by a filter video.

[@geraldundone]

Thank you very much! That's very nice to hear. 😃🙏

[@DanielBrown-yw5zc]

Right I said the same thing lmao and I don’t want it back

[@DavidSkok1]

Gerald, now that Moment have come out with their variable ND filter range at $150 compared to $250 for the Peter McKinnon filters, I would love to see your comparison review of these two competitors. In particular the thing that I really care about is the amount of color shift that ND and Variable ND filters introduce. Your reviews are excellent and very fact-based, versus personal opinion-based, so the best out there for this kind of thing. Thanks!

[@capnshankz3303]

No bias review even if sponspored. Keep it up. You are of the people the world needs.

[@MomentumProductions1992]

Gerald, this was absolutely DONE! - Done right that is! Great work!

[@geraldundone]

Thanks, dude! Appreciate it. 😃💜

[@mandmwest]

I've watch ten variable ND videos this morning and this was absolutely the best. Liked, subscribed and will definitely be checking out your other videos. Thanks!

[@benharris3949]

I was so surprised when I got to the end of the video and realised it was 20mins, it sure didn’t feel like it. All killer, no filler. Stellar stuff as always.

[@geraldundone]

Thanks, Ben! That's great to hear. I was worried about the length so I really appreciate that.

[@impopet]

Oh man, I'm exhausted yet fulfilled. Appreciate the level of detail.

[@geraldundone]

Thanks, Miquel! 😃

[@WorldofThaiFood]

Watching this in 2020 - we are in the market to replace our trusty 82mm Tiffen VND and really appreciate this thorough and unbiased review. Will pick up the Polar Pro 2-5 for shooting Scandinavian content and the 6-9 stop filter for Thailand... Thank you!

[@stalman]

I was so confused when I heard the people were surprised by the price of the PolarPro VND. They decided to make a great filter instead of a mediocre one and released the least expensive premium filter

[@geraldundone]

I think that's a very fair assessment. Cheers, Tyler!

[@baqcasanke]

Never made sense to me when people put a 20$ piece of crap glass filter in front of a 1400$ lens and 1500$ camera body. Like why have all those impressive elements to keep the light pristine if youre just gonna muck it up in the very beginning with a cheap filter 🤣

[@MattsKennels]

@@baqcasanke 😂😂

[@evocati6523]

@@baqcasanke because the most expensive thing isn't always the best

[@Qlicky]

@@baqcasanke The point here is why would you spend $250 on something if $125 thing performs the same.

[@joshuatatro4503]

I really appreciate the thoughtful inclusion of and comparisons between the budget and high-end spectrum filters. Incredibly useful from a no-nonsense, pragmatic perspective.

[@geraldundone]

Thanks, Joshua! Cheers.

[@MariuszGajdzik]

Damn, such a detailed test with so many filters. I've been using Tiffen and K&F and I can see the difference in sharpness on my Sony A7r2 + Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 combo, but I do like the K&F stops much better, it's much easier to control and not overrotate the filter to get the X pattern. I think in the future I will be getting something better but for now those work for me

[@ErikFORV3RT]

Trying to correct Zomei Variable ND Issues for hours in post brought me here. Nice to see that it's due to me being a € hunter. And this nearly 1 year old review is killing it. Gerald thanks!

[@KardosoMedia]

Hands down best review on this filter. Great job!

[@icanhearyoucanyouhearme9164]

I can’t count the number of times I have wanted to know something and thought, “I hope Gerald made a video about this.” Thanks again.

[@hawaiirealmedia5610]

This is the best ND review I have ever seen or read. The lesson, I guess, is you get what you pay for. But I wish you had reviewed Breakthrough filters. They don't make variables, but their reviews and ratings are almost always better than the competition. Breakthrough's site compares their filters to others, so you can see the comparisons easily.

[@geraldundone]

Thanks so much! Big compliment. Really appreciate that. Yeah, I love Breakthrough filters. I only omitted them because they weren't variable and this video was long enough! 😃

[@salami99]

i have heard break through has fake reviews I wouldn't not trust their own testing at face value. IMO, they need to be verified even with good product quality.

[@The33scap]

"I'm Gerald Undone. There is only one thing we say to death: not today"

[@DiscoverRajivVlogs]

Nice one stark boy.

[@hudsoncurry2372]

Dude, there is not a drop of information I need to find anywhere else. I am thoroughly impressed!

[@Curtis-Randall]

I just bought a cheapo variable ND filter and it came in hours before this video. At least I know what to look for if I need to return it. Talk about great timing! This was a well executed and well thought out video. Thank you for this fantastic info!

[@geraldundone]

Thanks, Curtis! I wish I could have had this video out just a hair sooner for ya. But thanks for the kind words.

[@CardonaThe2nd]

A masterclass of an ND Filter review/overview. Thanks Gerald! I'll probably be picking up the K&F Concepts variable ND for my GH5 lenses with a step up rig to future proof my purchases. Such great advice. Thanks again!

[@geraldundone]

My pleasure, Ricardo! Thanks for the kind words.

[@techsavvydaddy5616]

Gerald you rock brother! This is my 5th time watching this specific video, and every time I get something new out of it. It is the most thorough filter explanation I have ever seen. Thank you for your professionalism and detail.

[@bryanauer]

Great video bud! I use Aurora Aperture Variable ND and they are so awesome!

[@simonahhim4825]

Every question I had was answered in this video! Labelled time stamps wow! Your spoiling us! Keep up the amazing work man!

[@dennismenace4188]

Would have liked to have seen the SLR Magic in there.

[@ChristopherIan]

Same, considering they’re meant to be the best out there

[@Dulliesa]

Same here. Slr Magic MKII is the best out there.

[@barrymurphy5548]

It definitely it the best, and not silly money either.

[@eastonchang]

Absolutely brilliant video mate, I love how straight to the point you are. I was looking up variable ND filters on eBay and the brands that popped up were exactly what you ran through in your video. I haven't clicked the subscribe button for months but I had to for this. K&F it is, and a step-down ring!

[@pebmets]

This was not great. It was Great, Excellent, and Fantastic. This channel fills a place that has been missing for a long time. Interesting and technical information that is useful for whatever system you use. I personally use the Lee filter system, (the square filters or to be accurate, rectangle). Again its a personal thing. I like the greater flexibility for me with stacking filters and in my case no vignetting. Yes, its more things to carry around and a tripod is a must, but I never get a stuck filter that I curse at the end my lens :-)

[@eafortson]

Damn. I think this was for sure the most informative photography related video i've seen on youtube. And i have been binge watching everything on offer for weeks trying to decide which camera/lenses/accessories to purchase. Thank you for this wealth of knowledge.

[@rodneyf.photos]

science has never been more interesting.

[@PigOnPCIn4K]

I am mainly a mobile photographer and don't even own a DSLR so a lot of what you say goes over my head, but I'm able to keep up. Nonetheless, I subscribed because you're quality content and deserve more recognition.

[@rawsteaksauce]

Thank you Gerald! I went with the k&f with my cheap lens/camera. Great results 👍

[@cubul32]

Did you buy ALL of those yourself G? That's effort right there either way. You get in depth with a research just like I like it - then overlapping all the info to make sense of it. I'm glad I found you Gerald.

[@RyanWelshTheMandalorian]

Wow. This was EXACTLY the video I as looking for so my wife and I could figure out whether the PolarPro filter was the best value for money option on our new X-T3. For some reason, searching for essentially this video, we couldn't find it, and then I just stumbled on it. So, searchability aside, thanks for putting this together. Literally all of the information we were looking for.

[@geraldundone]

Thanks, Ryan! Perhaps you searched just before I uploaded it. It's only a couple days old. But glad it was helpful either way! 😃

[@RyanWelshTheMandalorian]

@@geraldundone Oh look at that, you're right. That's probably it!

[@PrincessAndJuan]

We're a simple couple. We see a Gerald Undone video, and we click. Always the best content, so thorough in everything he does. Thank you!

[@franklingraham3908]

You’re a legend for taking the time to make this comparison

[@geraldundone]

Thanks, Franklin!

[@LissetteSanchez]

This was a great review and comparison. Two thumbs up :)

[@peace-wink]

This was the best and thorough review of anything I've ever watched! Well made! 👍

[@michaelpoczynek]

Very helpful, thank you, Gerald. I bought my first ND Filter, the PM Polar Pro 2-5 and I am very happy with it based on my experience. Cheers!

[@andrewsytek]

Just the video I needed! I've been needing a variable ND for awhile, but wasn't sure which one to pick. Thanks for the help!

[@robertadams3666]

I was super pumped to see that you made a video on this topic. You didn’t disappoint. Thank you. I’ll be getting the polar pro.

[@geraldundone]

Thanks, Robert! Glad I didn't disappoint. Appreciate the kind words! 😃🙏

[@ladylincoln6691]

I am new to photography and I really appreciate how you put so much work into this review and helped me to make up my mind on which filter to buy. Thank you so much - excellent job!

[@timothylinn]

As usual, this comparison is best-in-class. Very informative. Thanks for putting in the work.

[@cincidy]

This video is helpful. Thank you for comparing all the filters I've been debating on and recommending filters on both high and budget end.

[@travelingtriathlete446]

Start your video with "I'm Gerald Undone, the secret identity of Shaggy from the live action Scooby Doo movies"

[@jaychauhan7844]

This is the best camera tech channel. You're awesome. "Hi I'm gerald undone. Undone gerald I'm Hi"

[@EvanSchneider]

Incredible video! Thank you so much for taking the time to put this together.

[@jonathanschanbacher3009]

Excellent as always. Seriously Gerald, I think you are the only person who I've subscribed to whose videos I watch as soon as I see they are up. You should change your name to Gerald Well Done!

[@geraldundone]

Thanks for the continued support and dedication, Jonathan! It's great to hear that. Cheers!

[@devine999]

I work up this morning signing that damn theme song form the start of your videos.

[@admiralking]

One of the best review videos I’ve ever seen! Thank you for your effort.

[@geraldundone]

Thank you very much! Appreciate it. Cheers!

[@Maros_Mari]

Big thanks! This really helped me a lot in making the decision which variable ND to buy. Great valuable information given in a clear and time economical way. I want to encourage you to do more videos comparing gear for filmmakers. Much appreciated. All the best!

[@JoshuaGunther]

Dude! Thank you so much for putting this together. Best video I have seen about these types of filters. Totally awesome. Thank you

[@geraldundone]

Cheers, Joshua! Really appreciate that.

[@benjamin_lecomte]

Complete and thorough as usual. Great work keep doing so! :)

[@StudioGalvan]

Excellent job educating us on this topic as well as providing us well thought out recommendations.

[@SirIronJim]

Congrats, the defender with the polarpro makes my decision a lot easier as to which filter to purchase, also, thanks for the info regarding the 82mm filters and the step-up rings, I would have never thought about that, it will save me a lot of money regarding purchases, GREAT Work!

[@davidburchettephotography6513]

Holy cow! Did you take a breath during that 21 minutes?! Well done 👍. Lots of data. I like b+w a lot but if I do decide to spend money on a vnd, I think it will be the PP. The deciding factor for me for the PP over the B+W is the cover/packaging.

[@raylavers4216]

my favorite vari ND comparison . If you ever do another I'd love to see Polar Pro take on Lindsey Optics BRILLIANT² 4X5.65 VARIABLE NEUTRAL DENSITY FILTER , and the Cinefade VariND .

[@jayphilipwilliams]

Absolutely outstanding review! It was so good, I clicked "Thumbs Up" 2X+1 times!!!

[@902MediaUK]

Hey Gerald, I dig your undoing hahaha. So Freewell has dropped their variable NDs with hard stops 2-5 and 6-9 same as the Polarpro Peter McKinnon ones. And now you can get the Freewell 2-5 and 6-9 stops for the price of one of Polarpro PM ones. Question is, are the Freewell ones as good as the Polarpro PM ones? Now, can you get UNDONE with the Polarpro PMs and the Freewell comparison and see if the Freewell are a good rival?????

[@JibaroTech]

Thanks man! I will go for the Polar pro thanks to you now. Great review!

[@geraldundone]

My pleasure! Thanks for the comment.

[@travelvidya833]

Just checked out the Zomei... These are great considering the price! Excellent!!

[@andrewhkim]

Great video! I bought Heliopans a while back due to the fact that I was using variable NDs for both video and stills (for flash use). Video tends to have lower resolution but for stills I started to notice some image quality degradation with cheaper VNDs (less sharp). Which is why I spent more for the Heliopans after some research. They hold up pretty well. Even shot medium format with it (with some slight degradation). Some of the cheaper ones would have fallen apart. But I didn’t have the funds to test a bunch out.

[@StorytellerImphal]

our only source of real and scientific review + a great guy.

[@geraldundone]

Thank you very much! You're too kind.

[@EMBEVIDEO]

Very good comparison! Thanks a lot for the time you invested ... and the sharing 😊

[@geraldundone]

My pleasure! Thanks for the comment.

[@rjthewise182]

You have a new subscriber because you are so honest

[@YashMenghani]

Amazing buddy, you're videos have really been helping me a lot, keep up the great work!

[@Pharesm]

Hey Gerald, much thanks for that giant comparison! That must have taken a lot of work to do! I'm leaning towards the PolarPro Vario VND 6/9 Stops Mist Edition II. But at the same time, maybe stacking filters is better, since I can't use a 6/9 filter in the evening, and I'd have to buy another mist filter without ND...

[@CamtasticRide]

Great video Gerald! Appreciate the time you put into this. Personally, I use a Syrp filter. It comes with a couple step up rings and a nice leather zippered case along with a lens cloth. I've got a standard set for dual camera matching and their super dark when extra is required. Overall pretty nice.

[@iviaverick52]

You should do a comparison: Expensive variable ND, vs affordable set of fixed ND's (say $200-ish for either a full set, or the single variable).

[@mauriceprokaziuk337]

I too was searching for ND filters for a while. Find my solution in K&F magnetic filters. No issues with screwing on filters and it comes with a magnetic lens cap. For the price point of paying less than the Polar Pro if you are cash strapped, and the fact that colourcasting is almost negligible, which can be fixed is post processing, go with the K&F.

[@sunsetchasers581]

I just switched to glass square filters, and this video is confirming I probably made the right choice. After using internal Nd on C100 it’s hard to switch back to a filter that creates a color cast, and doesn’t give you absolute stops. The polar pro is probably more convenient though, so I may have to add that if the drop in filters get cumbersome for run and gun with my riii

[@JonPaulKersey]

This video was the next best thing since sliced bread! Helped solve my dilemma, thank you!

[@Holtenstein]

Great job. I need to upgrade my Hoya to a B+H filter. Although I only use the variable ND for weddings and events.

[@creativesymon]

Bought the PMPPVND (to replace my broken Tiffin IRVND) and waited 2 months for delivery. Nothing :( Cancelled and bought a bunch of K&F ones to have on my 3 lenses. Very happy with them but gutted the PMPPVNDs are still not shipping to the UK :*****(

[@willsimpsonphoto]

This was such a great video! Very thorough and it was very unbiased.

[@jeffreyfleming4016]

Outstanding review, and very helpful!😊👍

[@cathfragment]

Great review! It helped me make a decision. Funny thing is I could tell you were from Canada when I saw the bilingual Catelli pasta box.

[@Jackourd]

Gr8 Video... Excellent description on Variable NDs ..it helps me.alot for by a solid ND or variable ND Filter....

[@EddoKloosterman]

Thank you for the extensive research you've done 🙌🏻

[@UjavaaqPictures]

Great review! But you forgot to compare with the best vnd. The PowerXND 2000 by Aurora Aperture, the first model.

[@zippo_muk9254]

*Which filters have a copper ring around the outside? It looks so amazing!*

[@kamykasedu13]

Finally !! I've been struggling for days to find comparison videos about variable NDs ! Thanks Gerald ^^ Could you give the complete references for the different filters you tested ? Also, I've read that the sharpness issue on lower budget filter was more prominent at longer focal lengths, what are your observations on that ? Thanks again for your work ! Alex

[@rammadhavmohan1890]

As always very informative, in-depth analysis. Not a huge fan of variable NDs. I went ahead and bought a b+w 6 stop fixed ND filter. At $70 I think it's a very good deal for landscape photographers on a budget.

[@geraldundone]

Thanks a lot! Appreciate you sharing your experience. I've used that 6-stop B+W. I like it. Good choice.

[@aviatorman8]

Excellent info! What a thorough review. Thank you!

[@aviatorman8]

One question Gerald: neither the PolarPro nor the BW offer a filter that covers a combined range from 2 to 8 or 9 stops, right?

[@KyleWattsTV]

Ive been using the K&f for a couple of years now and I will say it does work well and a lower budget option, but it does give some green tinting especially in sun lens flares. Just ordered my set of PMVND II (I’m hoping I actually like the haptic feedback from each stop. Mostly shoot video and Im constantly turning the nd based on environment and I hope it doesn’t effect the shot (shake and vibration) when passing through each stop

[@matteosivilotti9800]

thanks so much! saved me hours of reading reviews and watching youtube videos!! easiest thumb up and sub.

[@poiisondn]

Nice test! I liked how you introduced other types of filters. I was curious as to your take on Freewell as well.

[@moisesmvera]

Genial video muy explicativo, ¡ incluso para los que empecemos en la fotografia!

[@mdominic]

I wish you would do a video on solid NDs. Freewell, B+W, PolarPro, etc.

[@PaulKentSkates]

I use a 2 stop, 3, stop and 6 stop 52mm lenses on my 35mm and 135mm lenses that I take out to film adventure videos. So to save weight I use the smallest filters possible (52mm) in 2-3 constant ND filters I have a 2 stop, a 3 stop and a 6 stop, and I can stack 2 of them to get the desired ranges and round using my aperture. It weighs much less and I can actually clip my 52mm lens caps on the filters. This is the best quality for weight system I found. But I'd say this is only when weight is thr biggest concern. (Using a 35mm f1.8 and a vintage Pentax 135mm f3.5 on full frame canon r5 and a rsc2. 25 liter backpack with a drone, and everything I need to camp out into light snow and a couple days of food.

[@TCCR]

Bought one of the PMVND filters at NAB. Glad I did after watching this.

[@geraldundone]

Yeah, you made the right call!

[@ChrisHershman]

This was extremely helpful! Thanks for breaking it all down so well!

[@LookitsTook]

About to get the pmvnd but i've been using my k&f and i liked it enough that i've boughten to. great budget filter, stoked to move up tho.

[@franka7691]

Thanks for conducting all the tests and sharing the results, Gerald. It will be the first day of March 2020 tomorrow. Would you still recommend the PolarPro as your top value recommendation? Or are there newer recommendations?

[@juliancroot]

I feel so inadequate. I reviewed the Canon RF adapter with variable ND filter just 2 days ago, and after watching this I feel I should delete it. The detail you put into your videos is staggering...so much work has gone into this that I’m beginning to wonder if you actually sleep? For screw on filters for my GH5, I’m just using K&F cheapies. They do the job for non-critical video work, but I wouldn’t use them for any paid work. The need for High quality ND filters is probably the primary reason I keep my Canon C200 around. These Polar Pro filters seam to make a good case for themselves. Thanks Gerald.

[@geraldundone]

You're too kind! Don't be so hard on yourself. And yeah, I hear ya on the C200 filters. Gotta love built-in ND. 😃

[@Allanrpsx]

Great comparison, pleasantly surprised. I wish someone would include the aurora aperature variable nd, it seems to be the highest quality budget variable nd available, with hard stops, a quality ar coating, adjustment tab, same-size filter threads, and two range options. I got a 37mm for $50 and it has performed remarkably well with a wide 24mm lens. I don't know exactly how it stacks up against all the other filters on the market because no one is reviewing it, but I am able to get close to 4 stops with it on a quite wide lens, with modest contrast and saturation loss.

[@primo8825]

If you ever get the chance to try the NISI filters please do so. They seem to be on par with Polar Pro and B+W in terms of quality or perhaps better. They are cheaper too. Great video btw!

[@marcanthonystorm]

Thank you for the review I will buy Peter’s filter tomorrow

[@demasistudios]

My K & F is luscious. Thank you Gerald

[@rbsentertainment]

You did alright in this one actually Gerald...thanks!

[@zoranstary7229]

Thx buddy for this really deep research and report on top of it... 👍