55mm Black Mist 1/4 + ND2-400 Variable ND Filter with Double-sided 28-layer Anti-reflection Green Film and Lever Nano-Xcel Series

They sent me a new version of the filter that doesn't have the x vignette and works much better!

Not sure what I expected getting this filter but it definitely has an X vignette. I used it on the iPhone 15pro max and the .5 lens especially is noticeable. Good news is it kind of works for a vintage / low-fi look. The promist aspect of it is great though.

K&F Concept black diffusion Mist ¼ effect & Variable ND2-400 is the first combination filter I am trying out. At first look, the filter comes in a very nice retail box. Inside the filter is package in another soft storage case. There is a strap that when you pull it will push up the lens out from the storage case. The lens feels solid with a orange turning knob that allows easy turning of the lens. On one lens you can small faint black dots at an angle. I think that give the mist effect on the photo? Overall, I am surprised the lens is made in China. Most of my early filter lens is from Germany or Japan.The dreaming effect of the lens is interesting. I am learning how to use it. It gives a softer effect but also diffuses the background sun light in an exaggerated effect which often would overtake the subject. The ND filter is good to increase the exposure time. But the filter does not have a hard stop to tell you how much light is restricted. It is great for video since it is stepless, for still photo you will need to play with the setting.I am new to this combination filter and using it on Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8. At the end of the testing the ND filter, it accidently locked onto my UV filter. I am waiting on the lens wrench to unscrew the filters apart.

Great piece of glass. No issues so far. Love that this combines a mist and nd into one filter. Comes in a nice leather case.

This thing is beautifully made and beautifully machined. All of the rotation are smooth and fluid. The low profile brass ring screws on the lens barrel perfectly.This is an interesting diffusion filter which gives you a variable neutral density while at the same time giving you 1/4 soft effect. The result is gorgeous. I prefer the optical effects to the digital ones and it certainly saves time when you were doing video.The glasses optically perfect and the neutral density gives me the option to lower down the shutter speed to get some smoother shots on things like moving waves. The diffusion effect is subtle but it softens the edges of the shadows just enough to give you a nice pleasing effect. It also works great on skin.I was able to enhance this sunset shot in camera with this filter without having to do any digital processing. The shadows were harsh and the sun was a little too bright. This soften the light and at the same time allowed me to smooth out the water with a longer exposure.

Pros:1) Retains image sharpness2) Warmer color cast (which I prefer)3) Higher contrast than Freewell4) Larger range ND range than Freewell5) Build quality better than Freewell6) Better carrying case than FreewellCons:1) Each ND stop does not have a hard stop or even a numeric indicator so you're not sure if you are on ND 8 or ND 16. This can be a con for some but for my use it is not a big deal as I primarily shoot video and use a monitor to gauge my exposure and just rotate the ND until exposure is correct.2) Filter does not have a hard stop when it reaches 400 ND and you can keep rotating it till you get the X pattern.I'm comparing this filter to Freewell ND mist version since that seems to be the most popular ND filter being used especially in the wedding videographer circles.In terms of overall build quality I want to say the K&F filter definitely feels a lot better. Even the overall packaging makes you feel like you bought a premium product. I really like the rubberized coating they use. It feels very premium and it has a good weight to it. The anodized orange indicator is nice and allows you to adjust the ND stop easily. The case that comes with K&F's filter is much more useable and compact compared to the bulky plastic cases that freewell gives. (There was a time thatfreewell's filters wouldn't even fit their case if you installed the magnetic cap which was a huge oversight on their part although I do wish K&F had a magnetic cap as well since those are the best IMO)I am primarily a video shooter and I was hoping that the filters would have similar color casts but unfortunately they don't. It's not hard to fix this in post but still would have been nice if they did match as I have multiple cameras. I do however prefer K&F's color cast as I tend to like warmer images. I also like the halation on this filter more than I do the freewell. If you look at the image where I put the two side by side the K&F is more contrasty and the light spread is kept where it should be and not across the entire image like how the freewell does it. This looks a lot more natural to my eyes. In terms of sharpness I could not see a distinct difference between the two. Both look excellent.Biggest gripe that I see other people having is the fact that there is no indicators on the filter aside from the first ND2 and ND400. The rest of the stops are indicated by dots. I don't know why manufacturers create an excellent product and then do these kinds of small short cuts. Although for me in real world use this probably wouldn't affect me, it did make testing the two different filters a pain. This is the reason why I have only included one comparison shot because I could only test the ND2 on both filters as that is the only two ranges that are clearly marked on both filters.At the end of the day in spite of some of it's shortcomings the filter does do an excellent job of what it is supposed to do. Cut light without messing with overall image sharpness or colors and give it that nice "cinematic" glow and I honestly think it does it better than Freewell. Thumbs up from me and will be using it at my next paid gig.

If you want to take stunning photos in bright sun, this is a the filter for you. I was shooting with the sun in front of me it filtered out the harsh light, nicely. It is easy to put onto my lens, easy to take off and easy to turn. I like that I can leave the filter on and still take shots of birds and not lose quality. I found that the waterproof feature was a nice feature, for ocean shots, but I did notice that dust clung to it, when I put it on the lens. A great all around filter for landscapes or birding.

This black diffusion filter is great for getting that film love it for my productions

K&F makes really good products. This Black mist with variable ND is great. It is the only filter you need when you want the benefits of a mist filter but also need to cut light with an ND. Previously i had to stack an ND on top of my pro mist filter to achieve this look. This single filter is less to keep up with and is less glass to put in front of your expensive lenses.The carrying case looks great. It has a premium look to it and protects your filter from potential damage. This is an amazing filter that offers optimum image quality and the ND does not display the notorious X when you scroll too far in your ND range.

Great filter and the variable adjustment is a huge easy button when dealing with different lighting conditions. Just spin the dial and get the the exposure value you need...super easy, never have to swap out a filter.

This is one of those filters that you need in your camera bag. The Mist filter gives your photos this soft and dreamy look. I shot with them in a forest where the light was coming through the trees and I was so happy with the results. The build quality is fantastic and bomber.