72mm Black Mist 1/4 Special Effects Filter Cinebloom Black Diffusion Effect - Nano-Xcel Series
SKU: KF01.1482
So I think a lot of people involved in video products are very familiar with the Tiffen Black Pro Mist filters. This is K&F's version of this filter. I'll elaborate on what I think about the filter, but you can judge for yourself in one of the pictures in this review, where I show you the same image; the first without filter then with the filter.
One of the results you get with such a filter is the blooming of the highlights. This filter does that pretty well. Comparing the bloom to the Tiffen line, I'd say it's between Tiffen's 1/2 and 1/4 strength, being closer to 1/4. The highlight fall from IMO was strong but natural. Remember that the light in the image fills the frame, so you're seeing this particular effect of this filter at its most extreme. You won't see as much flowering in a more natural environment. Take a look at the camera highlights. For me, the K&F filter had a big impact on highlight roll-off, which was very smooth.
The other effect you get with a black fog filter is slightly reduced contrast and slightly softening of the shadows. For me, I thought this filter did that pretty well. If you look at the texture on the camera handle in the image, you can see how that texture is just softened. Imagine shooting a person and you can imagine how much you could smooth the skin.
It also comes in a nice little screw together plastic case. Inside the case is this little rubber stopper that keeps the filter from sliding around in the case. I love the attention to detail here.
Compared to the Tiffen version of this lens at the size I got, which was 82mm, the K&F Black Mist is about $40 cheaper. I think you get good value for your money here. Can't wait to try this filter on some upcoming shoots.
I think K&F is moving into higher end filters and if this filter is an example of the kind of quality it can produce I can't wait to see what filter they release next.
One of the results you get with such a filter is the blooming of the highlights. This filter does that pretty well. Comparing the bloom to the Tiffen line, I'd say it's between Tiffen's 1/2 and 1/4 strength, being closer to 1/4. The highlight fall from IMO was strong but natural. Remember that the light in the image fills the frame, so you're seeing this particular effect of this filter at its most extreme. You won't see as much flowering in a more natural environment. Take a look at the camera highlights. For me, the K&F filter had a big impact on highlight roll-off, which was very smooth.
The other effect you get with a black fog filter is slightly reduced contrast and slightly softening of the shadows. For me, I thought this filter did that pretty well. If you look at the texture on the camera handle in the image, you can see how that texture is just softened. Imagine shooting a person and you can imagine how much you could smooth the skin.
It also comes in a nice little screw together plastic case. Inside the case is this little rubber stopper that keeps the filter from sliding around in the case. I love the attention to detail here.
Compared to the Tiffen version of this lens at the size I got, which was 82mm, the K&F Black Mist is about $40 cheaper. I think you get good value for your money here. Can't wait to try this filter on some upcoming shoots.
I think K&F is moving into higher end filters and if this filter is an example of the kind of quality it can produce I can't wait to see what filter they release next.
25/03/2024
Nice filter. Certainly useful in certain situations. Ideal for sharp lenses, especially without character. That brings some mood into the game. It's nice to have, looks well made and I love that I can put it on a lens and still use the lens cover over the filter when not in use. I use it on my Sony 18-105 f/4 and Sigma 18-35 f/1.8 and am quite happy with the result. In my images, the last image is the one without the filter, hopefully you can get an idea of what it does.
23/03/2024
K&F contacted me to test the new Black Mist filter. It's a filter designed for videos that gives a "vintage touch" to the end result. In short: a wonderful result for photography too. It is a useful filter for portrait or landscape reportage or storytelling. You do not lose sharpness and you get a much less “burnt” light, which stretches even in the shadowed area. It's a filter that can be used in high aperture photography that "tells" an atmosphere. But let's start from the beginning. Packaging/handling: In addition to the plastic box, the filter is placed in a very durable and protective snap-on housing. The filter is a screw (rightly so, because it was created for video masers and in any case up to 82 diameters). I would have preferred a cardboard box. But the case you can see in the picture (the round one) is very useful and sturdy. The filter is durable and screws well onto all the targets I've mounted. Technical review: It has no dominant details, so the colors remain similar to the photo taken without any filter. Great! There is no light, you don't need to increase the iso when you mount it. Great! The sharpness in detail (and here comes the beauty) remains almost unchanged. They don't lose sharpness in the areas of focus, even if I wouldn't use them in Ultra-Defined Landscape photography, but for a storytelling, outdoor or portrait set, absolutely you. Autofocus is not affected by the filter, at least not on the Nikon D750 with fixed lenses. Use/Effect: It is a filter that gives photos a glow effect, very specific especially for videos and portraits in hard light or backlight. The highlights are flattened without becoming dull, and the light "enters" the shadows, giving a very soft "glow" effect. Ideal for portraits or to give a more dreamy atmosphere, eliminates clarity of the image in high-contrast areas. In the photos you can see some comparisons without filter/with filter, two portrait photos and what to expect. Result in short: it's a filter that you won't believe will fit in your kit, but when it does, it has such a special result that you'd try it in any situation. Be sure to try it!
22/03/2024
This filter is meant to show off your highlights, take away the digital look and give your footage a cinematic quality, and it does just that. The magnetic design is a great idea if you had all the magnetic filters, which would make it very easy to swap out filters. However, if your other filters are ring supported, I wouldn't buy this option. I can mount the camera upside down without the magnets failing me because it's very strong. I've kept this filter on my camera since I got it months ago. It shows you how well made it is and improves my video production. You can stack this filter, but only so that this filter comes last to reduce the chance of the front element becoming heavier on magnetization. I haven't compared this to bigger brands, but given the lower price and quality this offers, it's a no-brainer. I would definitely recommend beginners and enthusiasts alike to get “cinematic” quality out of their photos and videos.
19/03/2024
have the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II which is a Micro 4/3 camera. As a result, the lenses are tiny and have less glass to cover, making the price of these filters extremely low. So I bought both this K&F Concept 58mm Black Soft Filter 1/4 and the infamous Black Pro-Mist 1/4 Filter. It's all subjective, but I tend to prefer the look of the Tiffen Black Pro-Mist. The K&F is a bit too blooming and the image loses a lot of contrast. This makes the K&F less versatile. Meanwhile, the Tiffen is more balanced, with less bloom and higher contrast. It's perfectly acceptable for everyday use. Given the low price of this K&F filter, I'm still keeping it. But if I had to pick one, it would undoubtedly be the Tiffen Black Pro Mist Filter.
03/03/2024
I bought this filter to remove the sharpness and overly digital look of today's machines. The quality of this keF Black Pro Mist is excellent, the result is identical to the most expensive filters from Nisi. The effect, which is mainly characterized when framing light sources, creates the licho of the light around the main source, be it the sun or an artificial light. Great for adding a special touch to your photos/videos
28/02/2024
Easy to attach and noticeable flowering effect in strong sunlight. Works even smoother at dawn
23/02/2024
I bought this filter to remove the sharpness and overly digital look that today's machines have. The quality of this KeF Black Pro Mist is excellent, the result is identical to the most expensive filters from Nisi. The effect that is marked mainly when we frame light sources, creates the halo of light around the main source, be it the sun or an artificial light. Ideal to give a vintage and special touch to your photos/videos
20/02/2024
Sits well on Fuji x100v. I tried it at night, the diffusion is good and the contrast is also preserved.
14/02/2024