55mm Black Mist 1/4 + ND2-400 Variable ND Filter with Double-sided 28-layer Anti-reflection Green Film and Lever Nano-Xcel Series
SKU: KF01.2018
I'm a beginner filmmaker with the dream of making my own documentary films about some deeper or darker subject matter, and this was the perfect filter to add the sort of dark texture I am looking for in much of my footage. I need to get a 1/8th as well for the 'less dramatic' scenes, but this is a fantastic filter set. My only wish is that I would have been smarter and bought the bigger filter and a set of step up rings so I could use it on any lens I may purchase in the future. I've got a couple of K&F filters and they are really great. I love the leather-like case that they come with as well. The entire package screams quality and I'll be buying the complete line of K&F filters as I add to my kit.
22/10/2023
Everything about this was well made and executed. I love that the filter is so easily adjustable. I've been using a square slide in filter mount for years and while it works great, it's kind of a pain to have to carry a stack of filters and swap them out in the field.The downside here is it's a fixed diameter, but I typically only use it for landscapes on my go to landscape lens so not really a big deal for what I do. I also really like the case it came in. It's a nice hard sided two-tone leather like case with a magnet closure. It's easy to slide into a bag or pocket but sturdy enough to keep it protected.Adjustment of the ND stops is incredibly easy with the thumb bar. Overall, really great adjustable ND filter!
19/10/2023
If you're like me, you can't get enough dark, misty, ethereal and foreboding atmospherics in your photos. Well, that's the look I'm going for when I use this black diffusion mist 1/4 filter from K&F Concept. The Variable ND2-400 filter comes along for the ride but the Black Diffusion Mist filter is clearly...err...'not so clearly'....star of the show.I already had the K&F Black Mist 1/8 filter, which adds more of a dreamy and slightly otherworldly effect to photos. I shoot a lot of photos at night in cities, and the 1/8 filter is perfect for that scenario. Even at night, cities are bright but if you're shooting without this type of ambient light the 1/4 filter is the club you want to pull out of your bag. In some ways, both filters create an effect that evokes analog cameras. One of my favorite subjects is Southern Nevada and you can get some really cool images with these filters. I've used the 1/8 for shots in Las Vegas (spoiler alert: lots of lights there) but I'm looking forward to using the 1/4 to shoot in the desert or some of the more remote towns between there and Reno.At one point, photographers would try all sorts of tricks to soften up their images. Rumor has it that 'Penthouse' publisher/photographer Bob Guccione would slather Vaseline on the lens to get the look--'The Gooch' thought he was a much better photographer than he really was but his obsession with soft focus imagery really differentiated his publication from the more lurid competition no matter how he went about getting the effect. Less messy photographers would go with black pantyhose over the lens.I don't consider myself a serious photographer--I'm primarily a writer that started taking photos and videos to accompany content. I'm trying to learn more about photography and at some point when I have more time I'd like to get more into the artistic side of images. For now, however, I'm pretty content getting interesting photos/videos with my Nikon Z-30. I've started messing with filters to try some different effects.As for these K&F filters, they're a perfect fit for my 50-250mm telephoto zoom lens. They apparently have little black particles inside the filter to get the black mist effect--in fact, you can see them if you look closely which you will because your first reaction is that it's dirty. I can't give you an expert analysis on the build quality, but the frame is anodized aluminum and that's a pretty burly metal. The glass has 28 layer multilevel coating and it comes with a nice storage case. I have enjoyed using my 1/8 K&F filter and I'm looking forward to putting the 1/4 through its paces. Highly recommended!
03/10/2023
Tested this the other day, and I can confirm that there are no X patterns. Just be mindful of how far you adjust it. The intent was to take some daytime landscape photos beside the lake, and the pics look great. There is some color cast, but it's nothing to complain about, and easily removable with your fav editor. The only negative, is that it can be hard to remove, so don't screw it on like a bottle cap. When it stops, STOP! Do not tighten, and you will have no issue getting it off. Like many filters, you will need to take it off in order to use your lens cap.
01/08/2023
Good ND filter, no X distortion on any setting, and way cheaper than "high end" alternatives. Pic attached was taken on a blindingly sunny day and there's no post work done on it whatsoever.
03/07/2023
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.
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.
24/03/2023
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.
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.
29/01/2023
The black diffusion mist effect can be used to create a unique and artistic look to your photographs, it gives a soft and misty look to the image. The ND filter helps to reduce the amount of light entering the lens, allowing you to take photos with a slow shutter speed without overexposing the image.
Overall, the K&F Concept 67mm Black Diffusion Mist 1/4 Effect & Variable ND2-400 is a versatile and well-built filter that can enhance the quality of your photographs. The combination of the black diffusion mist and variable ND filter can open up a lot of creative possibilities and it's a great addition to any photographer's kit.
Overall, the K&F Concept 67mm Black Diffusion Mist 1/4 Effect & Variable ND2-400 is a versatile and well-built filter that can enhance the quality of your photographs. The combination of the black diffusion mist and variable ND filter can open up a lot of creative possibilities and it's a great addition to any photographer's kit.
12/01/2023
I took this VND-diffusion filter with me on a work trip to San Diego and was overall pleased with its performance. In combination with the Canon RF 24-105 F4 lens, I got consistently sharp results when shooting both photo and video. That said, this filter does not avoid the typical issues VNDs face.
Sharpness:
This is the best attribute of the filter. Sharpness was not perceivably affected by the filter, even with a 45 megapixel sensor.
Color shift:
White balance does shift radically when changing the strength of the filter. I got the best results using AWB, which instantly corrected the shifting.
Cross-polarization:
The weakest attribute of this filter: cross-polarization is very present at certain strengths and fields of view. Anything wider than 35mm will be particularly prone to this issue. That said, this is a fairly typical issue with VNDs, and the effect in this filter is no worse or better than Tiffen or many other manufacturer’s VNDs.
Diffusion:
Diffusion strength is very subjective, but I find the implementation here to be quite pleasing and suitable for most uses. It’s visible, but the strength never dominates the image.
Mechanics:
The ring is metal and very solidly-built. I have no concerns of parts weakening over time. There’s a good amount of stiffness to the rotation, so I am never worried about accidentally adjusting it when moving around.
Overall, this is a great option for someone looking for a small VND-diffusion combo that is okay with the typical issues affecting VNDs. It does not replace my Polar Pro Basecamp filter, which has a usable range devoid of all cross-polarization and color shift issues, but I do tend to leave it on when running about or traveling. As long as you’re conscious of color shift and polarization quirks, you should be very satisfied with this filter!
Sharpness:
This is the best attribute of the filter. Sharpness was not perceivably affected by the filter, even with a 45 megapixel sensor.
Color shift:
White balance does shift radically when changing the strength of the filter. I got the best results using AWB, which instantly corrected the shifting.
Cross-polarization:
The weakest attribute of this filter: cross-polarization is very present at certain strengths and fields of view. Anything wider than 35mm will be particularly prone to this issue. That said, this is a fairly typical issue with VNDs, and the effect in this filter is no worse or better than Tiffen or many other manufacturer’s VNDs.
Diffusion:
Diffusion strength is very subjective, but I find the implementation here to be quite pleasing and suitable for most uses. It’s visible, but the strength never dominates the image.
Mechanics:
The ring is metal and very solidly-built. I have no concerns of parts weakening over time. There’s a good amount of stiffness to the rotation, so I am never worried about accidentally adjusting it when moving around.
Overall, this is a great option for someone looking for a small VND-diffusion combo that is okay with the typical issues affecting VNDs. It does not replace my Polar Pro Basecamp filter, which has a usable range devoid of all cross-polarization and color shift issues, but I do tend to leave it on when running about or traveling. As long as you’re conscious of color shift and polarization quirks, you should be very satisfied with this filter!
09/01/2023
This is not my first K&F filter, and will not be my last. They have produced some great filters at a much lower price than some of the better-known name brands.
So what makes this filter special?
1-It gives you ND filtering of 1-9 stops in a single filter
2-The little orange putter makes turning the filter so much easier
3-It comes with a very nice professional looking lens pouch
4-You get tack sharp images with no filter pattern or artifacts
Is there anything not to like about this filter?
For my use, no. This filter lets me shoot at longer shutter speeds in bright light with no image degradation.
'
If you get the filter for your largest lens, with inexpensive step-up rings you can use this with all your other lenses, making the price even more reasonable.
I am a fan of K&F filters and highly recommend this to anyone needing an ND filter.
So what makes this filter special?
1-It gives you ND filtering of 1-9 stops in a single filter
2-The little orange putter makes turning the filter so much easier
3-It comes with a very nice professional looking lens pouch
4-You get tack sharp images with no filter pattern or artifacts
Is there anything not to like about this filter?
For my use, no. This filter lets me shoot at longer shutter speeds in bright light with no image degradation.
'
If you get the filter for your largest lens, with inexpensive step-up rings you can use this with all your other lenses, making the price even more reasonable.
I am a fan of K&F filters and highly recommend this to anyone needing an ND filter.
08/01/2023