This CPL filter worked really well when used on my latest vehicle rig. I was most concerned about the reflections the windshield would create at some point during the shoot. Thanks to this filter, I was able to drastically reduce the glare and focus on my subject sitting in the car.
The filter itself is quite convenient to use. While using step-up/step-down rings can be a bit difficult to remove if you over-tighten them, in general a good rule of thumb is not to over-tighten filters. In this case I just wanted to make sure everything was incredibly secured as the rig would be in motion but otherwise I wouldn't have had this issue at all in normal scenarios.
Overall I think it's worth the price. I've used cheaper alternatives that didn't really give the same result as this K&F Concept CPL filter. Personally, I believe that using cheap gear sometimes cheapens the results and overall quality of some videos. In this case, K&F Concept did an excellent job considering the price. Yes, it's definitely premium, but it's worth the price.
The filter itself is quite convenient to use. While using step-up/step-down rings can be a bit difficult to remove if you over-tighten them, in general a good rule of thumb is not to over-tighten filters. In this case I just wanted to make sure everything was incredibly secured as the rig would be in motion but otherwise I wouldn't have had this issue at all in normal scenarios.
Overall I think it's worth the price. I've used cheaper alternatives that didn't really give the same result as this K&F Concept CPL filter. Personally, I believe that using cheap gear sometimes cheapens the results and overall quality of some videos. In this case, K&F Concept did an excellent job considering the price. Yes, it's definitely premium, but it's worth the price.
28/02/2023
First and foremost, the polarizing filter reduces reflections and light reflections. The image can thus be freed from disturbing elements while the photograph is being taken. Even if you call yourself a «Photoshop professional», the same results can never be achieved in post-processing on the PC as with a polarizing filter. These filters can be used in different situations. In addition to the ND filter and gray gradient filter, it is one of the most popular little helpers, especially in landscape photography or simply outside. Some examples:
You want to photograph a frog in a puddle. However, the sun shines so strongly that the picture becomes glaring and the sun is reflected in the puddle. The actual motif - the frog - is given far too little attention. It is precisely in such cases that a polarization filter is used, with which the sun can be almost completely removed from the image. The focus of the viewer is then fully on the actual motif. In general, the polarizing filter is often used with reflective water surfaces.
Every object reflects light. Otherwise it would not even be visible to the human eye. However, sometimes the reflection is so strong that the colors are distorted. A lush green meadow, for example, can suddenly look pale and boring because the color intensity decreases due to the strong light reflection. The polarizing filter also helps here. So it can not only reduce reflections, but also give a motif its strong, natural color.
The K&F Concept Nano-X PRO series polarizing filter is of very high quality and could be attached to my lens without any problems.
I snapped two pictures quickly, you can see the difference. The images are unedited.
The filter comes in an elegant case, including a cleaning cloth. The magnetic closure is great.
The price is totally fine, I can recommend this filter!
You want to photograph a frog in a puddle. However, the sun shines so strongly that the picture becomes glaring and the sun is reflected in the puddle. The actual motif - the frog - is given far too little attention. It is precisely in such cases that a polarization filter is used, with which the sun can be almost completely removed from the image. The focus of the viewer is then fully on the actual motif. In general, the polarizing filter is often used with reflective water surfaces.
Every object reflects light. Otherwise it would not even be visible to the human eye. However, sometimes the reflection is so strong that the colors are distorted. A lush green meadow, for example, can suddenly look pale and boring because the color intensity decreases due to the strong light reflection. The polarizing filter also helps here. So it can not only reduce reflections, but also give a motif its strong, natural color.
The K&F Concept Nano-X PRO series polarizing filter is of very high quality and could be attached to my lens without any problems.
I snapped two pictures quickly, you can see the difference. The images are unedited.
The filter comes in an elegant case, including a cleaning cloth. The magnetic closure is great.
The price is totally fine, I can recommend this filter!
27/02/2023
I was allowed to test the K&F Concept Nano-X PRO series polarizing filter 72mm, the flagship from K&F.
At the time of the offer, the CPL filter was around 150 euros, i.e. in the upper price segment for a screw-on filter.
The filter arrives at home elaborately and attractively packaged, it makes a very noble impression. It comes with a sturdy pouch (a mix of fabric and suede appliqués) which has a magnetic lid and is also lined with very soft material on the inside, which is also good because the filter is stored in this pouch almost naked. A band is guided outwards on the side. If you pull on this band, the filter is transported upwards. So the bag is already made very nice and noble. A welded-in microfiber cloth is also included in the scope of delivery.
The filter itself is very well made, the threads (on the lens side and on the front) are cleanly cut, so it can be screwed on without any problems. The glass shows no damage or flaws. However, what I noticed about this filter is that it is difficult to turn, in my opinion a bit too difficult. The problem becomes apparent when you use it, either you screw the filter really tight to the lens, or you turn it off again. This can get annoying when aligning the CPL, because I'm used to turning the filter back and forth for this. The optical performance of the filter is really very good, there are no color errors in the image. The CPL removes reflections from surfaces and gives a cloudy sky more contrast than one is used to from a CPL. There is no vignetting on my wide angle.
I would have loved to give the K&F Concept Nano-X PRO series polarizing filter all 5 if it weren't for the difficult thing about adjusting the filter. With a filter (72mm) for about 150 euros, something like that shouldn't be in my opinion. Otherwise the filter is very good.
At the time of the offer, the CPL filter was around 150 euros, i.e. in the upper price segment for a screw-on filter.
The filter arrives at home elaborately and attractively packaged, it makes a very noble impression. It comes with a sturdy pouch (a mix of fabric and suede appliqués) which has a magnetic lid and is also lined with very soft material on the inside, which is also good because the filter is stored in this pouch almost naked. A band is guided outwards on the side. If you pull on this band, the filter is transported upwards. So the bag is already made very nice and noble. A welded-in microfiber cloth is also included in the scope of delivery.
The filter itself is very well made, the threads (on the lens side and on the front) are cleanly cut, so it can be screwed on without any problems. The glass shows no damage or flaws. However, what I noticed about this filter is that it is difficult to turn, in my opinion a bit too difficult. The problem becomes apparent when you use it, either you screw the filter really tight to the lens, or you turn it off again. This can get annoying when aligning the CPL, because I'm used to turning the filter back and forth for this. The optical performance of the filter is really very good, there are no color errors in the image. The CPL removes reflections from surfaces and gives a cloudy sky more contrast than one is used to from a CPL. There is no vignetting on my wide angle.
I would have loved to give the K&F Concept Nano-X PRO series polarizing filter all 5 if it weren't for the difficult thing about adjusting the filter. With a filter (72mm) for about 150 euros, something like that shouldn't be in my opinion. Otherwise the filter is very good.
27/02/2023
I tested the K&F Concept Nano-X PRO series polarizing filter 67mm with the Sony A7RII on a Sony SEL-20F18G. I use polarizing filters 99% of the time in landscape photography. Since the effect can practically not be recreated in post-processing, a polarizing filter is one of the only material filters that I use regularly, along with neutral density filters.
The K&F is one of the slim filters. This can prevent vignetting in the extreme wide angle, but makes handling much more difficult due to the narrow version. Due to the design, this is the case with almost all manufacturers. After all, the filter has a threaded socket at the front, so that several filters can be screwed on one after the other. Lens hood and lens cap can also be attached depending on the type. The filter comes in a high-quality, sturdy bag with a magnetic closure. As a small gimmick, the manufacturer also includes a microfiber cloth for cleaning.
The thread can be unscrewed cleanly. The rotary version runs cleanly and smoothly. Due to the slim design, handling is sometimes very difficult. On the one hand you have to be careful not to screw the filter too tightly onto the lens, otherwise it will be difficult to loosen it by hand. On the other hand, turning the filter counterclockwise runs the risk of unintentionally loosening the filter if it is not screwed on tightly enough. Operation is also no longer possible with the lens hood attached.
The glasses come from the Japanese house Asahi Glass and appear to be highly coated. I couldn't detect any loss of sharpness, even at extreme magnification. I could detect a minimal color deviation into the reddish. But this is really hardly noticeable. Since the lens I used is not prone to lens flares, I was glad that the filter didn't deteriorate. The filter absorbs almost exactly one f-stop of light, which is a very good value. The filter effect is good, but I honestly didn't expect anything else in this price range.
On my attached pictures you can see the result in strong backlight, with and without a filter. I couldn't find any quality differences or lens flares here. The filter effect can be seen clearly on the leaves on the other two images. Here the sunlight falls on the bushes at an angle of about 90 degrees. The polarization effect is clear. The white balance was consistently set to daylight for all shots. Here you can hardly see the very slight color shift.
Until now, I hadn't had the K&F Concept on my radar in this price range. The results of the filter are top notch and do not detract from the quality of my high quality lenses. Unfortunately, you have to live with the somewhat difficult handling with this design, K&F is not reinventing the wheel here either. For the optical performance, however, I award the full five stars.
The K&F is one of the slim filters. This can prevent vignetting in the extreme wide angle, but makes handling much more difficult due to the narrow version. Due to the design, this is the case with almost all manufacturers. After all, the filter has a threaded socket at the front, so that several filters can be screwed on one after the other. Lens hood and lens cap can also be attached depending on the type. The filter comes in a high-quality, sturdy bag with a magnetic closure. As a small gimmick, the manufacturer also includes a microfiber cloth for cleaning.
The thread can be unscrewed cleanly. The rotary version runs cleanly and smoothly. Due to the slim design, handling is sometimes very difficult. On the one hand you have to be careful not to screw the filter too tightly onto the lens, otherwise it will be difficult to loosen it by hand. On the other hand, turning the filter counterclockwise runs the risk of unintentionally loosening the filter if it is not screwed on tightly enough. Operation is also no longer possible with the lens hood attached.
The glasses come from the Japanese house Asahi Glass and appear to be highly coated. I couldn't detect any loss of sharpness, even at extreme magnification. I could detect a minimal color deviation into the reddish. But this is really hardly noticeable. Since the lens I used is not prone to lens flares, I was glad that the filter didn't deteriorate. The filter absorbs almost exactly one f-stop of light, which is a very good value. The filter effect is good, but I honestly didn't expect anything else in this price range.
On my attached pictures you can see the result in strong backlight, with and without a filter. I couldn't find any quality differences or lens flares here. The filter effect can be seen clearly on the leaves on the other two images. Here the sunlight falls on the bushes at an angle of about 90 degrees. The polarization effect is clear. The white balance was consistently set to daylight for all shots. Here you can hardly see the very slight color shift.
Until now, I hadn't had the K&F Concept on my radar in this price range. The results of the filter are top notch and do not detract from the quality of my high quality lenses. Unfortunately, you have to live with the somewhat difficult handling with this design, K&F is not reinventing the wheel here either. For the optical performance, however, I award the full five stars.
27/02/2023
An 82mm polarization filter from the K&F Concept brand from the Nano-X PRO series is supplied.
Overall, I find the presentation very valuable, appealing and goes for me in the PRO area - the price too ;-).
The unboxing was a WOW! experience for me. A filter that puts a smile on your face when you unpack it has to be good -
..and it is.
I think the filter is really great! It is well made, makes a high-quality impression, can be easily screwed onto the Tamron 24-70mm 2.8f G2, the imaging performance is great and I don't see any dark spots, "ghosting" or the like at the edges (as with some other cheaper manufacturers /products). The reflections can already be taken out when taking pictures, which in turn reduces the tedious post-processing.
I left the scratch test at this point, after all I want to use the good glass with maximum performance ;) I don't need a scratch on it for the time being, it will inevitably come by itself at some point. Now to the one catch
:
The packaging, i.e. the transport box, is not 100% mine - why? Because I'm more of a hard-shell type, where I can put the filter. Nicely laid out in itself, but not quite as practical for me personally.
Conclusion:
for me, the polarizing filter is a great choice. Certainly not a snapper at first glance, but you also get a high-quality product for such a price. I have already mentioned the weakness with the case mentioned above. It's not really my thing, but ultimately it's also a matter of taste.
In the end, what counts is the quality of the polarizing filter, and it's great!
Overall, I find the presentation very valuable, appealing and goes for me in the PRO area - the price too ;-).
The unboxing was a WOW! experience for me. A filter that puts a smile on your face when you unpack it has to be good -
..and it is.
I think the filter is really great! It is well made, makes a high-quality impression, can be easily screwed onto the Tamron 24-70mm 2.8f G2, the imaging performance is great and I don't see any dark spots, "ghosting" or the like at the edges (as with some other cheaper manufacturers /products). The reflections can already be taken out when taking pictures, which in turn reduces the tedious post-processing.
I left the scratch test at this point, after all I want to use the good glass with maximum performance ;) I don't need a scratch on it for the time being, it will inevitably come by itself at some point. Now to the one catch
:
The packaging, i.e. the transport box, is not 100% mine - why? Because I'm more of a hard-shell type, where I can put the filter. Nicely laid out in itself, but not quite as practical for me personally.
Conclusion:
for me, the polarizing filter is a great choice. Certainly not a snapper at first glance, but you also get a high-quality product for such a price. I have already mentioned the weakness with the case mentioned above. It's not really my thing, but ultimately it's also a matter of taste.
In the end, what counts is the quality of the polarizing filter, and it's great!
27/02/2023
Transparency note:
The product was made available to me free of charge as an evaluation sample, free of any influence or expectations. My rating is based solely on my personal assessment and experience of using the product.
Evaluation:
For the quick readers I anticipate my evaluation, below I explain the details of my decision-making, my impressions of the product.
I only take a minimal point deduction and award 5 stars, i.e. 5 stars rounded up.
My only criticism is that the filter is slightly too stiff to turn, i.e. its operation when it is screwed onto the lens, but I hope that will settle down a bit over time. No, the rotation is not difficult, but a bit tough, I expect a somewhat smoother movement here.
Processing quality:
The slim frame is of very good quality, precisely processed and varnished. I appreciate slim filters, they don't build up as high on the lens and thus don't limit the angle of view, especially at the extreme wide angle.
Slim filters can have the disadvantage of being more difficult to handle because the grip ring is very thin. Here it is helpful if it is handy and that is exactly what the K&F filter is.
I can grasp the filter very well and see no problem even with wet fingers.
The glass in the filter is very high quality, optical glass, very precisely processed and absolutely flat, and also multiply coated.
First take the filter in your hand and see through it, preferably against strong contrasts and straight lines, for example a facade.
Here you can see that you don't see any interference. I don't see any distortion, the image is absolutely flat on the entire surface of the filter, and I don't see any color distortions, I'm very satisfied.
It doesn't look any different when I screw the filter onto my lens, but here there is another aspect, possible reflections, but this is exactly what a polarization filter is supposed to eliminate.
In terms of the image effect, this is absolutely indisputable, be it on the water surface or on panes, reflections are suppressed very well, as expected. But there is another aspect and that is the reflections on and behind the filter towards the lens when backlighting from small point light sources is incident at an acute angle. I don't observe any reflections here, which speaks for a very good coating and glass quality of the filter.
I was pleasantly surprised by the packaging of the filter and that starts with the attractive outer packaging in a high-quality slipcase.
It contains a flap case with a magnetic clasp, it is very decorative and practical, and is of significantly higher quality and classier than the widely used plastic boxes.
Conclusion:
The K&F polarization filter is not a bargain at currently just under €150, but it is inexpensive in the truest sense of the word and is clearly placed in the premium segment. The processing quality itself is just as impeccable as the optical imaging performance on the lens. The case that comes with it is very attractive.
Only the somewhat stiff adjustment of the alignment slightly disturbs the overall impression, so I subtract half a star for this. In the overall impression, this only plays a subordinate role and leads me to an almost unreserved purchase recommendation.
Thank you for your attention in reading my review. If you want, please give me feedback on it, I'm happy about it.
The product was made available to me free of charge as an evaluation sample, free of any influence or expectations. My rating is based solely on my personal assessment and experience of using the product.
Evaluation:
For the quick readers I anticipate my evaluation, below I explain the details of my decision-making, my impressions of the product.
I only take a minimal point deduction and award 5 stars, i.e. 5 stars rounded up.
My only criticism is that the filter is slightly too stiff to turn, i.e. its operation when it is screwed onto the lens, but I hope that will settle down a bit over time. No, the rotation is not difficult, but a bit tough, I expect a somewhat smoother movement here.
Processing quality:
The slim frame is of very good quality, precisely processed and varnished. I appreciate slim filters, they don't build up as high on the lens and thus don't limit the angle of view, especially at the extreme wide angle.
Slim filters can have the disadvantage of being more difficult to handle because the grip ring is very thin. Here it is helpful if it is handy and that is exactly what the K&F filter is.
I can grasp the filter very well and see no problem even with wet fingers.
The glass in the filter is very high quality, optical glass, very precisely processed and absolutely flat, and also multiply coated.
First take the filter in your hand and see through it, preferably against strong contrasts and straight lines, for example a facade.
Here you can see that you don't see any interference. I don't see any distortion, the image is absolutely flat on the entire surface of the filter, and I don't see any color distortions, I'm very satisfied.
It doesn't look any different when I screw the filter onto my lens, but here there is another aspect, possible reflections, but this is exactly what a polarization filter is supposed to eliminate.
In terms of the image effect, this is absolutely indisputable, be it on the water surface or on panes, reflections are suppressed very well, as expected. But there is another aspect and that is the reflections on and behind the filter towards the lens when backlighting from small point light sources is incident at an acute angle. I don't observe any reflections here, which speaks for a very good coating and glass quality of the filter.
I was pleasantly surprised by the packaging of the filter and that starts with the attractive outer packaging in a high-quality slipcase.
It contains a flap case with a magnetic clasp, it is very decorative and practical, and is of significantly higher quality and classier than the widely used plastic boxes.
Conclusion:
The K&F polarization filter is not a bargain at currently just under €150, but it is inexpensive in the truest sense of the word and is clearly placed in the premium segment. The processing quality itself is just as impeccable as the optical imaging performance on the lens. The case that comes with it is very attractive.
Only the somewhat stiff adjustment of the alignment slightly disturbs the overall impression, so I subtract half a star for this. In the overall impression, this only plays a subordinate role and leads me to an almost unreserved purchase recommendation.
Thank you for your attention in reading my review. If you want, please give me feedback on it, I'm happy about it.
26/02/2023
What you simply have to say goodbye to the filter right at the beginning are its optical properties! Regardless of whether you photograph/film cars in the automotive sector and struggle with reflections in the windows, or landscapes are more your thing: The filter from K&F fulfills exactly what I expect from a CPL and even without unwanted side effects.
Sure, the price is really high for a "normal" screw filter, but it also scores with processing quality that is appropriate for the price segment. When turning, the filter runs buttery smooth and I think with a pleasant resistance. (I really can't understand the criticism of many others here, or would you rather have a filter that is constantly accidentally misaligned because it's so smooth-running?!)
If you don't have a case for your filters, it's also a nice bonus that the K&F comes with one that's really classy. Magnetic snap closure, strap to let the filter slip out of the case without getting fingerprints on it - really nice job!
Sure, the price is really high for a "normal" screw filter, but it also scores with processing quality that is appropriate for the price segment. When turning, the filter runs buttery smooth and I think with a pleasant resistance. (I really can't understand the criticism of many others here, or would you rather have a filter that is constantly accidentally misaligned because it's so smooth-running?!)
If you don't have a case for your filters, it's also a nice bonus that the K&F comes with one that's really classy. Magnetic snap closure, strap to let the filter slip out of the case without getting fingerprints on it - really nice job!
26/02/2023
The K&F Concept filter arrives safely packed here. It comes with a duster and bag for storage.
The processing of the filter is really first class. High quality materials, excellent handling, perfect fit and not too heavy on the lens or in the hand.
The filter is simply attached to the lens using a rotating mechanism.
The filter conjures up wonderful images that you no longer have to edit.
The price is certainly a deterrent - but in my opinion you get one of the best filters on the market. Professionals MUST strike, amateur photographers CAN strike without hesitation
The processing of the filter is really first class. High quality materials, excellent handling, perfect fit and not too heavy on the lens or in the hand.
The filter is simply attached to the lens using a rotating mechanism.
The filter conjures up wonderful images that you no longer have to edit.
The price is certainly a deterrent - but in my opinion you get one of the best filters on the market. Professionals MUST strike, amateur photographers CAN strike without hesitation
26/02/2023
Neutral density filters have become indispensable in photography. Especially in landscape photography they are constantly used. You know those great pictures of flowing water that look so "fluffy" soft - for something like that you need a neutral density filter, for example.
A neutral density filter or "ND filter" (neutral density filter) absorbs the light, allowing you to expose longer. It looks so amazing because of that long exposure and the movement of the water.
Taking pictures with a neutral density filter obscures the incoming light and allows you to take better pictures in very bright environments.
In turn, using a ND filter in bright environments allows you to shoot with a larger aperture or slower shutter speeds.
You can achieve beautiful effects by taking pictures with a longer exposure time.
Images tend to be overexposed when you use a particularly slow shutter speed.
With a gray filter you can prevent this and take pictures with a long exposure time despite a lot of light.
As a result, movements blur and flow into one another.
For example, you can display water or clouds as well as fast-moving objects in a particularly creative way.
The K&F Concept Nano-X PRO series ND1000 filter impresses with its excellent quality, it is delivered in a stylish case (magnetic closure). Including cleaning cloth.
I shot the five pictures and numbered them. The difference is obvious.
The filter is worth the money, it is simply screwed on and even my lens protection still fits on it.
This filter makes you want more and gets full marks from me!
A neutral density filter or "ND filter" (neutral density filter) absorbs the light, allowing you to expose longer. It looks so amazing because of that long exposure and the movement of the water.
Taking pictures with a neutral density filter obscures the incoming light and allows you to take better pictures in very bright environments.
In turn, using a ND filter in bright environments allows you to shoot with a larger aperture or slower shutter speeds.
You can achieve beautiful effects by taking pictures with a longer exposure time.
Images tend to be overexposed when you use a particularly slow shutter speed.
With a gray filter you can prevent this and take pictures with a long exposure time despite a lot of light.
As a result, movements blur and flow into one another.
For example, you can display water or clouds as well as fast-moving objects in a particularly creative way.
The K&F Concept Nano-X PRO series ND1000 filter impresses with its excellent quality, it is delivered in a stylish case (magnetic closure). Including cleaning cloth.
I shot the five pictures and numbered them. The difference is obvious.
The filter is worth the money, it is simply screwed on and even my lens protection still fits on it.
This filter makes you want more and gets full marks from me!
22/02/2023
This filter and its packaging exude quality. But of course, no matter how nice the packaging and presentation, it all comes down to the filter itself, and this filter did not disappoint.
I tried it out on my Nikkor 24-85 on a Nikion D800 for some basic comparison test shots (see my pics). The polarizer rotates easily and feels fluid. Choosing the right spot is pretty easy. I did not notice any deterioration in image quality, which confirms the glass and coating quality.
It comes in a really nice case with a wrist strap. The box even converts into a picture frame... pretty clever. It also comes with a vacuum packed lens cloth which I haven't opened yet so can't comment on how nice it is. Overall it appears to be a very high quality filter for their new flagship Nano-X PRO series.
I tried it out on my Nikkor 24-85 on a Nikion D800 for some basic comparison test shots (see my pics). The polarizer rotates easily and feels fluid. Choosing the right spot is pretty easy. I did not notice any deterioration in image quality, which confirms the glass and coating quality.
It comes in a really nice case with a wrist strap. The box even converts into a picture frame... pretty clever. It also comes with a vacuum packed lens cloth which I haven't opened yet so can't comment on how nice it is. Overall it appears to be a very high quality filter for their new flagship Nano-X PRO series.
22/02/2023