Haida NanoPro Magnetic Variable ND Filter
I’m a big fan of Haida’s filter systems and their M10 system is my go-to kit for my still work. I also capture a lot of videos, so I tried out the NanoPro Magnetic Variable ND filters from Haida. In a word - YES!
I think the NanoPro Magnetic Variable ND Filters are an excellent choice for filmmakers and for landscape photographers that want a smaller, lighter kit. I’m looking forward to continuing to use them for my video work.
The kit includes comes in a variety of standard thread sizes. In the kit, there are three pieces of glass:
Circular, polarized filter (CPL)
ND1.8 filter (delivers 2-5 stops)
ND3.0 filter (delivers 6-9 stops)
You get a lot of range with a small amount of gear.
The CPL screws into your lens and remains in a fixed position. Then, add one of the magnetic NDs and rotate the ND to the desired number of stops. The filters are clearly marked so a precise number of ND stops can be set in just moments - no guesswork! As lighting conditions change, rotate the ND to adjust or switch to a different ND. Each ND is magnetic, so switching between them in the field is easy and smooth.
As I expected, Haida delivers excellent optic quality and great build quality. What impressed me is the ease of use in the field. I also appreciated their continued attention to detail. The edge on the circular polarizer for a better grip when screwing it into your lens. Even the included lens cap is magnetic! :)
I did not observe any issues with color casts. Like any filter system, especially toward the higher number of stops, some color shift occurs. It was very minimal with the NanoPro and nothing that a gray card and a simple white balance in post can’t address.
You might like: How To Test Your Filters For A Color Cast
Haida also includes a card in the kit with guidance on vignetting and X-patterns that can be introduced by two polarized planes of glass. In brief, at wide angles, the upper end of an ND filter may produce slight vignetting. How little or how much depends on lighting conditions quite a bit. So if you’re cutting 5 stops with the 2-5ND and 9 stops with the 6-9ND, and photographing at wide angles, keep an eye on the edges of your frame for artifacts.
Summed up, this is a great kit. I continue to be very happy with Haida’s filter products. I’ll certainly continue to use the Haida NanoPro Magnetic Variable ND for my video work.
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