Technique used:

 

Camera: Sony Alpha 7 IV

Lense: Sony 85mm 1.8

NiSi Cinema Black Mist Filter 1/8  1/4  1/2

67mm-82mm Adapter Ring

 

I had the pleasure of testing the Black Mist Cinema filters from NiSi. On this way again a heartfelt thank you. I was extremely happy to test the filters.

In the following review I would like to give you a brief insight into the handling and report on my experiences with the filters.

 

Unboxing

 

The filters got to me very quickly and without any problems. They were packaged well and securely. The adapter ring comes in a sturdy clear plastic box. The filters come in a very nice and extremely sturdy plastic bag with a zip.

 

The inside of the filter bag is divided into 8 compartments, each for one filter. You can easily remove filters with one hand and put them back safely.

 

 

First I screwed the supplied adapter ring onto my Sony lens. The thread of the adapter makes a very high-quality impression and could be easily screwed onto the lens with little pressure. In the second step I turned the 1/8 filter onto the adapter ring. It was also very easy and smooth-running.

 

 

Test environment

 

Since I have never used filters in my work, I thought long and hard about what I wanted to test and in what light conditions. In the end I decided to take pictures in the evening in the setting sun in the background. This is where I feel most comfortable. The model is my son Henry, who is already used to being in front of the camera more often.

 

I positioned Henry and first took 2 pictures without a filter, then screwed the 1/8 filter onto the lens and photographed the scene, then with the 1/4 filter and finally with the 1/2 filter. This resulted in 3 scenes with 4 photos each.

 

No Filter

NiSi Black Mist 1/8

NiSi Black Mist 1/4

NiSi Black Mist 1/2

 

 

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting much at first. But when I looked at the photos on the camera screen, I was impressed.

 

What did I see exactly?

  • Highlights have been reduced.
  • The shadows in the image have been lightened, reducing the contrast a bit.
  • My son’s skin was pleasantly softened.

 

The sun in the background gets a slight GLOW EFFECT that increases significantly from filter stop to filter stop. (1/8,1/4,1/2) The filters create a warm, cinematic feel, which matches perfectly with the style of my photos.

 

I have to say, I’m an absolute lover of sunlight and love dramatic light in my photos. I was really impressed with the way the filters enhance the light in the image.

 

During the subsequent processing of the images in Lightroom and Photoshop, I did not notice any negative changes in the photos.

 

Because the light has this glow right away, I then need less time with the artificial light in Photoshop.

 

You can see a distinct difference in the different filter strengths. Sometimes there may be situations or customers who want less effect. This can be dosed perfectly by the stops of the filters.

 

 

 

Couclusion

 

The filters support me in my quest to create authentic, warm and lasting memories. They are a perfect match for my children’s portraits and family shootings. I could also imagine using them in newborn shoots to soften the baby’s skin and match it to the mother’s skin color. I hope I was able to show you a little insight into working with the NiSi Black Mist Filter. I can only recommend them and will continue to use them in my work.

 

Martina Schwer