What does a polarizing filter do? A polarizing filter, or CPL, reduces glare from reflected surfaces. One of the most common uses is to reduce reflection from non-metallic surfaces such as glass, water, and other wet surfaces. Placing a polarizing filter onto your lens can also minimize haze, boost the saturation of blue skies, and achieve richer colours in vibrant foliage.

With NiSi True Color CPL

With NiSi True Color CPL

The NiSi True Colour CPL Filter does the job of any other polarizing filter, but with a few added features that makes it a must-have for photographers.

The main feature of this filter is in its name; True Colour. The addition of a filter can cause unwanted colour cast in images, an annoyance for photographers who must then spend time in post-processing to remove the blue or magenta hues. The True Colour CPL produces true-to-life colour reproduction, meaning if you take an image with and without this filter and compare them side by side, there will be no colour difference. This will save you time fiddling with your white balance in agitation on location and shave some time off post-processing.

This feature itself shows that NiSi has the photographer in mind when it comes to design and build.

The Pro Nano Double-sided Coating caters to photographers whose camera lenses are exposed to the forces of nature, including rain and waterfall spray, as well as clumsy-handed photographers whose fingers find their way onto the glass often.

The pro nano coating offers a waterproof and oil-resistant barrier, alongside easy removal of dust, water staining and fingerprints. Try and leave a crime scene on this filter if you dare! A simple cleaning cloth will remove all evidence of use, leaving the filter looking brand new. Do not worry, the cine-sealed technology will ensure nothing gets between that glass.

The NiSi True Colour CPL is all about ease of use. We have all experienced a stuck filter at some point. A polarizing filter can be awkward to remove because it has two rings, unlike other filters which have one. The first ring screws onto the lens and the second is the adjustable polarizing ring. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to twist a CPL filter off only to rotate the polarizing ring instead. Twist them on too tight, and they become stuck like glue!

With a clear distinction between the lens thread and the polarizing ring, there can be no confusion as to what you are twisting when applying or removing the NiSi True Colour CPL. The knurled grip texture allows for more control and ease of removal. A hassle-free experience!

If you are looking for a high-quality and well-thought-out circular polarizing filter, this is it. NiSi has established themselves over the years as a top-quality brand, boasting a range of products with one goal: to help you take the best images possible. Without a second thought, I would recommend the True Colour Pro CPL to any photographer looking for a new circular polarizing filter.

Here are a couple of image examples, taken with the NiSi True Colour CPL.

The post NiSi True Colour CPL Review appeared first on NiSi Filters and Lenses for Camera and Cine－Beyond imagination.

The NiSi V7 filter kit contains

• Filter Holder
• True Color CPL
• Main geared adapter ring threaded for 82mm
• Lens adapter rings for 67mm, 72mm 77mm
• Polarizer cap

The V7 100mm filter holder kit comes with the new True color NC Circular Polarizer (CPL) filter, and you can use up to 3 filters that are 2mm thick. The included adapter rings should cover most of the popular landscape lenses.

I went on a weekend trip to the mountains to test out the new filter kit. 

The one thing I noticed right away, the filter holder attachment and locking mechanism is now combined as one and is very easy to use. The pull and release locking pin helps to secure the connection and the lock will secure the frame into place so it can’t accidentally pull open.

Another change the new V7 filter holder offers, is no more thread for the polarizer. With previous V6 model, you had to thread in the CPL to the filter ring, which to me was challenging at times and it took a while to get it lined up right.

I am loving the improved “Point to Point” CPL design which allows a very easy installation of the CPL filter into the main adapter. You simply align the 3 white lines, drop the filter into place and turn the filter to the right to lock. This quick mount system will be extremely helpful in the cold Alberta winters and reduces the risk of accidently dropping the filter.

The new True color CPL features NiSi’s Pro Nano coating that provides an effective polarization amount of 99.5% which is more than most other polarizer available on the market today. In addition, NiSi uses an oil-resistant layer helps to easily remove water stains and fingerprints.

As a landscape photographer, colors are very important, and I noticed that some filters give a little bit of a yellow cast on my images, so I was especially curious to test out the new true color polarizer. The Nisi True Color CPL is true to its name. The colors naturally pop and I didn’t notice as a yellow cast as with other filters.

Without CPL Filter

With True Color CPL

Carmen MacLeod

The post Review of the NiSi V7 Filter Kit appeared first on NiSi Filters and Lenses for Camera and Cine－Beyond imagination.

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 

The post Review for NiSi Cinema Black Mist Filter appeared first on NiSi Filters and Lenses for Camera and Cine－Beyond imagination.

NPL-C

NPL-S

NPL-C(G)

NPL-S(G)

Features:

-Easy connection to tripod head, both sides are Arca-Swiss compatible.

-Mortise and tenon structure, aircraft grade aluminum for strength and durability.

-Bigger rubber structure for added camera protection.

-Paint etched logo.

-Magnetic wrench attached for easy handling.

-Stainless steel screw, strong and durable.

-Compatible with full movements of flip screens.

– Retains easy access to camera battery.

-Precise fit to camera body, improved stability and consistency.

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The brass adapter ring frame is constructed with CNC milling for easy grip and removal. In addition, the brass adapter ring has Anti-reflective felt treatment on the inside to minimizes reflections.

Features:

– Made of brass, strong and durable
– CNC Milling on the exterior: convenient insertion and removal.
– Additional extinction material to avoid reflection.

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A couple of months ago I was approached by NiSi to review their new True Color ND-Vario filter. I was really curious about this filter because of the True Color technology, which we have seen in their polarizer filter, is very good! So I’ve agreed to make a review about this filter, even if I’m not a fan of Variable ND filters.

The reasons why I never used Variable ND filters are pretty simple:

– One of the most common problems you find with Variable ND filters is vignetting as you rotate the filter to add or subtract darkness.

– Another common problem found with Variable ND filters is the color cast. They should only darken your exposure, while rotating the filter, without changing the tint or temperature.

– The last common problem, that is also the most important when you work with video, is the polarization effect. Because a Variable ND filter is made with 2 rotating polarizer filters, there are high risks of unwanted increase or decrease of the saturation in your images.

After testing this Nisi True Color ND-Vario for almost 2 months, I can say that almost all the problems of Variable ND filters are solved with this new release!

A variable ND filter is a tool used very often by documentary videographers, because they don’t have the time to change fixed ND filters. While filming a documentary, every second counts. So it is very important to have tools that let you work as fast as possible, without the risks of compromising the images you’re capturing.

Luckily for all of us documentary videographers, with the Nisi True Color ND-Vario there’s no risk to introduce heavy vignetting, or X pattern, while we are adjusting the exposure of our video with the filter because the filter has hard stops both at ND 1 and ND 5.

Talking about the color cast, this Nisi True Color ND-Vario really reproduces true colors without any color cast. Both when you add the filter to your lens, or you rotate the filter to adjust the exposure level, there will not be a color shift in your  images.

What about the polarization issue? As expected, this Nisi True Color ND-Vario is performing pretty well, but because it’s using a double polarization technology, it’s not perfect.

Depending on where the light is coming from, you’ll notice some patterns where the colors will have increased or decreased saturation.

The good news about this problem is that I didn’t notice major problems with the skin tones. While I was rotating the filter, the main subject kept a good amount of saturation and contrast when exposed with frontal and backlight sources of lights. Anyway, If you really need to capture the best image quality possible and you have the time to swap ND filters, I suggest adding the Nisi IRND 8 & 64 in your kit to avoid the problem of polarization.

Talking about the rendering of the images, this filter doesn’t compromise the amount of sharpness or contrast of your lens. It also has a great flare resistance and it’s extremely easy to clean, thanks to the great coating of the filter.

The filter comes with a very well made textile pouch but also with a hard plastic protective case. In the box you can also find a lens cap and a screw in pin, to easily adjust the exposure level with a finger.

All in all I feel comfortable to recommend this Nisi True Color ND-Vario to every videographer that needs a good quality Variable ND filter. From all the Variable ND filters I’ve tried, this is definitely the best available in the market.

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NiSi is excited to announce the release of the new Explosion-Prooffilter, which is your best lensguard. The new Explosion-Proof filter retains the previous benefits and quality of NiSi products, while adding compatibility with more lens models.

Features:

– Made of Water White Glass

– Water and oil resistance

– Sharpness of NiSi products retained

– Double-sided nano coating reduces reflection and glare

– Full-size fitting design does not affect the installation of lens cap and hood.

– Available in 95,110,114mm (Outer Diameter)

Impact Test

Sharpness Test

Reflection Test

Added lens models

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INNOVATION

The design of filters systems has been a bit stagnant for many years now, but we are starting to see some really interesting innovation when it comes to their design. A trusted brand, and recommended by many of my fellow photographers, Nisi reached out to me and asked whether I would like to review their latest filter system. I said yes, because I like change, and I have been using the same filter system since 2014. It serves a purpose, but as you will see in my video review, there are many benefits in upgrading to the latest filter systems. It was time for an upgrade.

What’s new?

Nisi are on their seventh edition of this filter system, therefore its no surprise that it is well thought out and very practical to use. Its not a radical redesign of how filters are held in front of your lens, but small design changes means that you can get to the photography quicker. If you are coming from an ‘older’ filter holder, like I was, then there are two main differences; the locking mechanism that holds the system onto the lens, and the way that the polariser integrates with the system.

(Locking mechanism that allows quick release to the adaptor ring)

QUICK RELEASE

My older Hitech filter holder is a bit rudimentary, it has a bolt on the side that you tighten to clamp the filter holder in place. If it’s not tight enough it could come off, too tight and you could scratch or dent the adaptor ring. The Nisi filter in contrast has a spring loaded mechanism, indicated by the movement of the gold clip (see photo above), and you can twist the middle nut to ensure that you don’t accidentally release the holder. If you watch my review video, you will see that I manage to use the system and filters with thin gloves on, which is an achievement.

WHERE IS THE POLARISER?

Well, traditionally if you wanted to use a filter system with a polariser, that meant investing in a very large polarising filter, in the region of 105mm, which sits on an adaptor in front of all the other filters. Why does it need to be so big? Because the further you install filters away from the front of the lens, the greater the chance of vignetting. The solution is therefore to make the polariser massive, so that you can use wide angle lenses and the edge of the filter does not appear in your photos. This was the thinking behind the older systems anyway. Fast forward to 2022, and it seems obvious now, the polariser now sits at the beginning of the filters, closest to the lens. We don’t need such a large polarising filter anymore.

(Nisi True Color polariser mounted to the V7 filter holder)

(Slim profile of the polariser means no vignetting up to 15mm on a full frame camera)

Due to the super-slim profile of the polariser and adaptor ring, this system will certainly let you shoot at 16mm on a full frame, and Nisi claim up to 15mm (but I don’t have a lens to test this!). If you were concerned that putting the polariser first was going to be an issue when you slide in the other filters then fear not. There are two wheels/cogs on the side of the adaptor ring that allows you to turn the polariser and dial in how much polarisation you require.

WHAT’S IN THE BAG?

Included with the V7 kit is the adaptor ring, the filter holder (more on that below), step down rings (includes sizes 67, 72 and 77mm), 82mm is integrated into the adaptor ring itself, the True Color polariser a filter cap and a carry case.

(Photo shows the V7 filter system with the optional filter carry case)

Let’s start off with a bit of a surprise, the filter cap. It is such an inexpensive item when you consider most photography equipment – but the filter cap is such a time saver. One of the challenges with using filters, especially in cold weather, is screwing on the adaptor ring. It might sound trivial, but the thread does not always take, you stand there turning it and turning it and then you realise that you are not getting anywhere. Or worse, if you think it has gripped and you risk your filters falling off. Combine that with cold mornings, and you can see why some people opt not to use filters at all!

(Nisi filter cap – a massive time-saver)

Introduce a filter cap and now you don’t need to screw in filters anymore. You simply leave the filter adaptor on your favourite lens the whole time, with or without the polariser mounted, and you can transport it around with the filter cap. This will save time, plus it keeps the dust off your lenses when they are in your bag. It also doubles up as a handy rubberised grip to screw and unscrew the filter adaptor.

THE FILTER HOLDER

We have already discussed the quick release mechanism that allows the holder to clamp on and off the adaptor ring. Like most filter systems, this has several ‘slots’ for filters, out of the bag it allows for three – however you can add more at the risk of introducing vignetting. Even with the polariser and the three filters stacked, I was able to shoot at 16mm (full frame) without the filter system entering the composition. The filter holder is universal, therefore you are not tied to using Nisi filters, my Lee filters fitted just fine. The filter system is made of aluminium and comes in black or…… black.

IS IT ANY GOOD?

Having used the system for several weeks prior to making the review, it certainly felt like the evolution of the filter holder. It was a pleasure to use, quite fun actually, and I even managed to use it with a thin pair of gloves on. I always take off at least one glove to fit my older filter system, for fear of dropping it if the thread didn’t take. I haven’t used the V6 or earlier iterations, I couldn’t say whether you should upgrade from those models if you are a current owner, but the design certainly feels refined and I have no suggestions for improvements to the holder system at all. In my video review I commented on the amount of space that the filter holder case takes up in the camera bag and have suggested that this should be reviewed to save more space. I would give the V7 a 9 out of 10. I leave the remaining one for future innovation, but I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a high quality and versatile filter system.

AND THE FILTERS?

Nisi kindly sent me some of their filters to review also. They sent me a ten stop filter, two grad filters and a filter carry case. All of these filters are glass, and I cannot stress how nice it is to be using glass filters again!

(Nisi 10 stop True Color filter)

Starting with the ten stop filter, you will see from the above photo that the filter has a strong red appearance when reflecting light. This is the result of the coatings that the filters have, making them very resistant to dust and water droplets, something that I showed in the YouTube review when I was caught out by the rain one morning. Despite the red colour of the coatings, the colour cast is very well controlled by this filter. To make the comparisons as accurate as possible I created a photograph with no filters, using a custom white balance and a grey card. I then proceeded to create a long exposure using the ten stop filter and compared the two. Having used several ten stop filters (Lee, Freewell, Hitech, B+W and H&Y) I am happy to report that it was a very good performance from the Nisi ten stop. It wasn’t completely neutral, the colour cast was very subtle, but it was there. If you watch the YouTube review you can see the images side by side.

(Grad filters in use)

The two grad filters that they sent me to test were the two stop hard edge grad and the two stop soft edge grad. I wouldn’t expect these filters to create a colour cast, but I tested them in the same way as the ten stop filter and they were neutral. The filters, like most other brands, are 100mm wide by 150mm high, which allows you to position where you would like the graduation to affect your scene. Optically all of the filters on test here were excellent, I saw no degradation to the quality when comparing to the image with no filters. The filters have a small label on the front at the top, which is helpful to figure out which filter you have picked up. The filters come with a leather-effect pouch, which is well presented and has the potential to be transported with a very small footprint in your camera bag, however I was informed by Nisi that for the best protection the filters should be transported in a dedicated filter carrier.

ARE THEY PERFECT?

Optically, yes. Colour control, almost – the ten stop has a subtle colour tone which is very manageable. There is one suggestion that I have put to Nisi though, and that relates to taking the filters in and out of the carry case (either the supplied or the optional carry case). The filters are glass, they are beautiful but my greasy fingerprint will show up on them, despite the coating. In an ideal world I avoid touching the front or back of the filters and clamp them between my fingers from the sides. However the pouches have a snug fit and you are left with no choice but to pinch them in the middle with your fingers to get them out. This is easily rectified with a redesign of the carry case, this is not a fault of the filters themselves as most filters would have the same issue.

WOULD YOU GET THE WHOLE KIT?

It is great that you can mix and match filters and filter systems, but I wouldn’t want to go back to using resin filters now that I have been using glass. Although it might seem like a minor gain, the coatings on these filters performed so well when they were hit with rain and sea spray, that would be enough reason to get these if you shoot a lot of seascapes. I am used to cleaning my other filters when I get a bit of sea spray on them, a microfibre cloth usually smears the droplets across the filter and I end up using an alcohol wipe to actually get the salty water off the filter. Leave it ten seconds for the alcohol to evaporate and I can proceed to take the next photograph. The Nisi filter in comparison just wouldn’t tolerate the water staying on them, it was like magic! The filters are not cheap, but photography is an expensive hobby and I know that these filters will last me a long time; therefore it is a good investment to get the best filters that you can afford. The filters come with a highly recommended from me.

THANK YOU

For making it to the end of this blog, I hope that you found it useful, and thank you to Nisi for supporting my photography. If you have any questions then drop me a comment on the YouTube video.

by Ben Harvey

The post A new era of filters – NiSi V7 filter system appeared first on NiSi Filters and Lenses for Camera and Cine－Beyond imagination.

NiSi is excited to announce the release of the True Color CPL, which can maximize true color without affecting color temperature.

Circular Polarisers can eliminate or enhance polarized light in your images. This polarization effect cannot be achieved in post-production, hence the CPL is a necessary filter in daily photography.

Features

The color fidelity polarizing material has been jointly developed with a Japanese company. This ensures the effect of polarized light while maintaining true neutral color and temperature.

(True Color Polarizing film material VS Common Polarizing film material)

• Double color frame with a silver front ring and a black back ring.
• CNC milling process.
• This True Color CPL is beautiful,durable and easy to install and remove.
• The ultra-low reflection nano coating helps to reduce unwanted reflections.
• Double-sided waterproof and grease proofing.

More details

– The True Color CPL is now also compatible with a 112mm system.

– In combination with a Nikon HB97 hood or a NiSi Z 14-24 hood, the 112mm True Color CPL can be used on the following three lenses:

• NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8s
• NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8s
• NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S

The post NiSi Introduces the True Color CPL appeared first on NiSi Filters and Lenses for Camera and Cine－Beyond imagination.

After NiSi 15mm F4 full-frame lens was launched, it was received widespread praise by photographers due to its small size, high quality, and features such as its 10 bladed sunstars at F4-F22.

With the New Year approaching, NiSi is excited to introduce a brand new pearly white New Year limited edition set: Pearly White 15mm F4 Lens & 72mm Natural Night Filter. Each set has a unique number and is limited to 199 sets worldwide.

Highlights:

• New Year limited, only 199 sets worldwide.
• A brand new Pearly White appearance.
• Three optional mounts:Sony E & Canon R & Nikon Z.
• Removeable metal hood.
• 72mm Natural Night Filter included.
• Manual focus lens for full-frame mirrorless camera.
• Creates 10 bladed sunstars at F4-F22

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