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There are many obscure Chinese language manufacturers vying for consideration (and gross sales) the world over’s on-line shops. Neewer has develop into comparatively well-known and trusted as a maker of good-quality, inexpensive photographic equipment. Beginning out with an on-camera flash again in 2011, Neewer now makes a complete host of photograph gear, from LED mild panels and all kinds of lighting equipment, to screens, teleprompters, tripods, heads, sliders, luggage, digital camera batteries, battery grips and extra in addition to. Neewer additionally makes an intensive assortment of filters in varied product traces, together with the True Colours vary which goals to be among the many finest variable impartial density filters. These embrace the Variable ND filter that I’m reviewing right here.
Neewer True Colours Filter: Specs
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Filter sort |
Variable ND |
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Dimension vary (mm) |
49, 52, 55, 58, 62, 67, 72, 77, 82 |
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Body materials |
Aluminum |
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Filter materials |
HD optical glass |
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Coating layers |
Nano, multi-layer, anti-scratch, fluorine |
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Transmittance |
1-5 stops |
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ND filter issue |
2-32 |
Neewer True Colours Filter: Value
The Neewer ND2-32 True Colours Laborious Cease Variable ND Filter is available in one form however many sizes, catering to lenses with a filter attachment thread just about anyplace between 49mm and 82mm. It’s solely pure that bigger filters will likely be pricier to purchase however the entire vary is nice worth, from the 49mm choice at $44 / £44 / AU$60 proper as much as the biggest 82mm version at $53 / £70 / AU$120.
Neewer True Colours Filter: Design & Dealing with
I’ve typically discovered a specific frustration with variable impartial density filters. Possibly I’m over-ambitions however I’m liable to pushing them too far. The thought is similar in all circumstances, in {that a} ‘VND’ is predicated on two polarized parts. By rotating one in opposition to the opposite, the quantity of sunshine that’s transmitted via the filter and on to the lens and digital camera turns into progressively diminished. That’s superb up to some extent however when you go too far, there’s a dreadful ‘cross-polarization’ impact that plasters a darkish X-shaped cross over your picture. It’s simply prevented when it turns into actually apparent, much less so on the onset when the impact might be extra delicate.
The apparent reply is to indicate a bit restraint when utilizing this kind of filter. However that’s simpler stated than finished once you’re out and about, capturing with different components in your thoughts. Even so, VND filters might be massively helpful. They will allow you to make use of extensive apertures for a good depth of discipline, even underneath brilliant daylight. They will additionally enable for slower shutter speeds once you wish to create movement blur in pictures to present a way of pace. Higher nonetheless, they are often all however important when capturing video, and also you wish to hold your publicity settings constant within the face of changeable lighting circumstances.
The principle benefit of this Neewer VND is its ‘onerous cease’ design. It has an total vary of from 1-stop to 5-stop variable densities, as you twist the working ring. That equates to a spread of ND2 to ND32. So how does that work out in observe? Let’s say you’re capturing on a brilliant, sunny day and also you wish to use a large aperture that places the required shutter pace past the vary of your digital camera. At its most density setting, this filter will scale back the required shutter pace from 1/8000th of a second all the way in which right down to 1/250th of a second.
Such an enormous discount in mild transmittance would possibly sound like an epic win, however is it actually sufficient? For many stills and video capturing situations, it definitely ought to be. However what if you’d like lengthy exposures on a sunny day? On this case, the Neewer VND is prone to come up brief. Let’s say you wish to calm the uneven waters of a lake or the ocean with a protracted publicity, or to show the frothing waters of a waterfall, weir or rapids right into a clean and tranquil look. In case your slowest out there shutter pace with no filter hooked up is 1/60th of a second, the VND will solely allow a protracted publicity of ½ a second at most. That’s merely not sufficient for this kind of state of affairs, nor for blurring pedestrians out of bustling road scenes. For these purposes, you’re significantly better off with a traditional 10-stop ND filter. That stated, Neewer additionally gives a Neewer ND2-512 (1-9 Stops) HD True Colours Variable ND Filter. Craftily, this equipment combines an identical ND2 to ND32 variable density filter with an extra magnetic snap-on ND32 fastened impartial density filter. That provides you much more scope for lengthy exposures, with a complete vary of ND2-512 or as much as 9 stops.
One benefit of this filter over Neewer’s twin VND & ND or mixed VND & CPL filters (the latter including a round polarizer into the combination) is that the easy VND doesn’t have a protruding working deal with or knob. There are due to this fact no points with attaching your lens hood earlier than capturing, to attenuate ghosting and flare. You too can use a entrance lens cap with this filter, though you’ll want to purchase an upsized one. For instance, the 67mm version of the filter requires a 72mm cap. In the event you don’t thoughts taking the filter off earlier than placing your digital camera away, it does come full with a protecting, onerous storage case.
The filter feels very properly engineered. It has a light-weight aluminum body which is anodized in matte black, together with on the internal surfaces to keep away from undesirable reflections that may impair picture high quality. Despite the fact that there’s no working deal with or knob, the knurled floor makes for straightforward operation, and rotation steps via simply noticeable click on steps for every cease of publicity discount.
The filter materials itself is Neewer’s ‘HD optical glass’ and options 30 layers of nano-structure coatings. These embrace multi-layer anti-reflection coatings, anti-scratch coatings and fluorine coatings to repel water and greasy fingermarks, all utilized to either side of the filter.
Neewer True Colours Filter: Efficiency
Residing as much as its title and declare, I discovered the ‘True Colours’ VND delivered good stopping energy with negligible color-shift. Sharpness, distinction and readability in addition to coloration rendition remained excellent all through your complete density vary. I additionally discovered the filter to be very immune to ghosting and flare. Higher nonetheless, not like with a few of Neewer’s different VNDs which have a protruding working deal with, this one can be utilized with a lens hood to shelter it from mild getting into at acute angles.
I additionally discovered that the filter lived as much as its 1-stop to 5-stop billing. I like the clicking steps that give tactile suggestions to every further cease of discount, and that the onerous stops disable me from going too loopy and ruining photographs with cross-polarization. The next pair of pictures point out how a lot light-stopping energy you get with the VND filter at its minimal and most settings.
Picture 1 of 2
I discovered that the filter got down to obtain what it’s meant for. I might use extensive apertures underneath brilliant sunshine, to get a tighter depth of discipline. I might additionally scale back shutter speeds to get some movement blur and create a way of motion. However the most 5-stop discount solely will get you to this point. The next sequence of photographs was taken in boring climate on the Pulteney Bridge weir within the UK metropolis of Bathtub, starting from utilizing no filter via every of the 5-stops out there with the filter hooked up. Even at a slim aperture of f/16, the slowest shutter pace I might get was ½ a second, which isn’t a sufficiently lengthy publicity for actually smoothing the flowing water. That stated, a 10-stop ND filter is extra applicable for this kind of state of affairs.
Picture 1 of 6
Equally, I attempted blurring some bustling pedestrians out of a road scene by Bathtub Abbey however once more, the slowest out there aperture of ½ a second at f/16 wasn’t adequate. Even so, picture high quality stays good on the filter’s minimal and most stopping energy settings, as proven within the pair of pictures beneath.
Picture 1 of 2
Neewer True Colours Filter: Verdict
I’m impressed with the efficiency of this variable impartial density filter, so far as it goes. Certain, it’s very properly made, works a deal with, and it’s simple to make use of. I particularly like the clicking steps for every cease of adjustment, and that the onerous stops stop me from going too far and risking X-shaped ruination of my pictures. The filter definitely achieves what it units out to do, and in superb model. Even so, I’d slightly go for one of many various Neewer ND2-ND32 filters that add both an extra magnetic ND32 filter, or a built-in further round polarizer, as I really feel they provide better versatility and are higher worth for cash.
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Options ★★★★☆ |
The press steps at every cease of vary and the onerous stops at both finish are prime of the options listing. |
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Design ★★★★☆ |
The design is easy however efficient, and is predicated on high-grade glass and excellent construct high quality. |
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Efficiency ★★★★☆ |
Picture high quality is spectacular all through your complete vary, as long as you don’t want greater than a 5-stop discount. |
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Worth ★★★★☆ |
It’s excellent worth on the value however the Neewer VNDs that add an extra ND filter or round polarizer provide you with extra bang on your buck. |