K i t Z o n e
126 DIGITAL CAMERA^ OCTOBER 2019 http://www.digitalcameraworld.comMini Test
A
s brilliant as current
cameras are, point even
the best pro DSLR at a
high-contrast landscape
scene and you’ll often
have to choose between a burnt-out
sky or an underexposed foreground.
A graduated neutral-density filter
is an effective solution. An ND grad is
clear at one end and grey at the other;
the darker section can be positioned
to cover a bright sky, restricting
light transfer by several stops so
the foreground has time to expose
correctly without the sky becoming
a burnt-out whitewash.
Most filter manufacturers offer
ND grads with hard or soft transitions
between the clear and tinted sections.
Hard grads are great if your scene has
a straight, defined horizon. But when
the landscape is less uniform, with
objects like buildings or trees scattered
on the horizon, you’ll need the more
forgiving transition of a soft grad.
There’s also a third way: the reverse
ND grad. This has the darkest section
across the middle of the filter, fading out
to the top; it’s the ideal filter for sunsets.
The bigger the filter, the more lens
sizes it’ll cover and the more flexibility
you’ll have in positioning the transition
area to suit your composition. We’ve
opted for 100 x 150mm filters here.Benro Master
100 x 150mm
Glass GND
£130/$239
http://www.benrofilters.comB
enro is relatively new to the filter game,
but judging by these ND grads, it means
business. Using top-end German Schott
B270 optical glass, Benro’s Master Filters boast
ULCA (Ultra Low Chromatic Aberration), and
reflectivity below 1.5%. A waterproof coating is
applied to repel dirt and liquid, and it also resists
scratches. Then there’s the anti-infra-red coating
that blocks IR and UV light, in order to minimise
the chance of unwanted colour casts.
It all sounds good, and our testing of two-stop
and four-stop sample filters backs it up. The
tinted region has no negative impact on image
sharpness and doesn’t introduce any observable
colour shift. Benro’s hydrophobic coating is also
terrific, beading water off the filter without a trace.
Benro Master Filters come in a few size
variants, but we reckon the 100 x 150 option is
the best balance of versatility and cost. Choose
from 2-, 3-, 4- or 5-stop densities in soft, hard or
reverse fades. The Benro system’s filter holder
also deserves a mention. It’s paired with a clever
filter frame that can be moved up and down
within the holder by a geared wheel, enabling
ultra-precise filter positioning.PROS Class-leading optical and coating quality;
well-priced; neat frame/holder systemCONS High US pricingVerdict
Cokin Nuances Extreme
Z-Pro Soft Graduated
Neutral Density Filters
£145/$200
http://www.cokin.com/enW
e’ve reviewed several filters in Cokin’s
top-line Nuances Extreme range before,
and have come away impressed every
time. This kit of three 100 x 150mm soft-grad NDs
doesn’t disappoint. 2-, 3- and 4-stop densities are
included, which covers most landscape shooting
scenarios, and like the Benro Master Filters, each
is constructed from Schott glass. Cokin also
applies a water- and oil-resistant coating.
We can’t fault these filters for image sharpness,
either: all three perfectly preserve maximum lens
sharpness. Colour neutrality is also top-notch –
although if we’re to nitpick, our two-stop sample
was slightly darker than advertised.
Nuances Extreme ND grads can be had in
three sizes: P Series (84mm wide), Z-Pro (100mm)
and X-Pro (130mm). We recommend the 100mm
Z-Pro size, as it’s suitable for lenses with a filter
thread up to 95mm. Soft-grad and reverse-grad
options are available, as well as an unusual
centre-grad option where the tinted region
goes across the centre of the filter and both
top and bottom are clear. However, there’s no
hard grad option – a disappointing omission.PROS Well-priced for glass filters; very
good optical quality; excellent holderCONS No hard-transition option; the density
rating could be slightly more accurateVerdict
z(ǕȸƏƳˡǼɎƺȸɀ
A must for landscape photography, holding
back a bright sky for a more balanced exposure
Filter holders
The rectangular filters reviewed here
attach to your camera lens via a filter
holder. While this is more fiddly, it enables
you to move the filter up or down to
position the transition where you want
it. And you can use
other filters apart
from ND grads.