A Impartial Density filter, generally known as an ND for brief, acts a bit like sun shades in your lens to dam out gentle and prolong your shutter velocity, or to manage lightflow when taking pictures video. A Variable Impartial Density (VND) consists of two polarising filters which when turned towards one another cut back the sunshine flowing in by way of the lens and hitting the digital camera sensor.
Doing so has many helpful functions for each images and videography, together with attaining slower publicity occasions in nonetheless photographs to create motion. They’re additionally helpful for controlling the sunshine whenever you’re taking pictures video because the shutter velocity will likely be mounted, the place altering the ISO or aperture would have an hostile impact on picture high quality and depth of subject. I obtained maintain of Tiffen’s Variable ND filter, first launched again in 2011, and put it to the take a look at to see in the event you ought to add one to your equipment bag.
Tiffen Variable ND: Specs
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Filter kind
Variable ND
Power
2-8 stops
Mount
Screw-in
Thread diameter vary (mm)
52, 58, 62, 67, 72, 77, 82, 95mm
Filter materials
Waterwhite Glass
Body materials
Aluminium
Thickness
12mm (10mm when mounted)
Tiffen Variable ND: Construct & Dealing with
The Tiffen Variable ND is made within the USA which fits some approach to justifying its excessive price ticket of $105 for its smallest 52mm and $229 for the biggest 95mm. Whereas it’s out there in all of the generally used sizes between 52-95mm, it’s price noting that it’s solely out there within the older wonderful threading for 95mm, so gained’t match the courser threads of newer lenses such because the Canon RF 28-70mm F2L USM and Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS natively, although an adapter might be purchased to make it match.
The Tiffen Variable ND comes with a black smooth pouch to maintain your filter protected when not in use, although does not provide as a lot safety from impression as a tough case. One factor we immediately observed is the outer ring is notably bigger than the filter thread. Our 82mm mount model had a diameter of 98mm on the entrance. This could in principle cut back vignetting when taking pictures at wider focal lengths of say 16-25mm (on full-frame), however did imply our 82mm lens cap was then too small to suit on the entrance of the filter and there is not a cap supplied with it, so defending the filter while transporting your setup with the filter in situ generally is a problem.
The Tiffen Variable ND filter is available in a smooth pouch to stow your filter in when not in use (Picture credit score: Future)
The Tiffen VND gives a really large and versatile vary, blocking between 2-8 stops of sunshine. I not too long ago reviewed the PolarPro Peter McKinnon VND Version II which is available in both 2-5 or 6-9 cease variations, so having 2-8 stops multi functional filter makes it extra versatile. Not like the PolarPro PMVND II nonetheless, the Tiffen VND doesn’t have a tough cease at both finish of its scale, which implies it’s doable to show it previous the meant values which may worsen picture high quality and trigger patchy cross-polarization.
Whereas the PolarPro Peter McKinnon VND Version II options haptic suggestions the place it neatly clicks into every full cease place, the Tiffen is de-clicked and easily turns from one finish to the opposite and will likely be preferable for videographers reacting to altering gentle on the fly, although Tiffen’s MCS VND is even higher for video with its screw-in deal with.
The entrance adjustment ring a part of the Tiffen VND filter is far bigger than than the filter thread, this implies it stands out which makes it simpler to seek out when you could have your eye to the viewfinder, but in addition makes it extra awkward to connect to your lens (Picture credit score: Future)
It’s additionally price noting that Tiffen makes a more recent magnetic mannequin VND filter underneath its Magnetic Management System (MCS) line which is dearer beginning at $149.99 for the 52mm model and going as much as $229.99 for the biggest 82mm model.
This MCS model resolves most of the issues I’ve with the 13-year-old Tiffen VND on overview right here. This contains including arduous stops to the extremities to keep away from consumer error, a magnetic lens cap, and in addition together with an elective screw-in deal with to make it simpler and smoother to function when recording video. So if these are options you’d actually prefer to see in your VND filter then Tiffen’s MCS magnetic providing is the higher possibility of the 2. Nevertheless, the MCS VND is just out there natively for 58, 77, and 82mm threads, so that you’ll want to make use of a step-up adapter in case your lens has a unique thread. We would advocate shopping for the biggest model after which utilizing step adapters to make it match all your numerous lenses.
Tiffen Variable ND: Efficiency
The bigger outer ring which you flip to regulate the polarization isn’t knurled on the perimeters, and the smaller ring which sits behind it’s, so this makes it actually fairly tough to get a great grip on the filter to both screw it on or take away it out of your lens. This ring additionally doesn’t have a tough cease at every finish so it’s tough to really feel whenever you’ve reached the boundaries on the 2 or 8 cease settings, this additionally isn’t helped by the truth that when the filter was fitted to our Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens, the written scale to indicate you the energy of the filter truly sat on the underside of the lens.
This made it fairly awkward to guage the energy that the VND was set to and would have benefitted from one other scale on the filter rim to assist on this state of affairs. A tough cease at every finish additionally would have offered some indication that you’ve got reached the utmost settings and would additionally stop errors from turning the filter too far.
The Tiffen Variable ND filter has a flexible gentle stopping vary between two and eight f-stops (Picture credit score: Future)
The adjustable ring you flip to set the energy of the VND is ‘de-clicked’ so it’s clean to show by way of the entire f-stop values. This will likely be welcome for videographers who must easily transition between filter strengths when the lighting adjustments from say, filming indoors to going exterior multi functional steady take. Nevertheless, there’s no screw-in deal with which might make this operation even simpler, although it is a characteristic its newer Tiffen MCS VND sibling has.
Whereas this ring is de-clicked, you may hear the noise of steel rubbing towards steel whenever you flip it, that is actually solely a difficulty of you’re recording by way of a digital camera’s built-in or a hotshoe microphone, in case your mic is positioned away from the digital camera, resembling on an individual’s lapel, this would possibly not be a difficulty.
The VND is constructed from Tiffen’s Waterwhite Glass although in contrast to Tiffen’s newer MCS magnetic VND filter which is constructed from ColorCore Glass, it doesn’t characteristic a hydrophobic coating – water doesn’t bead off it and it’s just a little more durable to scrub consequently.
Picture 1 of 3
Base publicity: It is a take a look at shot with out a filter hooked up for comparability(Picture credit score: Future)
With the Tiffen VND filter set to its minimal 2-stop worth we had been capable of gradual the shutter from 1/6 sec to 0.5 sec and picture high quality remained very pleasing(Picture credit score: Future)
Setting the Tiffen VND to its Max setting we slowed the shutter velocity to 25 secs although we began to see patchy areas of cross-polarisation(Picture credit score: Future)
In the case of picture high quality the Tiffen VND offers excellent sharpness and I didn’t see it exacerbate any defects like chromatic aberration or ghosting into the picture so sharpness was properly held throughout the body. The colours did change just a little from a hotter on the minimal setting to cooler on the max energy, although this was simply corrected with the auto white steadiness setting on my digital camera, and can be adjusted in Adobe Digital camera Uncooked so it isn’t a deal-breaker.
Picture 1 of 3
Base publicity: It is a take a look at shot with out a filter hooked up for comparability(Picture credit score: Future)
With the Tiffen VND set to its lowest energy picture high quality remained excellent and we slowed the shutter from 0.3 sec to 1 sec(Picture credit score: Future)
Setting the Tiffen VND to its Most energy we prolonged the shutter velocity to 25 secs however this resulted in fairly an excessive ‘X Bar’ impact with a darkish diagonal patch throughout the picture on account of cross polarisation(Picture credit score: Future)
Picture high quality appeared nice on the minimal energy, although we noticed an actual drop off in the direction of the upper values. One problem with this filter specifically is there’s no arduous cease to forestall you from going previous the max marking on the aspect of the filter.
That mentioned, even holding regimented to the designated Most marking I noticed some horrible X Bar results which made it unusable anyplace inside a few stops of the utmost energy setting and even zooming into 35mm nonetheless resulted in uneven corners. Whereas Tiffen’s magnetic MCS VND isn’t excellent optically, (debatably all VND filters will likely be a compromise) the Tiffen MCS VND carried out a lot better so for my cash I feel it’s price spending the additional and getting the newer magnetic model as a substitute.
Tiffen Variable ND: Verdict
Tiffen’s Variable ND is a stable Variable ND filter, although it’s exhibiting its age and the corporate has considerably improved its design with its newest magnetic MCS model. The newer MCS model places most of our qualms with this older filter to mattress: integrating arduous stops on the excessive ends, a magnetic lens cap to guard the entrance when not in use, a screw-in deal with for smoother video transitions, plus its magnetic design makes it sooner to make use of, in addition to good and compact when stowed away.
Whereas Tiffen’s commonplace Variable ND is extra reasonably priced, the newer magnetic MCS model prices about $40 extra, although it’s extra restricted in its filter dimension choices. For my cash, I feel it is price paying the additional for the magnetic MCS iteration as you’re getting a more recent, extra future-proof product with some important upgrades alongside the way in which and enhanced picture high quality too.
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Options
The Tiffen VND gives 2-8 f-stops, de-clicked for video, however lacks arduous stops, a deal with, and water repellent coating.
★★★☆☆
Design
The big entrance ring makes grip tough, causes knuckle ache, and prevents lens cap match, risking harm throughout changes.
★★★☆☆
Efficiency
The filter is awkward to connect, lacks options for video, and the picture high quality is inferior in comparison with Tiffen MCS VND.
★★☆☆☆
Worth
Tiffen VND filters begin at $105; reasonably priced choices exist, however contemplate devoted filters or Tiffen’s magnetic MCS VND for high quality.
★★★☆☆
Do you have to purchase the Tiffen Variable ND filter?
✅ Purchase this if…
You don’t want a elaborate magnetic system as you’ll save your self some cash
You need a ‘de-clicked’ adjustment ring for clean video transitions
🚫 Do not buy this if…
You want a VND filter with a screw-in deal with for simpler video work because the Tiffen MCS sequence is a greater possibility
You need arduous stops on the excessive ends of your VND filter to keep away from poor picture high quality and cross polarization
