First test
SPECS
› Prices and availability £285 for 82mmPro kit (tested here) £220 for 77mmEntry kit,
£225 for 82mmEntry kit £280 for 77mmPro kit
ABOVE Adding and removing the magnetic filters is a breeze – and filters can be left in place as you move camera position too but they attach quite firmly
› In the box The 82mmPro kit tested here includes a magnetic lens adapter ring, circular polariser, ND 8 (3EV), ND 64 (6EV) and ND 1000 (10EV) filters, a carry pouch and you get a free magnetic lens cap. The Entry kits do not include the ND 1000 (10EV) 77mm and 82mmmagnetic circular adapter rings cost £19 and £20 respectively 77mm and 82mmmagnetic lens caps cost £18 and £19 respectively Magnetic circular step-rings from£10.55 each › Glass Toughened Pro HD glass › Filter frames Aviation grade aluminium › Coating Metallic nano coating › Contact kasefilters.com AS WELL AS BEING EASY TO CLEAN, I HAD NO GHOSTING OR FLARE ISSUES EVEN THOUGH I WAS SHOOTING IN LOWWINTER SUN
ABOVE The Kase circular magnetic systemmakes adding or swapping between filters a fast, secure and safe process, and easily possible without moving from your position behind the camera
ABOVE Using a neutral density filter means you can set a shutter speed that allows you to capture your previsualised result. Here, using a Kase 6EV ND took the metered 1/20sec at f/16 and ISO 50 exposure to a much slower 2.3secs at f/16 which gave enough blur in the water but not too much. This shot was taken on a Fujifilm GFX 50R with 23mm f/4 lens which has an 82mm filter thread
of the Kase filters was immediately tested. They are really easy to clean. As I was setting up, I got some sea spray on the front of my lens (it does not have fluorine coating) and cleaning it with a lens micro fibre cloth took a while due to smearing. When I had the same problem with a Kase filter, it just wiped cleaned without any smearing at all. I loved being able to fit and swap filters so quickly. I was keen to get some nice water blur and on the bright day, the shutter speed even with the camera’s lowest ISO was around 1/20sec and that was too short for the effect I had imagined. So I shot with the 3EV ND and 6EV ND filters, changing between the two to get a variety of results. Being able to change filters quickly and without having to move from behind the camera meant I wasted no time
and I got what I wanted while the conditions were at their best. The 10EV ND and circular polariser also got an outing; the CPL I used in conjunction with the 3EV and 6EV ND filters too, and while it is not in its own rotating mount, once on the adapter ring or another Kase filter it could be easily rotated. I had no ghosting or flare issues even though I was shooting in low winter sun, and I managed to drop the polariser – I blame cold fingers! – on to the rocky beach and the filter was unscathed. Looking at my results large on-screen I was very pleased with the optical showing of the Kase filters. I could not see any change in resolution between the without-filter and with-filter shots, and there were no issues of flare and ghosting from the low sun. WC
Verdict I have to say that I really enjoyed using the Kase Wolverine Magnetic Circular filter system and I think Kase has hit the nail right on the head with the concept as well as the quality of the actual products. They’re great to use, do exactly as promised and so portable too, what is there not to like? PROS Fast in use, easy to clean, high optical quality, tough, compact, stackable, good price
ABOVE The filter’s protective multi-coating means water beads off and if you do get rain droplets or sea spray on the filter surface, cleaning is easy and smear free
No polariser
With Kase CPL
CONS Nothing comes to mind
ABOVE The Kase Circular Polariser (CPL) comes in a very slim fixed mount and rotates easily once in place on the magnetic adapter ring. This scene was shot with and without the Kase CPL on a Nikon D780 with 24-120mm f/4 lens. The unfiltered shot was exposed at 1/30sec at f/11 and ISO 100, the polarised shot needing 1/15sec. Both shots were taken with the camera’s auto white-balance setting, the filtered shot having a welcome warmth compared with the unfiltered shot
Issue 74 | Photography News 47
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