GEAR MINI TESTS
We look at the latest good-looking VND filters fromPolarPro, Sirui’s flagship BCT-3203 tripod, a do-it-all mic fromRode and a Western Digital hard drive
WORDS ADAM DUCKWORTH
POLARPRO VND FILTER PETER MCKINNON EDITION £250/$249 polarprofilters.com
polarising filters, so as you turn one, the scene gets lighter or darker. Most filters don’t have a set ND range and you can find cross-polarisation at the end of the range. And cheaper versions show nasty colour casts. The PolarPro VND has a limited range, so you buy either a 2-5 stop filter like we tested, or a 6-9 stop. That range means there is no horrible cross-polarisation patterns. PolarPro claims this is because fused quartz glass is used to give superior optical quality. Well, in our tests the filter works incredibly well, with no obvious colour shift or degradation in the image at all. The nice gold-coloured outer of the filter has marks, so you can see howmany stops of ND you have dialled in, too. The filter is also slim enough not to cause vignetting on lenses up to 16mmwide. We used the 82mm version and it also comes in 77mm and 67mm sizes. So to use these on lenses of different sizes you’d need step-up rings – this could potentially cause some vignetting. However, it didn’t for us. And actually, all the cool stuff the filter comes with really works as it is so well designed. The push-on rubber filter cover fits well and offers lots of protection, and it fits inside the metal case, too. There’s also the option of a second fabric pouch if you would like to use that instead. At £250/$249 for an 82mm, 2-5 stop version, it’s competitively priced against high-end rivals, too.
When a company puts its marketing and promotion into famous YouTubers and Instagrammers as ambassadors rather than well- known filmmakers with years of experience, alarm bells always start ringing. Especially when the firm’s background is in filters for drones, mobile phone cases and bits for GoPro action cameras rather than professional video gear. So when PolarPro named its new variable ND filter after YouTuber/ photographer/coffee enthusiast Peter McKinnon, it would be easy to scoff. Especially as the focus might seem to be on expensive packaging, flashy gold colouring on the outside of the product itself, two different cases and a fancy rubber lens cap. But fear not as what McKinnon and PolarPro have done is built a top- quality bit of kit that takes variable ND filters to a new level and actually makes them an object of desire. VND filters control the light entering your lens, so you can set the desired shutter speed and aperture. They work by using two circular
ABOVE This filter looks great and is high- performing
SPECIFICATIONS ND stops: 2-5, ND4-ND32 Glassmaterial: Fused quartz In the box: Filter, hard case, soft case, filter cover, lens cloth Size: 82mm Framematerial: Aluminium Depth: 8.48mm Weight: 56g In the box: Filter, hard case, soft case, filter cover, lens cloth PROMOVIEMAKERRATING: 10/10 Takes variable NDfilters on to a new level of performance, looks and design. The best VNDfilter we have ever used. Pros: Optical performance and great design. Cons: Limited number of sizes.
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