First test
KaseArmour filter system The natural phenomenon of magnetism is put to great use by Kase in its new filter kit – the results are awesome PRICE: FROM£269 KASEFILTERS.COM
MAGNETIC FILTER SYSTEMS aren’t new, and Kase already has a Circular Magnetic system in its range – and very good it is, too. The quality is first rate, and it’s compact and quick to use. If that system has any drawback, it’s not equipped for graduate filters, although it is possible just to hold a filter in place. Kase’s Armour system combines the benefits of its circular kit with the advantages of its 100mm system, so you get the best of both worlds. The Armour alloy holder is beautifully engineered and finished in matte black. There’s a filter lock on one side and drive cog for the polariser on the other. This means you can adjust the polariser to get the required effect, without having to remove any square or rectangular filter you might have fitted. On the holder’s rear – the side facing you when in use – there’s a spring-loaded locking clip marked ‘pull’ with an arrow. This comes into play when you want to separate the holder from the lens adapter ring. It’s not needed when fitting the holder, SPECS › Prices Holder kit £269. Includes Armour 100mm holder, magnetic 95mm polariser, one magnetic 150x100mm frame, one magnetic 100x100mm frame, mounting tool for the magnetic frames and lens cap. Two Armour magnetic adapter rings: 77-95mm and 82- Entry kit £509. Includes Armour 100mm holder, magnetic 95mm polariser, magnetic ND64 (6EV), one magnetic 150x100mm frame with 100mm soft grad 0.9, mounting tool for the magnetic frames, soft case and lens cap. Two Armour magnetic adapter rings: 77-95mm and 82-95mm. Two step-up rings: 67-77mm and 72-82mm Individual prices: soft case £37, adapter rings (67mm, 72mm, 77mm, 82mm) £34 each, CPL £125, ND8/ND64/ND1000 filters £125 each, magnetic 100x100mm and 150x100mm frames £40 each, lens caps £7.99 for three › Glass Pro HD optical glass › Scratch resistant Yes › Water and dust repellent Yes › Coating Metallic Nano coating › Contact kasefilters.com 95mm. Two step-up rings: 67-77mm and 72-82mm
because magnetism takes over and the force is great enough to engage the lock automatically. The Holder and Entry kits include two magnetic adapter rings – 77-95mm and 82-95mm – to cater for lenses with 77mm and 82mm filter threads. Two step-up rings – 67-77mm and 72-82mm – are also included, but if you have lenses with smaller threads, rings are available. If you prefer to leave adapters in place on your lenses, extra adapter rings cost £34 each, with lens caps £7.99 for three. The front of the holder has the recess to accept the 95mm round filters in magnetic frames, with neutral density and circular polariser filters available. Offer the filter to the holder with the name facing you – it clicks securely and accurately into place. Of course, if you offer the wrong side to the holder the filter won’t take, so just spin it round 180°. The two dips or recesses on the front allow your forefinger to lift the filter free of the holder. Fingernails help, but you can use the very tip of your finger (or even thumb), and I found it was even possible with thin gloves. With the polariser or ND in place, you can now add a grad filter. On the filter set I had, the correct orientation was the filter name on the frame facing the holder. Again, the attraction is strong, so the filter grips firmly onto the holder. It can be moved up and down easily, and once in the correct position, can be locked in place. There are no slots on the holder, but if you want to add another filter, no problem. If your shot needs a polariser, an ND and grad, that is also possible. The polariser should be the first filter fitted, so it can be rotated. The cog drive in this configuration needs more effort, so it’s best to get the polariser correctly aligned before LOCKED IN Fit a grad filter and it is firmly held in place. You can slide it for correct positioning and then lock it in place by tightening this knob
TRIED AND TESTED The Kase Armour system features an alloy holder, a circular polariser, NDs and filter frames that accept 100x100mm and 100x150mm filters, all magnetic. The grad filters pictured here are Kase Double Grads, currently available in two variants: 3EV ND medium/3EV reverse grad and 3EV ND hard/3EV ND soft
FULLY COATED No problem with the Kase filters in the rain. After a shower, a wipe with a soft lens cloth got rid of the droplets without smearing, so I was ready to start shooting again quickly
NO LEAKAGE Weston-super-Mare’s Birnbeck Pier was captured with a Kase 10EV ND and a Double Grad 0.9EV ND soft. Shot on a Fujifilm GFX100S, fitted with a 32-64mm f/4 and an exposure of 60secs at f/20 and ISO 50
Issue 97 | Photography News 33
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