Do you need filters for wildlife photography? Freewell variable ND filters - testing and review.
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- Опубликовано: 14 июл 2024
- Ever wondered whether to use filters in wildlife photography? Ever tried to find a filter kit to fit your large super telephoto lens? In this video I'll show you as I test and review the Freewell Magnetic Variable ND filter system.
I carry out all the tests using the 95mm neutral density, circular polarizing (CPL) and mist filters on my Sony A9 with Sony 200-600mm.
You can also buy the Freewell kit direct from the manufacturer here with free worldwide shipping: www.freewellgear.com/magnetic...
You can also buy on Amazon amzn.to/47URVUH
I love that you included your "fail" photos. Not enough youtubers do that.
Thanks Brian. I think it's important to show the fails when using a technique with a low hit rate. I wouldn't want people to get the impression they could created hundreds of these types of photos in one day. Thanks for watching and for your comment.
Great in-depth review Scott, it definitely looks like a super versatile & first and foremost functional kit. Liked the series of shots where you pointed out differences when using a CPL in backlit scenes. Great, well put together video mate! 😉👍👍👍
Cheers Peter, really appreciate it. It's genuinely a really good bit of kit. I'm craving more sunny days so that I can get out and capture more back lit images. Hopefully we'll get a few more as spring rolls around. Thanks for watching again and for the comment.
Fascinating, in depth, honest review. Well done, Scott. You always leave me feeling so inspired, thank you! Your images as always are gorgeous. I'd love to see these filters in action for some woodland photography too. Another fantastic video, so well put together. Have a wonderful weekend! -Jody
Thank you Jody. They're great filters, it was a pleasure to use them. I definitely need to make a woodland video soon, it's been too long. Thanks for watching again. Best wishes, Scott.
A great very interesting video Scott and as always loved your photos !!!
Thank you Raymond, I really appreciate it.
Really well done review Scott. About the CPL, I'm going to buy one for my 200-600G lens and this Freewell looks really good. Thanks for sharing. Have a nice day.
Thanks Giuseppe. I think I'm going to find the CPL really useful. I'm excited too about using the mist filter more. We just don't quite get enough sunny days in the winter here in the UK. Bring on spring! I hope all is well with you and thanks for watching.
This is the first video I have seen suggesting using filters with wildlife. I have Circle Polarizers and ND filters and before now, I have only used them for landscape photos. Thanks for adding another tool to my toolbox.
Glad it was helpful, and definitely a fun thing to try. Thanks for watching.
Wow❤ always great. Im watching your videos several times. So informative and unique
Cheers rm yr . I've noticed you've been watching a few and I really appreciate it. 👍
Awesome I just received my 95 for my sigma. I played around with my filter some. But haven’t had the great weather yet. But I’m excited to obtain some images with it. Keep up the great work.
Thank you. Good luck with it, I hope you like it. I’ve been using mine ever since I got it, both for wildlife and landscapes. I’ve been really impressed. All the best, and thanks for watching.
Great review, worth having a look into :) thanks!
Thanks Dennis, much appreciated.
Useful video mate, something I need to get hold of at some point (having the same lens and problem as you!) K&F approached me but there filters don't go large enough for the 200-600. Really useful for filming as well👍
Thanks Scott. These Freewell filters are definitely worth it. I’m very impressed and as you say, useful for filming too. At 1/50 sec that we need to use for videos I’m often at f/22 just to get the exposure right on a sunny day. So the NDs will really help. Thanks for watching and for your comment.
Gorgeous photos 😊
Thank you, Jordan😊Much appreciated.
I actually liked the Egret shot, abstract wildlife!
Cheers Andy. Yeah I definitely think there's some potential for abstract using this method.
I was really interested in this kit but it seems that the 95mm version is not currently available in the UK. The mist filter shots were beautiful Scott. I’ll have to keep checking back for the 95mm kit!
Thanks Stephen. I'm sure they'll have them back in stock at some point. You can get them direct from the manufacturer too with free shipping, but I guess that might take longer than Amazon under normal circumstances because they're based in Hong Kong.
I use the Freewell 77mm magnetic filters on my 24-105 GM. I was happy with them (although Freewell could do better with stronger magnets and color coding for their filters). So I bought a second 77 mm base for my 100-400GM. Unfortunately, the 77mm magnetic filter would not fit properly within the 100-400 lens hood opening. So, it was difficult to put the lens hood on, and I could not remove the lens hood without the filter falling off, making me concerned about filter breakage (I almost always use a lens hood for protection, as I typically have my 100-400 out while hiking). While this is obviously a design flaw, I was happy enough with the setup to ask Freewell to exchange the base for an 82 mm base and I would add a set of 82mm filters for my 16-35 GM. They sent a response back that I needed to prove my claim and refused to exchange the base until I did. It was clear to me: 1) Freewell had not tested the filters on the 100-400 GM or they would know about the design flaw, and 2) I could not rely on their customer service. Freewell lost the sale of a set of 82mm filters, I still have the useless second 77mm UV base, and I do not intend to buy any more Freewell filters.
Hi Scot! The mist filter can be used independently or in conjunction with other filters?
Hi Nelu. It can be used both independently and with other filters of the same brand/size, like the CPL or the VND. The filters stack up magnetically.
What are your thoughts on CPL for heat haze/focusing. im shooting afl sports with 200-600g sony and am having a terrible time when they are across the field unless its overcast
Hi. I can’t imagine a CPL would help at all. CPLs are to control glare, the wavy effect from heat haze will still be there from the ground radiating heat fast. In wildlife I would try to get much closer to my subject so the heat haze isn’t so apparent. But you probably can’t do that in sports. It might be worth asking some aviation photographers. I know it’s a problem they have to deal with a lot from the heat that the planes kick out, as well as heat radiating from runways. Sorry, I can’t help much with is this question as it’s not something I encounter very often.
@@WalksOnTheWildSide hi thanks for the reply i will look into the aviation guys. keep up the great vids!
Looks like you was at Attenborough NR. What’s the advantage of using ND rather than dropping ss to match and panning
Hi Shaun. Spot on, it was Attenborough. You can absolutely adjust your shutter speed but you need a cloudy day. If you’re shooting at 1/20 -1/50 for example on a cloudless bright sunny day you’ll struggle to do this and get a good exposure. It’s for the same reason that people often need NDs when photographing waterfalls for example. There was a day last summer when I was trying to do this without filters in bright conditions, I was having to shoot at f/51 (max aperture for my lens with a 1.4 TC on it and I was still getting blown out highlights.
@@WalksOnTheWildSide Thank you for clarifying this, I was wondering the same thing.
We just got a set of the filters and will use them for filming, but I’d love to try them on photos as well. I think I’ll just have to accept a fair few fails to start with 😉.
Thank you for your great videos, I’ve learnt a lot from you 😊
I've got 95mm adapter rings for my square filter holders....
Hi Tim. Me too, but I don't really want to have to adapt my square filters. I want a variable filter kit so that I can carry round less stuff. But yes, of course, square filters can be used, but you would end up carrying around 20 pieces of glass rather than just the four in this kit. I also find my square filters quite fiddly - so I often avoid using them because of this. Thanks for watching and for your comment.
@@WalksOnTheWildSide Yes, those are good points. That makes a lot of sense!