Reviews
Subtle, misty, and vintage. A worthwhile addition to my bag.
I was intrigued by this filter, especially since I like to shoot with legacy lenses. The weather isn’t cooperating to try the filter outdoors, so I did what I could inside. Because cameras and lenses render images differently, I tried the filter with three different cameras and six different lenses:
Panasonic GF1 with Zeiss 28mm f/2.8
Panasonic GF1 with Zeiss 80-200mm f/4
Canon R5 with RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1
Canon R6 with EF 70-200mm f/2.8
Canon R6 with EF 50mm f/1.8
Canon R6 with Zeiss 50mm f/1.4
Canon R6 with Zeiss 28mm f/2.8
Having such a slow aperture, I didn’t expect much from the 100-500mm, and it lived up to my expectations. It was also difficult to see the effect with the Zeiss 80-200mm. It was there, if you knew to look for it, but it didn’t stand out. The Zeiss 28mm is a very sharp lens, and the filter did a nice job of taking the edge off, giving the flowers a softer, more romantic look. Likewise, the 70-200mm at f/2.8 also showed the effect nicely. Where the filter seemed to really shine, though, was with the two 50mm lenses. Shooting the lenses wide open, I could see the effect readily when flipping back and forth between the photos. Another thing I noticed, is that changing the camera’s angle in relation to the lighting makes the filter’s effect on lowering contrast more visible.
It’s clear to me that there’s more to this filter than just putting it on the lens and shooting. It’s going to take time to learn how to make the most of all it has to offer. Just in the short time I’ve spent with it so far, though, I really like it. I love the vintage look, especially when used with my old Zeiss lenses. It even gives me a new appreciation for the Canon EF 50mm, a cheap lens I almost never use. That may change, although with a 49mm filter size, I had to use a ridiculous number of step-up rings to put the 77mm filter on it. One thing to note, this filter has an aluminum frame. I wish it were brass, but it is what it is. I got it stuck once and managed to free it. Be careful not to tighten it more than necessary when putting it on your lens.
In the end, is the filter worth it? It depends on what you’re after, but for my uses, I think it is. I love to shoot old buildings, historic places, old trains, and similar scenes, then convert them to black and white. At 12 megapixels, my old Panasonic with the Zeiss lenses is fantastic for this. I haven’t been able to duplicate the way it renders with newer, higher resolution cameras. This filter may help, though, by softening the hard edge, technical look just enough to achieve the vintage look I’m after. I’m anxious to get out and try it.
Panasonic GF1 with Zeiss 28mm f/2.8
Panasonic GF1 with Zeiss 80-200mm f/4
Canon R5 with RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1
Canon R6 with EF 70-200mm f/2.8
Canon R6 with EF 50mm f/1.8
Canon R6 with Zeiss 50mm f/1.4
Canon R6 with Zeiss 28mm f/2.8
Having such a slow aperture, I didn’t expect much from the 100-500mm, and it lived up to my expectations. It was also difficult to see the effect with the Zeiss 80-200mm. It was there, if you knew to look for it, but it didn’t stand out. The Zeiss 28mm is a very sharp lens, and the filter did a nice job of taking the edge off, giving the flowers a softer, more romantic look. Likewise, the 70-200mm at f/2.8 also showed the effect nicely. Where the filter seemed to really shine, though, was with the two 50mm lenses. Shooting the lenses wide open, I could see the effect readily when flipping back and forth between the photos. Another thing I noticed, is that changing the camera’s angle in relation to the lighting makes the filter’s effect on lowering contrast more visible.
It’s clear to me that there’s more to this filter than just putting it on the lens and shooting. It’s going to take time to learn how to make the most of all it has to offer. Just in the short time I’ve spent with it so far, though, I really like it. I love the vintage look, especially when used with my old Zeiss lenses. It even gives me a new appreciation for the Canon EF 50mm, a cheap lens I almost never use. That may change, although with a 49mm filter size, I had to use a ridiculous number of step-up rings to put the 77mm filter on it. One thing to note, this filter has an aluminum frame. I wish it were brass, but it is what it is. I got it stuck once and managed to free it. Be careful not to tighten it more than necessary when putting it on your lens.
In the end, is the filter worth it? It depends on what you’re after, but for my uses, I think it is. I love to shoot old buildings, historic places, old trains, and similar scenes, then convert them to black and white. At 12 megapixels, my old Panasonic with the Zeiss lenses is fantastic for this. I haven’t been able to duplicate the way it renders with newer, higher resolution cameras. This filter may help, though, by softening the hard edge, technical look just enough to achieve the vintage look I’m after. I’m anxious to get out and try it.
20/02/2026