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<\/a>\t\t\tPolarisers, neutral density (ND) and gradated ND filters are all useful tools for landscape photography. Sony Alpha 7R IV, Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS at 16mm, 34 secs at<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n
Square filter holder systems are generally the most popular choice with landscape shooters, as they allow GNDs to be positioned to match the scene. They also have the advantage of allowing one set of filters to be shared across multiple lenses with different threads. While the square-filter concept was first popularised by Cokin<\/strong><\/a>, for a long time LEE Filters<\/strong><\/a> has been the maker of choice for serious landscape photographers.<\/p>\n Over recent years, though, the market has expanded, and other companies have moved into the fray. This has driven a burst of innovation in a bid to make holder systems that are quicker and easier to use. In place of conventional screw-fit polarisers, there are now clip, bayonet and magnetically fitting designs, all of which aim to be easier to swap in and out. Likewise, some systems place the ND and GND filters into plastic or metal frames, which maximises their usable area and protects fragile and expensive glass filters if they\u2019re accidentally dropped.<\/p>\n\t\t This shows the set-up I used for the shot above, using LEE’s polariser, 1-stop ND, and 2-stop medium GND<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n In this article, I\u2019m looking at the latest filter holder systems from Formatt Hitech<\/a><\/strong>, Kase<\/a><\/strong> and NiSi<\/strong><\/a> in comparison to leading designs from the likes of LEE<\/strong><\/a> and Cokin<\/strong><\/a>, all of which bring different ideas to the table. I’ll examine the practicalities of using them, including how easy it is to swap the various filters in and out, and how much kit you need to carry around. Whichever of these systems you choose, though, you can expect to get excellent image quality without the image degradation that can be caused by cheap filters.<\/p>\n While the big advantage of square filter systems lies in how they allow you to adjust graduated filters, it’s often possible to achieve a similar effect in software. This can be done \u00a0either by bracketing and combining exposures, or by taking advantage of the vast dynamic range of modern image sensors. If this is your preferred approach, then circular filters may be a better choice.<\/p>\n\t\t Kase Wolverine Magnetic Circular filters are a great option of you don’t need graduated NDs<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n If you only wish to use polarising filters, we recommend Hoya’s Ultra Pro range<\/a>, which are pricey but excellent. If you’d like to use ND filters too, then Kase Wolverine Magnetic Circular kits<\/a> are a great choice, as they’re quick and easy to use and minimise vignetting with wideangle lenses, even when stacking filters. For sharing one filter across multiple lenses, H&Y Revoring<\/a> variable step-up rings are also worth checking out.<\/p>\n Formatt Hitech’s 100mm Firecrest holder uses unique light-blocking shrouds<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n Formatt Hitech quietly updated its Firecrest 100mm filter holder in 2021, drawing on design elements of its 85mm system. The new version employs a larger-diameter polariser to minimise the chances of vignetting, at 86mm rather than 82mm. It also gains an improved, lockable mounting clip and a larger, more accessible dial for adjusting the polariser. The firm\u2019s unique shrouds for eliminating light leakage when stacking ND filters have also been redesigned.<\/p>\n The system comes with 86mm and 82mm lens adapter rings, along with step-up rings for 77mm and 72mm threads. The ultra-slim polariser then screws conventionally onto the lens adapter ring. This gives rise to the system\u2019s biggest irritation: it\u2019s difficult to swap in the field. The tiny, ridged grip around the polariser\u2019s circumference provides barely any purchase, so the key is not to screw it in too tightly.<\/p>\n\t\t Formatt Hitech’s kit is especially good for very long exposures. Here, I used a 16-stop ND. Sony Alpha 7R IV, Sony FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS at 24mm, 11 min at f\/8, ISO 100<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n Aside from that, though, the kit works well. The holder clips easily onto the lens ring and can be locked down at any angle using a large blue anodised knob. There\u2019s a foam seal surrounding the polariser, which means that ND filters don\u2019t need to have one fitted. By using the supplied shrouds, you can also fit stack two ND filters for greater effect, with no risk of light reflecting between them and degrading image quality. Two pairs of shrouds are supplied, one fully enclosed and the other with slots to accommodate GND filters.<\/p>\n The holder comes installed with slots for two filters and in this configuration, it won\u2019t vignette with lenses as wide as 15mm. It\u2019s also supplied with the parts to fit a third slot if necessary. This is a simple operation that only takes a few minutes, but I\u2019d avoid doing it in the field as it would be all too easy to lose a screw. Also, with a third slot in place, you can no longer use those light-blocking shrouds.<\/p>\n\t\t Formatt Hitech Firecrest 100mm MKII holder in use<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n Formatt Hitech supplies the holder kit in a nylon pouch, but there\u2019s no means of attaching it to anything, so you\u2019ll need to find space inside your camera bag. Its Firecrest 100mm filters come in impressively sturdy padded pouches, but these are quite bulky, so if you\u2019re carrying four or five filters, they\u2019ll take up a lot of space.<\/p>\n For photographers who use cameras with smaller sensors (APS-C or Micro Four Thirds), or don\u2019t have ultra-wide lenses, Formatt Hitech also offers a Firecrest 85mm filter system<\/a> that\u2019s cheaper and more travel-friendly.<\/p>\n\t\t Formatt Hitech’s 85mm system is ideal for APS-Cor micro Four Thirds users<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n The Firecrest 85mm system fits lenses with threads up to 77mm and shouldn\u2019t vignette at angles as wide as 19mm equivalent, or even 17mm if you can keep the holder straight. The holder kit costs \u00a3120, with high-quality glass filters starting from \u00a385.<\/p>\n Read our full, in-depth review of the Formatt Hitech Onyx 85mm Seascape Kit<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Formatt Hitech\u2019s Firecrest MKII system is, all told, a well-considered update, and it\u2019s uniquely good for shooting very long exposures with stacked NDs. It\u2019s only let down by its fiddly screw-in polariser.<\/p>\n In Kase’s innovative Armour system, everything fits into place magnetically<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n Kase is a leading proponent of using magnetic filter fittings, and its latest Armour system takes this to its logical conclusion. Aside from the adapter rings that screw into the lens, everything fits together magnetically. To make this work, ND and GND filters are housed in metal frames, which should also provide protection against accidental drops. However, the frames cost \u00a340 each and you\u2019ll need one for every filter, which could rapidly get expensive.<\/p>\n The filter holder itself is a strikingly pared-back affair, with just two small side-arms to orientate the square filters. A dial on one arm rotates the polariser, while a knob on the other locks the square filters in place. A clip on one corner releases the holder from the lens ring.<\/p>\n\t\t For this shot, I used a 10-stop ND to blur the water and clouds. Sony Alpha 7R IV, Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS at 16mm, 41 secs at f\/16, ISO 100<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n Unusually, along with conventional square filters, the holder also accepts magnetic circular NDs, which cost \u00a3125 each. Like the polariser, these are 95mm in diameter and extremely slim. The circular filters snap into recesses in the holder, one at the front and the other at the back. In fact, you can even fix the polariser and circular NDs directly onto the lens ring, without the holder.<\/p>\n I tested the kit with a set of circular NDs and two of Kase\u2019s double grads, which combine two filters onto a single piece of glass. Together, these provide a remarkably compact, travel-friendly setup. The holder, lens rings, polariser, three NDs and (in effect) four GNDs all stow neatly together into the matched slimline case (\u00a340) that can be carried over your shoulder or attached to your camera bag. When it’s assembled, the system is strikingly low profile and completely light-tight. I saw no hint of vignetting with lenses as wide as 15mm.<\/p>\n\t\t Uniquely, the Kase Armour system can accept 95mm magnetic circular ND filters<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n In use, the fully magnetic design takes a bit of getting used to. Kase has used powerful magnets that hold everything in place securely, so there’s no risk of filters falling off. But the flipside of this is that they take quite a lot of force to remove. Also, the filters only fit one way around; try to attach them the other way, and the magnets will repel each other instead. This is disconcerting, to say the least, if you’re trying to attach filters in a location where dropping them would mean losing them irretrievably.<\/p>\n My other practical concern lies with using the circular NDs. When setting up filters, you generally want to adjust the polariser and GND first while you can still see the viewfinder image clearly, then fit an ND last of all. But that’s not possible with the circular filters, as their slot is hidden behind the square filters. Personally, I\u2019d stick with using square NDs.<\/p>\n Kase\u2019s Armour holder is a really clever design, but I’m not entirely convinced by the practicalities of using it. However, it\u2019s still an interesting alternative to the firm’s superb K9 system.<\/p>\n LEE’s 100mm filter system employs a large clip-on front-mounted polariser<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n For many photographers, LEE has long been the go-to brand for square filters. A couple of years ago, it updated its 100mm holder to a modular design that’s distinctly different from anything else on the market. It\u2019s available in various sets, with the most expensive Deluxe Kit offering including a polariser, 10-stop ND (the famous Big Stopper), and three GNDs: 2-stop medium, 3-stop hard, and 4-stop medium.<\/p>\n Unlike the other systems we’re considering here, LEE’s holder is plastic, not metal. It’s also designed so that the side-arms are easily swappable, with sets provided to hold either one, two or three ND or GND filters. LEE doesn’t fit the polariser at the back, either; instead, it employs a huge custom 100mm polariser than clips onto the front of the holder.<\/p>\n\t\t A 2-stop GND darkens the sky, while a 10-stop ND smooths the water. Sony Alpha 7R IV, Sony FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS at 24mm, 30secs at f\/16, ISO 100<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n Lens adaptor rings must be bought separately; standard ones cost \u00a320 each, while those for use with wideangles are \u00a340. These effectively place most of the holder behind the front of the lens, and I saw no vignetting with a 16-35mm ultra-wide zoom.<\/p>\n LEE\u2019s polariser and GND filters are made from optical resin, while the Big Stopper is made from glass. Resin filters are lightweight and unlikely to break when dropped, however they tend to be prone to scratching, so need to be handled carefully. They\u2019re also a bit less easy to clean and keep dry. There\u2019s no light sealing on the holder itself, so NDs come with a foam seal attached.<\/p>\n\t\t LEE100 filter system in use<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n Despite its slightly eccentric design, the LEE100 system works well in the field. The front-fitting polariser is uniquely easy to swap in or out as required, and you can change the square filters easily too. But the Deluxe kit does expect you to carry a lot of stuff around, with a large circular case for the polariser, a square tin for the Big Stopper, a separate case for the grads, and a microfibre pouch for the holder kit. Compared to the nicely organised Kase and NiSi kits it\u2019s all a bit of a mess, and you\u2019ll probably want to get LEE\u2019s Field Pouch (\u00a335) for your filters, at least.<\/p>\n Having the interchangeable filter guides is, in principle, a neat idea. But I\u2019m not convinced about whether you\u2019d change very often them practice. After all, the other filter holders under consideration here get by perfectly well with two or three slots.<\/p>\n LEE\u2019s kit is popular for a reason; it\u2019s easy to use and works well. But it\u2019s not as sophisticated as the best holders available, and it would seriously benefit from a properly designed case to keep everything organised in one place.<\/p>\n NiSi’s V7 holder now employs a clever bayonet-mount polariser<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n Last year I reviewed NiSi\u2019s previous filter folder, the NiSi V6<\/a>. It worked quite well, but I had reservations over certain aspects of the design. Now the firm has fixed the biggest of these gripes, which elevates the NiSi V7 to being one of the best options available.<\/p>\n As before, NiSi\u2019s V7 holder is based around an 82mm lens adapter ring, which is designed to place the bulk of the filter holder behind the front of the lens. Step-up rings are provided for use with 67mm, 72mm and 77mm threads. But in the first major update, the matched polariser no longer uses a fiddly screw thread, but instead employs a bayonet fitting. This is a minor stroke of genius, making it dramatically easier to mount or remove in the field. The design also means that polariser can be used on its own, without having to mount the main filter holder, which is handy.<\/p>\n\t\t In this shot, a long exposure makes pedestrians disappear. Sony Alpha 7R IV, Sony FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS at 73mm, 68secs at f\/16, ISO 100<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n The holder itself clips onto the lens ring via a sprung pin, with the second big improvement being that it can be locked in place using a concentric collar, rather than a second pin. This makes the system much less error-prone and easier to use. As before, it incorporates three filter slots, which have a particularly minimalist profile to combat any risk of vignetting. I saw no problems even with the Laowa 15mm f\/4 ultra-wide lens.<\/p>\n As before, the polariser is rotated via a pair of small wheels placed diametrically opposite each other on the adapter ring. But these dials end up in different locations, depending on the lens you\u2019re using, which is the one remaining irritation of NiSi\u2019s design. Much of the time it isn\u2019t a problem, but with the other holders it\u2019s easier to locate the polariser dial by touch when you\u2019re looking through the viewfinder.<\/p>\n\t\t NiSi V7 filter kit in use<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n The holder kit fits nicely into the supplied case, which can be attached to your camera bag but doesn\u2019t have a shoulder strap. NiSi supplies its filters in super-slim faux-leather cases, with a soft lining and magnetic closure. They take up little space in your bag and can even be slipped into a large jacket pocket. Overall, it\u2019s a very well-organised, portable design.<\/p>\n NiSi also offers some extremely handy accessories for working with filters, regardless of which brand you use. Firstly, the Clever Cleaner has a large rectangular felt pad to clean square filters, and folds way small when not in use.<\/p>\n\t\t NiSi’s Bluetooth Remote Control is great for setting long exposures with deep ND filters<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n Secondly, the Bluetooth Remote Control<\/a> is a brilliant little device for shooting long exposures with your camera in B mode. It\u2019s controlled from your smartphone via the easy-to-use NiSi ND Calculator app. It costs \u00a329.90, plus \u00a34.50 per interchangeable camera cable.<\/p>\n NiSi\u2019s V7 holder may look very similar to its predecessor, but I found it to be a real practical improvement. The bayonet-fit polariser and improved locking mechanism make it much easier to use, and it\u2019s now up there among the best you can buy.<\/p>\n Cokin’s NX-Series filter system fits together via a unique array of small ball bearings<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n I reviewed Cokin\u2019s new NX-series kit<\/a> earlier this year and was impressed by the way the firm has cleverly re-invented its filter holder system. It\u2019s extremely low-profile to minimise vignetting, while ND and GND filters are housed in metal frames to make full use of their area while providing extra protection. All the filters are held in place by a unique system of small ball bearings, with the polarising filter simply clipping into place from the front. The result is an elegant system which is impressively quick and easy to use.<\/p>\n Read our full, in-depth review of the Cokin NX-Series filter system<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Cokin\u2019s starter kit costs \u00a3220 and includes the holder and three lens rings (72mm, 77mm and 82mm), the matched polariser, and two frames, one each 100x100mm and 100x150mm. Additional frames cost \u00a318 each, or \u00a332 for a pack of two, and you\u2019ll need a frame for each filter you want to use.<\/p>\n\t\t Here I used the polariser, a soft grad to darken the sky, and the 6-stop ND to prevent other park users from registering in the shot. Sony Alpha 7 II, Sony FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS at 24mm, 5sec at f\/11, ISO 100<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n Other kits are available at various price points up to the \u00a3690 Professional Kit, which includes three ND filters, three GNDs, and a carry case, which represents good value. The filters all come from the firm\u2019s premium Nuances Extreme range.<\/p>\n Of all the systems that place filters in protective frames, Cokin\u2019s NX-series is perhaps the best conceived. Its main practical disadvantage that the polariser is rather awkward to remove in the field, as you have to remove the square filters then prise it out from the front. But aside from that, it works really well.<\/p>\n Kase’s excellent K9 system uses a polariser that fits magnetically<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n Among conventional 100mm holders that hold the square filters in simple slots, Kase\u2019s Wolverine K9 system<\/strong><\/a> stands out for offering arguably the most refined design. Its standout feature is a polariser that clips magnetically to the lens adapter rings, which makes it quick and easy to fit or remove. Meanwhile the filter holder is strikingly pared back to minimise size and weight. A thick felt layer covers its entire front surface, to prevent stray light from penetrating past a neutral density filter.<\/p>\n<\/a>\t\t\tHow about circular filters?<\/h3>\n
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\nFormatt Hitech Firecrest 100mm Holder MKII kit<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>\t\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t<\/a>\t\t\tAlso consider: Formatt Hitech Firecrest 85mm filter system<\/h3>\n
<\/a>\t\t\tFormatt Hitech Firecrest 100mm Holder: MKII Our Verdict<\/h2>\n
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\nKase Wolverine Armour 100mm system<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>\t\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t<\/a>\t\t\tKase Wolverine Armour 100mm system: Our\u00a0Verdict<\/h2>\n
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\nLEE100 Deluxe Kit<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>\t\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t<\/a>\t\t\tLEE100 Deluxe Kit: Our Verdict<\/h2>\n
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\nNiSi V7 with True Color NC CPL<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>\t\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t<\/a>\t\t\tEssential accessories from NiSi<\/h3>\n
<\/a>\t\t\tNiSi V7 with True Color NC CPL: Our\u00a0Verdict<\/h2>\n
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\nCokin NX-Series filter system<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>\t\t\t<\/a>\t\t\tCokin NX-Series: Our Verdict<\/h2>\n
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\nKase K9 filter holder system<\/h2>\n
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