Freewell x Brandon Li Magnetic VND/CPL Filter Kit review: a nearly perfect all-in-one system

Variable ND filters are an essential purchase for any serious run-and-gun videographer. If you want to keep your shutter speed under control, maintain a wider aperture in bright light, or avoid constantly changing fixed ND filters between shots, a good VND is one of the quickest upgrades you can make to a camera setup.

Freewell has teamed up here with seasoned YouTuber Brandon Li, known for his fast-moving travel and documentary-style filmmaking, and this kit has clearly been designed around speed, convenience, and minimizing the number of individual filters you need to carry.

I tested the Pro Kit, which includes the VND/CPL, ND32, Glow Mist ¼, and base adapter ring (in my case, 77mm). The idea is simple enough: leave the base ring on your lens, then attach the filters magnetically as needed. You can use the VND/CPL on its own for 1-5 stops, add the ND32 to extend the range up to 10 stops, or bring in the mist filter when you want a softer look.

That makes it a direct alternative to buying several separate filters, and it will be of obvious interest to anyone looking through our guides to the best variable ND filters or the best filters for photography. The question is whether the convenience justifies the price.

Specifications

Price

The Freewell x Brandon Li Magnetic VND/CPL Pro Kit is not cheap, with the Pro Kit priced at $379.99 at the time of writing, discounted from a listed regular price of $449.99. The Basic Kit, which excludes the Glow Mist 1/4 filter, is currently priced at $349.99.

On one hand, the Pro Kit replaces several separate filters and gives you a lot of flexibility in a relatively compact package. You are getting a VND/CPL, ND32, mist filter, magnetic caps, and a proper case, so the value looks stronger when considered as a complete system rather than a single filter.

However, I do think Freewell should include more than one base ring. My 82mm filter came with one 77mm magnetic adapter ring, and if I want to use the same filters across lenses with different thread sizes, I will need to buy additional rings separately, which aren’t cheap. That is not unusual with magnetic systems, but at this price, it feels like Freewell could have included at least one or two common step-up sizes.

Design & Handling

At least the Freewell x Brandon Li kit feels like the premium product its price suggests. The filters have a solid, neatly machined feel, and the whole system is slimmer than I expected considering how much functionality is being squeezed in. On my 77mm diameter lens, the main filter is larger than the lens thread, which helps avoid vignetting, but it still does not feel overly bulky on the camera.

The design comes in a single distinctive green color. It is subtle rather than garish, but it does still stand out a little on my otherwise all-black camera and kit. I suspect this will be a love-it-or-hate-it for a lot of people. I do not mind it, but anyone who likes their gear to disappear visually might find it a bit more noticeable than a standard black or silver filter ring.

The magnetic base ring screws onto the lens, and from there, the system becomes much quicker than conventional screw-in filters. The main VND uses a locking system rather than relying only on magnets. You line up the red marks on the edge of the magnetic adapter ring and the edge of the VND, snap the filter into place, then twist so the lines no longer match. At that point, it is locked on. It is simple, and once you have done it a couple of times, it becomes second nature.

The locking mechanism for adding extra filters to the front is less elegant. You again have to line up the red marks, but I found the alignment slightly less obvious as the marks are very subtle, and because the magnetic connection is strong, the filter tends to snap on before you have everything exactly where you want it. Pulling it off again is harder than it should be, partly because the ND section can rotate and partly because the filters are slim, so there is not a huge amount to grip.

Once everything is locked in, I am very confident the attachments are not coming off. The problem is more about the process of stacking. If you want to use the ND32 and the mist filter together, the second filter locks in, but the additional filter effectively sits magnetically on top of the glass of the second filter. That means the top filter does not feel quite as secure, and I noticed it could rub against debris trapped between the filter surfaces. It is workable, but it is the least polished part of the system.

You can also attach the included mist filter or ND32 directly to the ring without using the VND, which is very useful. The magnetic connection is strong, and I never felt like the filter was going to be knocked off easily.

The VND itself is quite stiff to turn, which I actually think is a positive, as it means I was not accidentally unlocking it or knocking it out of position when handling the camera.

I do really like the lens cap. It is magnetic, made from solid metal, and has a built-in gray card, which is a genuinely useful touch for video work. The case is also excellent. Freewell has done a good job here. Its dome shape slots easily into a kit bag, feels protective, and has space for four or more filters.

Performance

Optically, the Freewell x Brandon Li kit performed very well in my testing. The biggest thing I look for in any variable ND is whether there is an obvious X pattern, and I could not see one here. The filter has hard stops, which reduce the chance of overdoing the polarisation effects.

Color shift is well controlled. There is a very minor shift at the top end, but I would describe it as almost negligible with the VND/CPL on its own. In some shots, I could see a slight yellow cast comparing images side by side, but I probably wouldn't notice in real-world shooting, and it is easily corrected in post. For anyone already grading footage or editing raw photos, this is not something I would lose any sleep over.

I also saw no vignetting on the 24mm end of my lens, even when stacking all three components, although this is helped by the fact that the filter is effectively oversized for my 77mm lens thread.

The built-in CPL does a great job at cutting reflections, and having the CPL integrated with the VND just reduces the need to stack yet another separate filter just to manage glare and reflections. I probably wouldn't buy a pro VND without the ability to twist the whole filter to adjust polarisation.

Adding the ND32 on top of the 1-5 stop VND range gives you much more flexibility in very bright light, but it also adds a little more color cast. The yellow tone becomes more noticeable than with the VND alone. Again, it is something I would be happy to correct in editing rather than a dealbreaker, but if you need straight-out-of-camera perfection, then fixed NDs are much better here.

The Glow Mist 1/4 filter is quite strong. That is not necessarily a criticism, but it is not something I would leave on permanently. Used carefully, it can give highlights a softer, more cinematic bloom and take a little bite out of digital sharpness, but here, the effect is not especially subtle, so I would use it deliberately.

Verdict

The Freewell x Brandon Li Magnetic VND/CPL Filter Kit is an incredibly good filter system. I like it so much that it has become the default glass on the front of my lens.

I was impressed by the build quality, the secure locking system, and the optical performance. I saw no visible X pattern, no vignetting on my 24mm lens, and only very minor color shift with the VND/CPL. The ND32 and mist filter introduce a little more warmth, but nothing I would consider difficult to correct.

There are a few frustrations. I do not think it is generous enough to include only one base ring at this high price, especially when the whole point of a system like this is using the same filters across multiple lenses. Stacking multiple filters is also more fiddly than the main magnetic system suggests.

Even with those caveats, if you are mostly shooting video, switching between stills and motion, or working quickly outdoors, having a VND, CPL, ND32 and mist filter in one compact setup is genuinely useful.

Alternatives

NiSi True Color ND-Vario 1-5 Stop Pro Nano filter

The NiSi True Color ND-Vario 1-5 Stop Pro Nano is a good alternative if you want a more traditional screw-in VND rather than a magnetic filter system. It offers hard stops, a smooth de-clicked adjustment ring and a screw-in handle for video work, though it is a more conventional setup and lacks the quick magnetic flexibility of the Freewell kit.

Haida PROII CPL-VND 2 in 1

The Haida PROII CPL-VND 2-in-1 is a simpler and more affordable option for anyone who likes the idea of combining a circular polarizer and variable ND in one filter. It does not have the same modular magnetic system or extra mist/ND stacking options as the Freewell kit, but it is the economic choice for photographers and videographers who want exposure and reflection control without breaking the bank.