Meet the world's first all-in-one magnetic VND / CPL / mist filter system

Freewell Magnetic VND Filter Kit
(Image credit: Freewell)

Freewell has just introduced what it calls the world's first "versatile" magnetic variable neutral density (VND) camera filter, the Freewell Magnetic VND Filter Kit. 

We've seen magnetic filter systems before – including one from the same manufacturer, in the form of the Freewell Quick-Swap Magnetic Filter System. And we've seen magnetic VND filters, too. So what makes the Freewell Magnetic VND Filter Kit so special? It's that "versatile" bit.

• Read more: Best variable ND filters

In short, other magnetic VND kits are only special because they're magnetic; the VND filters themselves are, in every other way, just regular filters. Freewell's filters, however, are expertly engineered double-duty filters that serve multiple purposes. 

Watch video: Freewell Magnetic VND Filter Kit

Screw the magnetic VND Base onto your lens and you've got 1 f-stop as standard (which can be removed – more on that in a sec). Now you can snap on a magnetic 2-5 stop filter, or a 6-9 stop filter – both of which have hard stops, despite being magnetic, which helps prevent the dreaded "X" pattern. 

However, there's more to these filters than meets the eye. 

Flip the 2-5 stop VND filter around and it becomes a circular polarizer; flip the 6-9 stop VND around, and it becomes an ND32 polarizer. Want a glow mist filter as well? Simply pop out the 1-stop glass in the VND Base, replace it with the MistxVND Base and you get a 1/8 diffusion filter

You can hybridize your filters, too, and shoot using the glow mist filter in conjunction with a variable neutral density, or with a circular polarizer. In short, if you're a run-and-gun shooter or solo videographer, you no longer need to carry multiple filter kits and fiddly mounts – the Freewell Magnetic VND Filter Kit gives you everything in one. And even the lens cap is magnetic! 

Watch video: Freewell Magnetic VND Filter Kit

The kit is currently being crowdfunded on Indiegogo, where the campaign was barely online for a day before smashing its goal by over 1,500%. We're usually a bit nervous about crowdfunded products, but Freewell has already sent us a sample of the kit and we're very impressed – look out for a full review of the system soon.

The Freewell Magnetic VND Filter Kit is available in 58mm, 62mm, 67mm, 72mm, 77mm and 82mm threads, and is available for $299.99 / £219 (approximately AU$407) for Super Early Birds, $349.99 / £255 (AU$469) for Early Birds, as well as a limited edition 95mm version for $399.99 / £292 (AU$536).  

Read more: 

Best polarizing filters
How to use a polarizing filter
Best diffusion filters
Best protection filters for lenses
Best ND grad filters
Best infrared filters
Best light pollution filters for night photography
Kase Wolverine Magnetic Circular Filters review
All-in-one polariser and variable ND filter

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James Artaius
Editor

The editor of Digital Camera World, James has 21 years experience as a journalist and started working in the photographic industry in 2014 (as an assistant to Damian McGillicuddy, who succeeded David Bailey as Principal Photographer for Olympus). In this time he shot for clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal, in addition to shooting campaigns and product testing for Olympus, and providing training for professionals. This has led him to being a go-to expert for camera and lens reviews, photo and lighting tutorials, as well as industry news, rumors and analysis for publications like Digital Camera MagazinePhotoPlus: The Canon MagazineN-Photo: The Nikon MagazineDigital Photographer and Professional Imagemaker, as well as hosting workshops and talks at The Photography Show. He also serves as a judge for the Red Bull Illume Photo Contest. An Olympus and Canon shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and a fondness for vintage lenses and instant cameras.