Whether you are a professional photographer or an enthusiast, you know that camera lenses can be quite expensive, and the cost of replacing or repairing them can be exorbitant. This is why it's essential to take measures to protect your investment, and one of the best ways to do this is by using a UV (ultraviolet) or even better MCUV filter (multi-coated ultraviolet).
UV filters are among the most basic filters in photography and offer a range of advantages. The best protection filters for lenses are designed to protect your primes and zooms from accidental damage caused by drops, scratches, or cracks. They can also safeguard against environmental factors such as water, sand, or dust, which can negatively impact the longevity of your lens. This is particularly important when shooting near water or in the rain, as water can cause major damage to your lens. Even condensation can be harmful if you move from a cold environment to a warm one while shooting.
Despite their advantages, some photographers hesitate to use UV filters because they believe that the extra element in front of the lens can impact image quality. This is a valid concern, as some filters can reduce sharpness, color, and contrast, or block light. However, choosing the right filter can help you avoid these issues. When looking for a clear filter, it's essential to find one that is made with high-quality materials and coatings. With so many options available, it can be challenging to find the right one.
That's why we're testing the Nano-X Series Tempered MCUV Filter. This mid-priced filter features 28 multi-coatings and promises to be clear and not reduce image quality. It may even enhance image quality with additional features…
Specifications
Filter type: UV lens filter
Series: Nano-X
Mount: Screw-in
Thread diameter options (mm): 37, 40.5, 43, 46, 49, 52, 55, 58, 62, 67, 72, 77, 82, 86, 95, 105, 112, 127
Filter material: Japanese AGC Glass
Ring material: Aviation aluminum alloy
Thickness: 3.3mm
Build & Handling
Unlike other manufacturers, such as Tiffen, this filter comes in a compact circular filter housing. The container can accommodate filters of different sizes, making it practical for storing other filters (in this case, circular filters from 43-82mm). The filter housing has a secure locking mechanism that prevents accidental opening. Thanks to its knobbly surfaces, it can still be opened easily with a two-handed movement, by adjusting those in the opposite direction.
This K&F MCUV filter is made of High Density Sharp Cut UV Glass, which is chemically enhanced to make the Optical Glass 12x stronger. It is part of K&F Concept’s Nano-X series, which means it has a 28-layer Anti-Reflective Multi Coating. This coating makes it water and oil-repellent, scratch and stain-resistant, and anti-glaring. The nanometer coatings promise a 99.6% light transmittance as demonstrated in a graphic provided on the K&F website.
Compared to filters made by other well-known manufacturers, the K&F filter is incredibly slim, with a thickness of only 3.3mm, and also lighter. The Tiffen or AmazonBasics filters are usually thicker and are not as easy to attach and detach. Next to the non-slip pattern, The K&F Concept MCUV filter also provides two grip sections, which are not as fine as the competition is providing.
The filter is double-threaded, which means that you can stack your lens cap and also combine it with other filters if needed. This feature provides additional versatility for your photography needs.
Performance
I conducted robustness tests to verify its durability. When adding water to the surface, the filter effectively repelled water droplets, preventing them from entering the lens. Furthermore, K&F Concept has a video on its YouTube channel showcasing the filter's durability. The Nano-X Series Tempered MCUV Filter withstood a fall from a height of 2m without sustaining any damage. To compare, the team dropped a 120-gram weight from a distance of 50cm directly on the filter face, and the K&F Concept filter remained intact without any scratches, while the normal glass filter was destroyed.
Without a doubt, the K&F Concept filter boasts ultra-clear glass. Even at first glance, the filter appeared invisible due to its exceptional transparency. Upon attaching it to the lens, the clarity of the filter became apparent, capturing details without any compromise in sharpness or color. In fact, this filter slightly improved the quality of the shots.
Through the use of the filter, the amount of UV light was minimized resulting in an enhancement of the overall contrast of the scene, while successfully reducing the amount of haze. The filter proved to be effective in preventing unwanted reflections and glare.
K&F Concept's ultra-slim frames are perfect for leaving an MCUV filter on the lens at all times. Due to its frame size, the lens cap was easy to add. Moreover, the filter can be combined with other filters without any vignetting effects or quality loss. This was tested by combining the MCUV filter with a K&F Concept ND filter. This makes it particularly useful for landscape or seascape photographers who want to capture the scene with the popular long exposure technique, as the ND filter can be attached without having to detach the MCUV filter. Also, the ultra-slim design effectively prevented vignetting when capturing the scene with low focal lengths/ a wide-angle optic.
Before: Captured with a Sony A7III, Sony 28-70mm f3.5-5.6 lens, 1/80sec, f/14, ISO50, second image at 100% magnification
Before: Captured with a Sony A7III, Sony 28-70mm f3.5-5.6 lens and K&F Concept Nano-X Series MCUV Filter, 1/80sec, f/14, ISO50, second image at 100% magnification
Verdict
The K&F Concept Nano-X MCUV filter is an excellent premium choice for photographers of all kinds looking for uncompromising quality and durability. The filter is built to last and boasts a robust design that ensures the protection of your expensive optics. The filter comes with a 2-year warranty, which can be extended by scanning the QR code found on the back of the packaging and registering the product.
The multi-coating of the filter prevents moisture, dust, and fingerprints from entering the lens surface, making it scratch-resistant and easy to clean. This filter is almost indestructible as shown in a YouTube video demonstrating its durability.
The ultra-clear glass and anti-reflective coating of the filter do not negatively impact the image quality. Additionally, the reduction of UV light and haze enhances the overall contrast of the scene slightly, which is visible when zoomed to 100% in the before and after shots of the review. With an impressive light transmission of 99.7%, the K&F Concept filter beats the more expensive Tiffen Ultra Clear HD filter by 0.7%.
The filter's super-slim design is made to be discreet and can be left on the lens all the time. It can be combined with other filters without compromising the quality or creating vignettes.
The K&F Concept’s Nano-X series filters may come with a higher price tag than the budget-friendly Nano-K filter series, but while both filter series use Japanese optical glass and have an aluminum frame, they differ in their coatings. The Nano-K series has 18 layers, which gives it some optical superiority, while the Nano-X filters have an extra 10 layers of coating. These additional layers provide the filter with exceptional scratch resistance and are worth the investment.
Alternatives
Are you a beginner in photography or searching for a budget-friendly solution? Tiffen's UV Protector filter is an alternative to the K&F Concept MCUV filter. It effectively reduces the impact of UV light and provides reliable protection for your lens - but without a heavy price tag. The difference here is that this filter does not provide a multi-coated surface so lens flare can occur, which can be prevented by using a lens hood when shooting directly towards the sun.
Are you interested in exploring other camera filter options? We recommend checking out the Tiffen Digital HT Ultra Clear filter. This filter is comparable to the MCUV filter by K&F Concept and performed very well in our testing. Like the MCUV filter, it also has a multi-coated surface that transmits almost 99% of light. The filter has a durable titanium finish and provides excellent protection for your camera lens.
