Drifting ND Filters Where Drifters Drift – 2022 “Following ND” is the end point of the journey to find the optimal solution for variable ND filters? ~

Will the “Oi ND” style become a trend?

What is “Oi ND”? It is put on top of the conventional variable ND that is screwed into the screw on the front lens of the lens, such as NiSi’s TRUE COLOR ND VARIO, which I introduced before, and you can add an ND filter or add black mist etc. It can be used with effect filters.

Of course, in the past it was possible to stack filters with a screw-in type, but screw-type stacking has a large overlapping area, creating a large distance between the lens and the filter. For this reason, vignetting occurs, and as a result of the filter being screwed in strongly, it is difficult to remove, so it was not recommended. However, with a specially made “push” style, there is little vignetting, and overlapping filters are effective.

It’s a bit off topic, but NiSi’s TRUE COLOR has almost no color change, and while the number of people using it is increasing, there are many scenes where the density change range of “1-5 stops” is not satisfactory. Isn’t it honest? This writer also had a lot of troubles when he couldn’t drop it.

In particular, with the Sony FX3, which has recently been equipped with the Cine EI mode, shooting in S-log3 is practically fixed at ISO800 or ISO12800. Under such circumstances, it is often difficult to reduce light with 1-5 stops when controlling the desired exposure when shooting outdoors (this is why the convenience of the FX6’s built-in variable ND stands out).

However, many NDs have a wide range of density change, and the color change is severe, so it is human nature to want to increase the density while keeping the color change as small as possible.

Just as I was thinking about that, the “SWIFT” system emerged from NiSi like a comet. In order to solve the “insufficient density problem” of NiSi TRUE COLOR ND VARIO users, including myself, a “push” type filter work solution was announced.

SWIFT, as the name suggests, is a ‘quick’ exchange system

Simply put, it is a system that “pushes” additional filters on the premise that TRUE COLOR ND VARIO is installed. Since there is no need to screw it in, it is quick to put on and take off. As the name of SWIFT suggests, it is “quick”.

Importance of “does not change color” as seen by comparison with other companies

There are ND filters with similar systems from other companies, so I compared them. FREEWELL’s VERSATILE MAGNETIC VND is a type of “following ND” that sticks with a magnet unlike SWIFT.

The difference from NiSi’s SWIFT is that the filter base that is attached to the lens side has a 1-stop base ND and is then layered. A rotatable Variable ND (C-PL) can be installed on top of that, and an additional ND for 4 stops can be installed if necessary. You can also add a mist effect by setting the base ND to Mist. If you want to add Mist in the middle, you’ll have to remove the ND and change the bass, so SWIFT wins in this quickness.

FREEWELL’s “following filter” is a magnet type, so it’s easy to feel the fit. I have fond memories of SWIFT, which does not use magnets, because I have faint memories of things like sticking to it.

More important than that is “no color change”. I compared NiSi and FREEWELL under the same conditions. I am impressed by the lack of color change of NiSi. You can see that FREEWELL has a color shift toward yellow and green. You can tell by looking at the skin color of the model and the color of the ground.

The feeling of use is not bad, and I feel that each manufacturer has been devised, but the problem is probably the color change.

Knowing the lack of color change in NiSi’s True Color Vario, I can’t go back to filters that turn even slightly yellow.

The “Following ND” provided by the SWIFT system also maintains “True Color” with almost no color change. That’s because SWIFT’s additional ND is full-spectrum ND, which is the highest grade in the professional area (absorbs light evenly across all wavelengths from ultraviolet to infrared, without color cast or uneven dimming), which is why NiSi’s True Color Vario It guarantees the absence of color change. It is a nice point that the color does not change even if it is layered.

By the way, this SWIFT system filter can be used without the base True Color VARIO by using an adapter. It can also be used independently as a 4-stop ND/1/4 BlackMist filter for peace of mind. I’m happy to see details like this.

I felt that the “Oi ND” style, which expands the possibilities of filter work, will become the mainstream in the future for styles that do not use a matte box. I would like to think that I have finally reached the end of my ND filter search journey, but I am also looking forward to the enhancement and evolution of the follow-up filter. If there is a store display, I would like you to touch it.