Uploaded June 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
So this is a COMBINED circular polariser AND 3-7 stop variable ND. But is combining them a sensible thing to do? Does it make your life easier? Or does it take away your options??
Get your FREEWELL V2 Hybrid VND/CPL here: linkmix.co/18849429
Well, the first thing to point out is that technically..... TECHNICALLY.... it's not a 3-7 stop variable ND. But, that's for a very good reason, and a reason that I actually think is the best feature of this filter system.
You see, it might seem like a small thing, but the 3 stop ND, as marked on the filter ring itself, is not actually a 3 stop ND. It does cause a 3 stop reduction of light, precisely three stops in fact. But that is combining the light reducing effect of the circular polariser. So it's overall 3 stops of light reduction, but that must make the ND actually a 2 stop, or a 2.5 stop at best.
But here's why that actually an awesome thing, and not a mistake - when I'm out there trying to work out exposure times shooting large format, I was fully expecting a super complicated math problem in front of me.
I was expecting to have to work out the light reduction being caused by the polariser, and then add the stops of ND on top of that to get a proper exposure.
But 3 stops is 3 stops. And that's awesome. All I had to do is halve the shutter speed three times, and voila.
Apart from testing my brain though, or not testing it, and how thankful I am that I wasn't posed a more complex photographical mathematics challenge, is combining a polariser and ND filter a good idea or a bad idea?
Well, ultimately it does take choices away from you. If you're only carrying this filter with you, then you have no option of ONLY using a polariser, or ONLY using an ND. It's all or nothing.
But I can tell you now, using this Freewell V2 Hybrid CPL/ND is a lot less hassle than using my Cokin filters. Sure I still have to screw in an adapter ring, but the whole system is then a lot less sensitive to being nudged or knocked, or being out of alignment and causing vignettes.
So, overall, whilst always remembering that I don't do landscapes and therefore have little use for a polariser, I found this set up pretty easy to use. And it is seriously good quality. Beautifully made, and beautifully presented.
Great job Freewell. I don't need it. But I like it.
Check out Stenopeika Cameras here: stenopeika.com
So this is a COMBINED circular polariser AND 3-7 stop variable ND. But is combining them a sensible thing to do? Does it make your life easier? Or does it take away your options??
Get your FREEWELL V2 Hybrid VND/CPL here: linkmix.co/18849429
Well, the first thing to point out is that technically..... TECHNICALLY.... it's not a 3-7 stop variable ND. But, that's for a very good reason, and a reason that I actually think is the best feature of this filter system.
You see, it might seem like a small thing, but the 3 stop ND, as marked on the filter ring itself, is not actually a 3 stop ND. It does cause a 3 stop reduction of light, precisely three stops in fact. But that is combining the light reducing effect of the circular polariser. So it's overall 3 stops of light reduction, but that must make the ND actually a 2 stop, or a 2.5 stop at best.
But here's why that actually an awesome thing, and not a mistake - when I'm out there trying to work out exposure times shooting large format, I was fully expecting a super complicated math problem in front of me.
I was expecting to have to work out the light reduction being caused by the polariser, and then add the stops of ND on top of that to get a proper exposure.
But 3 stops is 3 stops. And that's awesome. All I had to do is halve the shutter speed three times, and voila.
Apart from testing my brain though, or not testing it, and how thankful I am that I wasn't posed a more complex photographical mathematics challenge, is combining a polariser and ND filter a good idea or a bad idea?
Well, ultimately it does take choices away from you. If you're only carrying this filter with you, then you have no option of ONLY using a polariser, or ONLY using an ND. It's all or nothing.
But I can tell you now, using this Freewell V2 Hybrid CPL/ND is a lot less hassle than using my Cokin filters. Sure I still have to screw in an adapter ring, but the whole system is then a lot less sensitive to being nudged or knocked, or being out of alignment and causing vignettes.
So, overall, whilst always remembering that I don't do landscapes and therefore have little use for a polariser, I found this set up pretty easy to use. And it is seriously good quality. Beautifully made, and beautifully presented.
Great job Freewell. I don't need it. But I like it.
Check out Stenopeika Cameras here: stenopeika.com
