Sunday, 11 October 2015

Xcsource ND Filters Kit Test

So i got this pile of things. Initially planing to get the Cokin kit (3 filters and a holder) but since I am only experimenting with this, I found this. Xcsource ND Filter Kit, I don't know if this is the maker or the seller but for sure is China. But at the same price of the Cokin kit, you get 6 filters, all of the lens adapters, a hood and a filter bag case thing. The adapter rings are ok, the filter bag is ok, the holder and the hood wish to be and elastic polymer plastic but didn't happen, it is kinda stiff, light and with a bit of brittle feeling. And u need to stretch the hood over the holder clips .. so fun. The holder grip is smaller then the filters, so again, fun. It stretches..i manage to get them all in but it's not what i call a quick thing if u want to use them again. And the filters i was expecting to be a glass thing..but it's a polymer. I know they are not quite Lee filters but never the less. With more research I found out the Cokin ones are polymer too. The graduations are ok but the coverage is not perfect, if you look really close, you can see transparent dots scattered here and there, like dead pixels. But does not affect the pictures .. i hope. 

Maybe I will make a habit of this, reviewing chipo made in China gear, seeing really how bad is it, being inspired of Regular car reviews who does exactly what the name suggests and the quality and freestyle of Jared Polin aka Fro Knows Photo, hopefully. Speaking of which, Jared is giving away a full frame DSLR at your choice (D810, 5Ds or Sony A7RII) and many other things, all you need to do is to sign up HERE...right HERE.


before
after

So, first test. Mother of all long exposures ( of what my D300 can ). Big mess up, i forgot to turn on the long exposure noise reduction .. but here it is any way. First 30s and with all the nds (2,4,8) total of ND64, an exposure of 1h 22 min. Fist up, a blueish tint that goes on with the next tests. The WB was consistent for all the pictures, set up for the cloudy preset.

before
after


Next day, next test. Overcast day (as you do this time of the year) first picture exposed for the scene with a 1/60 f8. The ND used after was a the ND8 3 stop and an exposure of 1/6 f8...and lots of bonus blue tint. Nothing you can get out in post but the thing was supposed to be neutral.


before
after


Last but not least, the graduated filters. Exposed for the trees and buildings with a 1/30 f8 in the first picture, followed by a graduated ND8 on the top and trying to bring back the sky obviously with the same exposure. It has the same blue tint but for this one I am the most impressed because it really works. Maybe in the future or far future will upgrade to a pro kit or slowly building it up. But for black and white landscapes or for other future projects I think it will work out just fine.
Best wishes, have a productive week !




No comments:

Post a Comment