I was contacted by the respectful filter manufacturer KASE and asked if I would be willing to test out some of their new product in Circular Filters.
I read the e-mail and thought about it for a while because I started to remember when I was using the Circular filters in my beginning days of my photography and it was not a good experience. All the difficulties of screwing them on my lenses especially on the cold winter days, I had to have the same filter for each of my lens because they were of a different size and that made a problem of finding the right sized filter in my bag for this particular lens and so on and so on. The memory was not nice so I thought “what good could come out of my review for the Kase filters”.
Hmmmm. There must be something new since they are asking me to review them. In the letter they said the filters where “KW magnetic, shock resistant circular filters” just like my Kase Wolverine 100x 150mm filter glasses I have and magnetic system like my Polarizer and that made my curious, so I decided to do it.

The package arrived and I opened it. They were nicely packed and inside of each plastic holsters I found an 82mm adapter ring and a Circular filter. One Soft Graduated Neutral density filter S-GND 0,9 (3 stop grad) and the ND 64 (6 stop) Neutral Density filter. The first look gave me a good feeling for the product so I was starting to look forward to test them out.
The mistake I thought I made was not to ask for two different sizes of adapter rings so I could use some of my other lenses like Tamron SP 24 – 70 F2,8 USD and the EF 70 – 200 1:2,8 L IS II USM as they are 77mm. Well no harm done because I had adaptor rings from my Wolverine series adapted to these lenses and I could use them as well. In the beginning my plan was to testing them out on my Canon wide-angle lens EF 16 – 35 1:2,8 L II USM. The only difference is that the adapter rings for the circular filters are thinner.

Let’s dig into it.

The Circular filters are made of the same KW glass as the Wolverine 100 x 150 series I use.

KW optical glass, with its high toughness and high definition are far superior to the resin material used by some other manufactures.  The filters produce a much sharper image. It does not hurt that they are also super waterproof, antifouling, ultralow color skew, IR-CUT Infrared cut-off coating, scratch resistant, anti-static, mould proof and antibacterial, which yields a true neutral color with no color cast.

They are IR-CUT and coated with an optical cutoff coating allows visible light to pass through and cutoff or reflection of infrared light. The CCD and CMOS sensors in digital cameras are very sensitive to infrared light which causes pseudo color and ripples from detection errors. The IR Cut can correct images and mitigate the influence of infrared light on sensors. The addition of optical glass camera filters between lens and CCD or CMOS image sensor can effectively suppress ripple disturbance caused by light waves passing above CCD or CMOS image sensor space frequency, and effectively suppress infrared light wave, improve the effective resolution and color reduction of color CCD and CMOS image sensor, make the image clear and stable and restore the image color, make the image clear and consistent with the human eye feel. In simple words – No color casting and from the tests I made it’s true.

The filters are made from toughened glass that will withstand a drop or three, so no more accidentally broken filters when out in the field in the windy weather conditions of Iceland. They also will not scratch or mark very easily at all. The filters have nanotech coatings that help control reflections, repel oil and water, and are mould resistant. They simply wipe clean when covered in sea spray, or water. Standing out in a horizontal snow storm or rain (like we have in Iceland), it’s a big factor and I have proven that it’s right by testing them in a great geothermal area, surrounded by fumaroles and Geysers where the steam is constantly coming and going. No more huffing and puffing trying to get the smudged raindrops off. Just wipe off once or twice, and it’s clean. Wow, it was nice.

One of the biggest revolutions is the magnetic design, which subverts the slow installation of traditional screw circular filter to fast mount on with only one hand. Because each filter has its own magnet you can stack them together onto the lens and they want fall off. I kept them on through all my testing’s and it was not a problem. The beauty of the Kase Circular filter line is that you only need one set of filters and they will fit all your lenses. The only thing you do is get different size of adapter rings to put on your lenses. You don’t have to take the adapter ring off after use, just buy the red caps from Kase and you’re good. No scratches will harm you lens and no screw on and off.

Installing the Circular Kase filter system. First the adapter ring, next put the filter to the magned

In the Circular line filters from Kase you can have it all. 

Graduated Neutral Density Filter – GND / Revers Neutral Density Filter –  RND / Polarizing Filter / Neutral Density Filter – ND and they will be more coming soon.

Now that I have tested them out, I will use them much more, like in the Highlands of Iceland when I have to walk long distances, because they are easy to carry, light, less space, easy to change and really sharp.

There is no point of buying all the expensive lenses and cameras if you then use second class filters on the front. Go for the best

 and get your self Kase Circular filters so you’re sure. I know I will use them to Document the Icelandic Landscape and Nature.

Conclution.

Revolutionary filters with 100% quality – I Love them, you definitely need them.

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