Justin Duino
Any photographer who has ever shopped for a variable neutral density (ND) filter knows that you can either spend a lot of money on high-quality materials or save a few bucks for cheap glass. Moment, better known for its smartphone lens, is now making variable ND filters for DSLRs and the DJI Mavic 2 Pro that won’t break the bank and are also best-in-class.
67mm, 77mm, and 82mm Variable DSLR ND Filters
Without going into the science behind DSLR cameras, ND filters essentially work like a pair of sunglasses that sit on top of your camera’s lens. Moment’s new filters are variable, meaning that they can be adjusted to block “stops” of light from entering the camera.
Moment’s variable ND filters come in three sizes with each offering two sets. These are 67mm, 77mm, and 82mm with either 2-5 stops or 6-9 stops. The filters are made from Schott B270 Pro Cinema glass, engineered to not show any vignetting (an issue with cheaper options), and made using aerospace-grade aluminum to reduce weight while also being rugged in design.
As a photographer myself, Moment’s design decision to allow the artist to see which stop you’re shotting at from behind the camera is what really differentiates these variable ND filters from the competition. Instead of having to flip your camera around and adjusting the filter from the front (as with the drone filter shown below), you can customize the exact amount of light coming into the camera lens mid-shot.
The variable ND filters are available starting today directly from Moment’s website. The 67mm 2-5 and 6-9 stop variable ND filters will set you back $149.99 each, the 77mm 2-5 and 6-9 stop offerings are set at $159.99 apiece, and the 82mm 2-5 and 6-9 stop filters are $169.99 each.
Variable ND Filter for DJI Mavic 2 Pro
According to Moment, the Mavic 2 Pro is the most popular drone among pros. Although the company didn’t come out and explicitly state this, the drone’s popularity is most likely why the lens manufacturer focused on it when developing and releasing its variable ND filter.
As with the DSLR offerings above, the drone-specific variable ND filters come in two variants: 2-5 stops and 6-9 stops. The accessory features fused silica glass, zero vignetting, and easy-to-read markings so that you can precisely adjust the ND level. Additionally, the filter was milled from aerospace-grade aluminum to keep weight down and remove as much strain from the gimbal as possible.
You can purchase the company’s DJI Mavic 2 Pro variable ND filters directly from Moment’s website. The 2-5 stop filter and the 6-9 stop filter will each set you back $79.99. If you purchase both together, they can be yours for a slight discount at $149.99.
