Gobe NDX 77mm Variable ND Lens Filter (1Peak)

(Text translated from my German version from Amazon Germany)I am an long standing HOYA-/B&W/Nikon-Filter user and fan. Never even thought of using anything else than these established brands. Only the fact that a load of filters I needed were not in stock brought around the situation for me, having to ‘’look around’’.Then, stumbling over this idea of ‘’buy filters- PLANT TREES’’- I had a good look at these GOBE-Filters – main thought in my head at the time was ‘’ well, if it’s rubbish I can always send them back’’….I ordered UV/C-POL and Flex-ND filters for various lenses – both from Amazon Germany and Amazon UK. Wanted to experiment. They were delivered fast and perfectly packaged. Looking at the Invoice I do have to say: wow – loads of money saved compared to what I am used to when I buy my Hoyas etc. – loads of brownie points with my wife this time round!Packaging is perfect, strong plastic filter box packed in an brown recycled cardboard cover. Inside of filter box is foam, very dense and holding the filter in place very firmly. I recommend that HOYA and the other ‘’big ones’’ have a very long look at this – and learn – since most of their filters are at times loose inside the filter box and can move around. There will be people criticising the rather obvious fact, that the plastic filter box can be a bit fiddly to open – I myself say: my filters are very safe, no filters falling out of badly closing containers and floating around my bag. These filter boxes are also extremely dust-proof. Highlight: every filter comes with an optical cloth – Hoya, Hoya Professional, B&W, Nikon and the others – hardly ever - at least not with mine.The filters have a vry slim build, but are I their mechanical make-up very accurate, surprisingly sturdy and fit into all threads of all my lenses ( metal and plastic threads ) without any hiccup. Glas rests neatly in the ring, no wobbling or clattering. The quality of the Glass seems fine and even the C-Pol’s do what they are designed to do. Although the filters have a very slim build, they do actually give an impression of reinforcing the (dodgy?) plastic threads of some lenses quite considerably. Fit is snug and perfect ( not always the case with all my various filters on modern lenses with plastic threads).The very flat/slim build of these filters can be a plusWe made a few technical comparisons with my Hoya’s, B&W’s etc.The Filter ring’s are thicker and heavier, which does not have to be good or bad. The optical comparison right up to print size of 50x70cm does not reveal any noticeable variations even if I try hard to find a fly in the ointment. I can not confirm any quality issues in comparison ti the known brands – even though this was expected and even ‘’hoped for ‘’ since we all are so loyal to our brands and hate to stray…. The usual thinking pattern of ‘’if it is cheap or reasonable it has to be is of inferior quality’ ’has – in this case – just gone out of the window and we really have to rethink that ‘’baloney’’ – myself first ,since I am right up there with ‘’them’’ thinking that way.Super! Up to here everything seems just perfect. I have no idea how GOBE do this, but to deliver such a quality and perfect packaging fur such ‘’small money’’ and then on top of that plant a load of trees in Madagaskar – I pull my hat in respect– this is the moment me old grumbling Brand-Nutter has to shut it and get on with it!I have now checked through the sizes from 77 down to 52mmand can not find any issues for daily use. I have been reading about grey and colour variations – I can not confirm any of this with even a single one of my 15 Filters I now own – absolutely nothing – even if I try hard ( which I tend to do). There seem to be issues with the C-POL filters not delivering – I honestly believe that these complaints are User based mistakes which can happen easily, since working with C-Pol’s is not always as straight forward as one would wish. Working C-Pol’s can be a challenge at the best of times, all down to situation and lenses used.Looking at the ‘’value for money’’ aspect of these GOBE filters they clearly outrun all the others – top position. When I look at the sums of money I have spent on all the big brands ( of which I really cannot see visibly quality differences to GOBE) I get a serious ‘’twinge’’ in my stomach and my circulation has a quick ‘’hiccup’’ ….I am not ‘’green’’ – by no means. But this concept, the idea of planting trees all over the place has touched me somewhat. Makes perfect sense, cannot be wrong and gives me a positive feeling – perhaps even soothes the ‘’whinges of my bad conscience’’ somewhere in the background – a little….It seems that a colleague within our PR – League has had a brilliant idea and has set it up just right. Well done, a very complete and round package.Summing things up: no minus points, all just right ‘’up there’’, absolutely NO REASON TO NOT PROFIT OF THIS PRODUCT – I recommend GOBE fully.But, should you still have this little voice in your head ‘’cheap, unknown brand, grumble, is this really good stuff, mumble’’ then get the SCHOTT Versions of the GOBE filters.We now are talking different league – Schott can easily be compared with Swarovski, Zeiss and Leitz – I know Schott from medical devices and astronomical use. In direct comparison to Schott the Hoya’s, B&W’s and even the Nikon’s could be in trouble – not much, but just that little bit!And even then the GOBE filter are a bargain!I have learnt a lot and am very happy with my GOBE’sRecommended, get’ em, plant trees.......

Coming clean from the outset, I have only used this filter for one day, and I bought it solely to use for video which is not a discipline I usually do but felt I need a bit more control over. For my normal photography, which includes long exposure work, I use single density ND filters. So...Firstly, the filter was very well packaged. It's in a round, foam padded, tin with a cleaning cloth, that arrived in a recyclable card box inside an equally recyclable envelope, so no waste on plastics here which is important, particularly considering Gobe's environmental push of planting trees. next, the filter itself. Metal construction (aluminium I suspect), marked with maximum and minimum points for the density level. The outer ring rotates smoothly but not too loosely , you do need to make sure that it's well screwed onto the lens or you could undo it while using it. In use it worked well doing video. I wouldn't like to hazard a guess on the actual ND values at max and min, but then I wasn't looking for that. I set up my camera (Fuji X-T3) for video at 1/50th second shutter speed (25fps) and a decent aperture with the filter set at the mid point between max and min marks, that way I could adjust the filter either way to keep the exposure fairly consistent. For my first time doing video like this I was quite happy with the results, at least from the exposure side - I'll need a gimbal if I'm going to pursue this line further.

Pretty good quality ND filter. As far as people who are getting black X's, that is because there are certain positions in every variable ND filter where it will produce that pattern - the higher end ND filters will be less noticeable. I believe that there are several factors which gang together to produce the effect. Partly it has to do with the fact that variable-ND filters are 2-stacked polarizing filters, and often they use a linear polarizer in front of a circular polarizer arrangement. (I believe this order preserves AF and proper metering.) Some variable ND filters are also made of 2-circular polarizing filters, stacked together.Most of the complaints about the x-effect occur with wide-angle and super-wide-angle lenses, and even a single polarizer can yield uneven skies with those lenses. The effect is most pronounced in scenes with strong and direct sunlight with lots of clear sky (which is a highly polarized scene).Indeed, you can make your own variable-ND filter just by stacking 2-polarizing filters. The trick is that while this is easy to do, you have to be exceedingly careful about the filter choice in order to preserve color neutrality. In fact even the best, and most costly, variable-ND filters have "some" shift in color as they get darker.There is also a loss in sharpness with any polarizing filter, and stacking 2 polarizers together will almost certainly visibly degrade the image, especially around the periphery of the image.While variable-ND filters offer a great amount of convenience, the problems associated with the "x" effect, color cast, and loss in sharpness may be more than many will accept.To maintain the best overall image quality I suggest using single ND filters as possible, and stacking ND filters for additional ND effect (if you must). Reserve variable-ND filters for those situations where conditions require rapid ND changes and/or conditions which require multiple different exposures in rapid succession.If you "must" use a variable-ND filter, you may wish to avoid the combination of a very-wide-angle focal length lens and the strongest ND setting, the combination of which will almost certainly produce the x-effect darkening pattern.

Ancora non l’ho provato, ma a vista e tatto, per il prezzo pagato, sembra essere di ottima fattura.

Habe von verschiedenen Firmen einen Graufilter und ich muss sagen das der von Globe in dem Preissegment der eindeutig beste ist. Klare Kaufempfehlung. Mit der Tree Aktion wird noch etwas sinnvolles für die Umwelt getan.

📷 Necesitábamos un filtro ND para el objetivo 16-50mm que viene en el pack de la Sony Alpha ZV-E10L para grabar en manual con las mejores configuraciones y que no sobreexpusiera y navegando por Amazon, encontramos este Gobe variable a muy buen precio y muy completo👍🏻 Por unos 25€ tienes filtros que oscurecen la imagen del ND2 hasta el ND400, de sobra.👍🏻 Su funcionamientos es tan simple con ir girando el aro hasta que se oscurezca lo suficiente para que los valores de imagen sean los que buscas👍🏻 Viene con un estuche y una bolsita para guardar, cuando no esté puesto.👍🏻 Me parece buen precio para todo lo que ofrece y la calidad que tiene👎🏻 Como punto negativo, al ponerlo, la tapa del objetivo ya no vale con lo que tienes que comprar otra tapa o quitarlo y ponerlo cuando lo uses.En resumen, igual para un profesional, no es ideal pero si eres amateur como yo, estos filtros ND en 1 es super aconsejable.

Ik gebruik de nd Gobe-filters al enkele jaren en ik ben tevreden.De doos is erg handig. Zeker het beste merk in dezelfde prijsklasse en bovendien planten ze bomen.

Excellent rapport qualité prix