In this article we will take a look at the Rollei 100mm Square Filter System.
What are camera filters
DSLR and Mirrorless Camera Filters come come in many different types of styles. Different photographers have their likes and dislikes depending on the size, shape and style of the filter. Some prefer to use none at all and add their filter in post production. It all comes down to the user. The filters come in two main types, Round and Square. Round filters are a simple design and just screw onto the front of your lens and they take up little room in your bag. Square filters are a much larger design and consist of large pieces of glass that slide into a filter holder. These generally will take up more room in your bag and add extra weight.
Do you need filters
With todays post production software such as Adobe Lightroom, gradient filters can generally be added in post to get your desired effect eliminating the need for filters. But if you like to get your shots right in camera or are a photographer that enjoys long exposures, having some sort of filter system is a must.
Why did I purchase the Rollei 100mm Square Filter System
As time moved on in my landscape photography I came to a stage where I wanted to try out some square filters. I currently owned a few Round Neutral Density and Polarisors, but I wanted to try the Square Filters out. I didn’t want to spend an absolute fortune on a kit as they can easily cost well over £400 for a branded kit. My plan was to buy a cheap set under a £100 just to try the style out, but I knew that I just wouldn’t be happy with that and would likely upgrade pretty quick to something better. So I decided to do a bit of research to see what was on offer.
I came across the Rollei 100mm Square Filter Kit on Amazon for around £180 which when adding all the parts together came in much cheaper than most other brands. Looking at the images and reading the description I come to the conclusion this kit could be perfect to get me started. I tried to find some reviews on this system but most seemed to be in German, which being a German company made sense.
The kit consists of:
- 100mm Rollei Pro Mark II Filter holder
- 82mm Base Ring
- 7 Adaptor rings (52mm, 55mm, 58mm, 62mm, 67mm, 72mm, 77mm)
- 86mm CPL Filter
- Soft GND8 (3 stop, 0.9) 100 x 150mm Gradient Filter + Pouch
- Filter Bag
This filter holder is made of aviation grade aluminium and has anti-corrosion finished in matte black. The filter can accommodate the use of up to 3 square filters and 1 round CPL filter at the same time. The filter holder also features a quick release button for removal from the adaptor rings and a wheel to rotate the CPL filter. The gradient filter is made of Gorilla Glass and has a luminance coating.
What is Gorilla Glass
Gorilla Glass is a super durable glass that’s much more resilient to falls and scratches which will help extend the life of the filters. The glass also helps with light transmittance and optical distortion.
My Thoughts
If I am honest having not used any other system I wasn’t sure what to expect. The whole kit feels quality and nice to use. I have found that the CPL filter, with it been really thin can be little awkward to screw in and out at times. The square filter is nice and tight but not too tight that they are difficult to inset or remove. You also receive plenty of adaptor rings which pretty much covers the entire range of lens sizes, so no need to purchase extra adaptors. A decent enough bag to store the kit in with a separate wallet for the glass filter.
Overall I am really pleased with this kit especially for the purchase price., which I believe sits in a good price range to get you started.
