Landscape photographers need lens filters more than any other genre of photography, and making the decision on which ones to purchase can be daunting considering there are so many options to choose from. We review many of them right here on Fstoppers, and I've had the pleasure of personally using quite a few systems over the years. This experience has made me a bit more selective with what I carry around and prefer to use.
When I first discovered the Maven magnetic filter system, it immediately caught my attention with its bright-colored rings. I realized that those colors were more than just to catch my attention.
Innovation
Filters have existed long before I was even born and really haven't changed all that much for decades. That is not the case the last few years. The combination of a growing market and reduction in small-scale manufacturing costs has allowed the development of new products in a short period of time. One of my issues with my first magnetic system was that I couldn't tell which filter was which easily, and when you're stacking filters for storage or in use, this can be very annoying.
Thus, when I saw the colored filters made by Maven, it immediately clicked, and I wondered why this wasn't done sooner. It seems so obvious now. Why isn't everyone doing it? It wasn't until later that I discovered that it was more than just the color-coded rings. Each ring's knurling also represents what stop value it is in the case of the ND filters. Just another detail that most other manufacturers are not doing.
They are delivered in a very easy to carry, compact, and innovative case designed to house all the filters you might need while out in the field. The lens caps include gray felt on the inside that you can use to set white balance in a pinch while also being significantly lighter than the previous magnetic lens caps I've used. Needless to say, there were a lot of smart decisions made when designing these that just made sense.
Image Quality
As I mentioned previously, there are a lot of manufacturers in the filter market today, and overall, the image quality has gotten much better on average than it was 10 years ago. My general rule of thumb is that if you're spending an adequate amount of money on a filter set, the image quality is likely good. That being said, when a new company pops up, you never quite know where their glass quality will fall.
I can safely say that Maven's glass is top quality. At this point, I've tested multiple filter systems, and all of them have had great image quality. The truth is, no matter what system you go with, there will be the smallest amounts of color shifts as you increase the neutral density amount between filters. What's more important is those tiny color shifts being uniform. I've included a gallery of images above, all shot with a Canon R5 and RF 14-35mm f/4 lens. All images are shot in raw, with their color balance set to exactly the same as the image without an attached filter.
Each filter brand I've tested has all had small characteristics in their filter sets. Some brands might have slightly more magenta cast in their 6-stop ND or a bit of purple in their 10-stop ND, for example. Most of the time, these small nuances can be fixed easily within your edits and have no impact on your images. That being said, I have tested some cheaper filters that were so bad I wouldn't put them in front of my lens. That is certainly not the case for Maven, and overall, their image quality is superb.
Long-Term Durability
Most product reviews are formulated within a very short amount of time actually using the product. This is the byproduct of needing to make reviews in parallel with a product release. Thus, when I did my initial video of the Maven Magnetic filter system, I didn't present it as a review. I've spent the last six months using this filter system quite often in the rain, snow, water, and wind. This gave me a really good idea of just how well they hold up over time.
The glass durability and surface quality on the Maven magnetic filter system has been excellent, repelling finger oil smudges, resisting scratches, and keeping a strong hydrophobic coating after many wipes. This is very important when shooting on the coast or close to waterfalls. You'll find the front of your filter getting continually wet, requiring you to repeatedly wipe away the moisture. My filters still look like the day I took them out of the packaging, and all the coatings have held up well.
Magnetic strength is a huge factor in why I love this system. My first magnetic system made by Freewell was right as magnetic filters were making their way into the market. The magnets were just strong enough to keep the filters attached, but never felt strong enough to throw my camera over my shoulder and hit the trails with confidence. The Maven system magnets are nearly three times as strong (not a scientific evaluation), and I've had absolutely zero issues with them falling off, even when I sling my tripod over my shoulder.
What is scientific, however, is that magnets tend to deteriorate in strength over time. My Freewell system has suffered from this over the three years that I've had it. I've had the Maven system for roughly nine months, and the magnets still feel very reliable. While I do expect them to weaken a bit more in time, considering how strong they started off to begin with, it shouldn't be an issue.
Are These Right for You?
As you learned from the title, I definitely love these filters, so much so that I'm giving an entire set away if you watch the video in the article. That being said, they might not be for everyone. If you're in the market for a set of circular lens filters, these are absolutely what I recommend, and I'd always suggest this system over a traditional screw-on filter system.
However, magnetic systems come with a few hindrances. While they are compact, take up very little weight or space in your pack, and are convenient to swap between all your lenses, they can also be difficult to separate if you lack dexterity in your hands. The convenience of a square filter system is they are much easier to handle. Yes, they are slower to set up and use, especially if you tend to swap lenses a lot like I do, but they are definitely easier to handle for those of you that might struggle with mobility.
That being said, the convenience of the Maven magnetic filter set is unmatched. Most of the time, I just want my equipment to not get in my way when creating images. By making them so compact and easy to carry in their case on top of how easy it is to switch between lenses or simply attach in the field, I find myself using them more often because they require such little effort to include.
Pros
- Innovative design with color-coded rings
- Great image quality
- Very small footprint in weight and space
- Strong magnets for reliability in the field
- Lasting durability with extensive use
- Lightweight lens cap
- Convenient carrying case
Cons
- Magnetic systems require good dexterity
- Not 100% secure to your lens
I'd love to hear your experience with filters and what you're shooting with. Would this be the set you choose for your first or next set of filters? Good luck in the contest to win a free set if you decide to enter!
