Freewell’s iPhone Professional Hybrid Filter Package does simply sufficient for me

After we start to be taught pictures or videography as younger grasshoppers with our mother and father’ previous DSLRs, the very first thing we’re taught about is gentle, and precisely how a lot or how little of it to let in or out. Then, as we progress in our journeys, we be taught to bend that gentle to our particular wants, whether or not it is via in-camera settings, totally different lenses, or on this case, filters.

For any iPhone creator, filters are a vital a part of nailing the pictures you need, particularly in extraordinarily vivid conditions. They’re proper up there with gimbals so far as needed tools relating to video and picture high quality, so when Freewell launched its personal Hybrid Filter Kit, I used to be stoked. You imply that I can change filters on the racetrack on the go with out having to unscrew them? Signal me up. To do that on my skilled digicam would run me nicely upwards of $100, and even nearer to $400 for choose high-end CPL filter fashions, and my iPhone 16 Professional information 4K 60fps already, so why not?

To that finish, I used to be greater than glad with these filters, particularly the vary of various filters you get for $150. After I went to make use of them once more, nevertheless, it was a distinct story.

They’re pretty purpose-built

As filters go, they do precisely what they’re alleged to

I’ve zero complaints in regards to the video results these filters provide me. They appear nice taking pictures in 4K, which is all you need from a set like this. I discover the round polarizing characteristic to be probably the most helpful, as most creators will let you know is the case, and the precise dial is clean straight out of the field. Nevertheless, with it sitting on my desk in entrance of me proper now, the dial shouldn’t be practically as clean. That is partly my very own fault, as I used them final at a dust racetrack right here in West Texas, however I can really hear the particles of mud and grime grinding between the metallic filter dials, even after being wiped off repeatedly with a microfiber material and cleaner.

There was a considerable amount of mud collected across the bezel of the lens once I eliminated it from its carrying case for the second spherical of testing, too, which I attribute to the funnel-like bezel across the filter lens itself. Nevertheless, for the worth, I can stand having to wash them earlier than and after every shoot. A lens hood is perhaps a sensible concept for future filter choices, although.

All in all, so far as precise video is anxious, this package improved my pictures just by dialing within the CPL filter, which is strictly what it advertises. The video under does a strong job of showcasing the consequences of the CPL filter, that includes my practically useless garden (do not decide me, we’re in a drought).

What comes within the field

The quantity of filters you get is stunning

The very best half about this package, although, is the sheer quantity of filters you get. To date, I’ve solely talked about the CPL filter, which is undoubtedly the spotlight of the set. Nevertheless, there are a couple of others included that do provide some fascinating choices, like a gentle GND filter which, for many who prefer to shoot in cooler colours, would in all probability work very nicely for city utilization. There’s additionally a distinct ND filter at a steeper grade and a Glow Mist filter to present your movies a little bit of that dreamy effect that is grow to be stylish in the previous few seasons.

The field itself additionally earns factors for having a real arduous shell casing, which I left clipped to my backpack by way of a carabiner on my final shoot, that does maintain up nicely to the weather. It feels of upper high quality, and that is one thing that I can recognize.

By far probably the most helpful accent, although, was the Selfie Grip, which doubles as a stabilizing deal with to your pictures. It additionally doubles as an extendable selfie stick, and whereas it does not really feel sturdy sufficient to check out some crane pictures on my cellphone, that does not imply it would not on one other. With the case and magnetic gimbal mount that I maintain hooked up, my iPhone 16 Professional could be fairly heavy. The very best half in regards to the Grip, although, is that it includes a distant motion button to begin taking pictures in the identical location any true digicam would, making the transition from taking pictures on my professional set as much as the iPhone a breeze. So, some well-earned factors there, then.

There’s room for enchancment

As frequent as gimbals are, they need to be extra pleasant with them

This was the one picture that I received of an Insta360 Movement 2 Professional — considered one of if not, the most effective gimbals on the iPhone creator market — really working with the Freewell filter package. As regular because the Selfie Grip would possibly make your palms, nothing goes to be as steady as a great gimbal, and for that motive, these filters and the cellphone case you are required to make use of them with dropped the ball a bit. The added weight was merely an excessive amount of for the gimbal to deal with extra occasions than not, and any movement round what I might name a medium panning pace noticed the Gimbal lose centering energy and throw off its equilibrium.

This was disappointing within the sense that, in the event you may effectively pair the 2 merchandise collectively, I feel you would really have a tremendous iPhone videography setup, with the ability to document in as many 4K modes as you please and use the Insta360 app performance for results like barrel rolls or zoom crashes.

So who is that this package for? In all honesty, if I had been simply beginning out on my videography journey, I might scoop considered one of these kits up in a coronary heart beat and start working with the totally different colours and contrasts it gives. If you happen to’re very critical (much more so than me) about your video content material, you in all probability have already got a cinema digicam at your disposal, and the iPhone would possibly solely be used for social content material, so this package in all probability is not tailor-made to your wants.

With a couple of minor enhancements, I do assume that this package could possibly be added to the bag of extra skilled videographers, as long as it may work alongside their favourite gimbal system and maintain all of the mud particles out of its many dials.