Filters allow us to create images that we cannot see with the unaided eye.
This is precisely why I find filters invaluable in our toolkit. Several years ago I was using filters from several different manufacturers across all of my lenses. It was cumbersome dealing with quality issues and compatibility with several different thread sizes. It was then that I came across a Kickstarter campaign (Wave 1) from MAVEN Filters [Affiliate Link].
I have since switched all of my filters to MAVEN Filters and have never turned back. The convenience of their magnetic system beats trying to twist on filters over and over again. I also like that everything now works with any of my lenses, and all I need to do is make sure I have a step-up ring for any lenses that aren’t the same thread size.
Moreover, MAVEN’s patented design of having colour coded rings and markings on their filters makes it a breeze to quickly identify which filters I’m picking up out in the field.
After backing their first two Kickstarter campaigns, I’m super happy that they’ve reached out to send me some of their newest filters and accessories from their Wave 3 campaign that launches today!
It would mean a lot to me if you can use my affiliate link here if you are interested in buying anything from MAVEN Filter’s Wave 3 Kickstarter. A small portion of your purchase goes in supporting my video creation efforts at no expense to you, so thank you very much in advance!
Some Wave 3 Filters
Some of the filters and accessories I was able to try out are outlined below. By no means is this an exhaustive list of their Wave 3 filters. They have a lot more on offer so I recommend you take a look at their campaign in detail.
- Mini Ring Light
- Mini Ring Light accessories
- 1/4 Strength Diffusion plus LPL (polarizer)
- Starwalker
- Diopter (Close-up lenses)
Mini Ring Light
The Mini Ring Light from MAVEN isn’t a filter, but a light that magnetically attaches to your lens. It’s a very unique take on lighting your subject that is directly in front of your camera. It’s perfect for macro photography or focus stacking, but it can also be used in many other instances like portrait lighting, video lighting, task lighting and more.
You can watch my Instagram Reel for the many uses I came up with. How would you use it?
The Mini Ring Light also has additional accessories letting you attach the light to other things like your phone, laptop, desk, or your camera’s hot shoe.
You can watch my YouTube video linked at the bottom of this post where I go through each accessory and how to use the Mini Ring Light.
Close-Up Lenses (+2 and +4 Diopters)
Diopters are a unit of measurement to measure the performance of a lens. When you attach these close-up lenses to any of your existing lenses, they effectively reduce the minimum focusing distance of that lens. This in turn allows you to get closer to the subject, making your subject larger in the frame.
The fact that they’re magnetic is also super convenient. Just attach and detach these lenses without having to recompose or disrupt your workflow.
Starwalker
The Starwalker filter is meant for astrophotographers who want to be able to capture the beauty of the night sky. The filter adds a slight blur to the image; by doing so, it enhances the brightness and colour of the larger stars.
I wasn’t able to get to a truly dark sky area, but I tested this out in a local park in the city and was still able to see the effects of this filter.
LPL + 1/4 Strength Diffusion
The filter combines the already existing LPL filter and 1/4 Strength Diffusion filter into one convenient filter. Say goodbye to having to twist just the LPL filter while holding down the Diffusion filter on your lens!
The 1/4 Strength Diffusion filter will create a soft bloom to the highlight areas of your image, yielding in a more ethereal treatment to the overall image.
YouTube
For a deep dive into all of these filters and accessories, please watch my YouTube video where I go through everything, including the operations of the Mini Ring Light.
If you have any questions, feel free to comment and I’ll do my best to answer them for you.
If you’re interested in getting any of these filters, please use my affiliate link below: