There are a lot of filter kits floating around out there, each with its claim to fame for being the best of the bunch.
But some filter kits fall short, either because of their build quality, their performance, their functionality, or a combination thereof.
But the last month or so, I’ve been testing the Haida M10 Filter Kit, and I’m thinking it might just be the ultimate landscape photography filter kit on the market today.
Below, I’ve outlined just a few reasons why I think the Haida M10 is my forever filter kit.
The Haida M10 Filter Kit Exudes Quality
Every component of this filter kit looks, feels, and functions like a high-quality piece of machinery.
From the aluminum alloy filter holder that’s both durable and lightweight to the filters themselves, which are made of shock-resistant optical glass, you find yourself more impressed with each component that you explore.
The build quality of this kit is found in the little details, too.
For example, the drop-in circular polarizer has a wheel on top of the filter that allows you to adjust the polarization without moving the filter housing.
This means you don’t have to re-adjust any stacked filters each time you adjust the polarizer. Nice!
Another feature that demonstrates the quality of this filter system is the thought that went into the filter design.
For starters, each filter has 10 layers of anti-reflective nano coatings to eliminate ghosting and reflections. Likewise, each filter also has 10 layers of hydrophobic, anti-scratch coatings, which add to their durability and make for easier cleaning since water and oils are repelled.
Haida even thought to round the corners of the rectangular filters, which improves your ability to insert them into the filter holder. It’s little touches like this that make this system so impressive.
The Haida M10 Filter System Has All the Components You Need for Landscape Photography
A good filter kit for landscapes includes a polarizer, a selection of solid ND filters, and graduated ND filters. This Haida system certainly delivers.
The kit includes:
- A drop-in circular polarizer
- 10-stop, 6-stop, and 3-stop Red Diamond solid neutral density filters
- 3-stop medium-edge Red Diamond graduated ND and 3-stop hard-edge Red Diamond graduated ND
- 3-stop reverse hard-edge Red Diamond graduated ND
The kit also includes four adapter rings and an empty filter housing that you can drop into the polarizer slot. The empty housing then seals light out from the sides, thereby preventing light leaks.
All of this comes in a handy case for keeping all the components organized and safe from damage.
When looking at the included filters, there is virtually no landscape photography situation you can’t address.
With the polarizing filter, you can reduce atmospheric haze, thereby making distant subjects appear clearer. You can also eliminate glare off of non-metallic surfaces like water, and boost the contrast of the sky for more dramatic results.
The solid ND filters allow you to extend the shutter speed during the daytime to blur the movement of water and clouds, while also giving you greater control over depth of field by using larger apertures without the risk of overexposing the shot.
The graduated ND filters address the all-too-common situation in which the bright sky and a dark foreground have too much dynamic range for the camera to handle.
With the darker area of the filter on top, it blocks some of the light from the sky while having no effect on the foreground. The result is a more even exposure without a blown out sky or a landscape that’s too dark.
The reverse ND grad is specifically designed for taking photos during sunrise or sunset, when the brightest part of the sky is along the horizon.
To address this, a reverse ND grad is darkest in the middle of the filter and gradually lightens toward the top and the bottom.
With so many filter options, you have a much greater likelihood of being able to get the exposure just right.
What’s So Special About This Filter System?
In addition to the build quality and the selection of filters that come with this kit, it’s packed with features that make it supremely functional and easy to use.
Earlier, I mentioned that the polarizing filter has a wheel on top of the housing that allows you to adjust the polarization without having to re-adjust any of the other filters.
That’s just one excellent feature…
The filter holder is built to accommodate two rectangular filters in front of the drop-in slot, but components are included in the kit to add a third filter slot. That means you can stack up to four filters if you ever had the occasion to do so.
Likewise, for each rectangular filter, there is a light-blocking gasket, which seals the filter and the filter holder together. This helps prevent stray light, which could result in unwanted flare and other exposure effect.
This filter holder also has an ingenious lever system for removing the holder from the lens. Just pull the lever and you can quickly and easily remove the holder.
In other words, this filter system has it all - quality materials, a diverse selection of filters, and innovative design features that make it easy to use.
Yes, this system is expensive, but in my mind, it’s better to invest in something that will do its job, do it well, and do it for years and years to come than to buy cheaper kits that need replacing after a couple of years.
So while the M10 filter system isn’t cheap, it will certainly be ready to work for you for the long-haul!