This is the Swift version of NiSi's best-selling True Colour Circular Polariser. It allows the CPL to be used in any combination with the rest of the Swift system.
When it comes to enhancing images, a circular polarizer is probably the oldest trick in the book. It can change a pale sky to a deep blue one, turn foliage into a luminous super-green, light up autumn colours, saturate rainbows and even make water look crystal clear. The added contrast, saturation and clarity that a polarizer can give to images is nothing short of magic and every photographer should have one in their bag.
Contrary to its name, a polarising filter does not polarise light; it filters out polarised light. Light from the sun is polarised when it bounces off any non-metallic reflective surface like water, foliage or various air particulates. Polarised light robs images of colour, clarity and contrast and is in many situations undesirable. A polarizing filter removes this 'damaged' light and ensures that only unpolarised light reaches the camera sensor to produce a sharp, saturated and contrast-rich image.
For this reason, a polarizing filter is a very popular tool for any photographer, but especially for landscape photographers.
What is the difference between a linear and circular polariser? Digital cameras' AF systems are not compatible with linear polarizers. When the world was transitioning from film to digital, linear vs. circular was a big debate, but it no longer is. For photographic purposes, you can assume that any polariser on the market nowadays is circular and not linear.
More about NiSi's True Color CPL
The NiSi True Color CPL is designed to reduce glare and reflections from non-metallic surfaces, increase saturation and vibrancy in the sky and foliage while ensuring true color reproduction is at its best by eliminating the warming effect that many polarisers create. Our True Color CPL removes the warm tone seen with other brands of CPL filters and provides a closer true color representation of the scene. The True Color CPL features a unique two-tone frame with a silver back ring, black front ring and both are made from high-quality aluminum. NiSi’s Sure Color CPL utilizes Cine seal technology which blackens the edge of the CPL for added durability. This technology reduces the influence of temperature fluctuations and keeps out condensation.
A Circular Polarizer Filter helps to reduce reflections and glare by filtering out light that has become polarized due to reflection from a non-metallic surface. The light from the sun naturally becomes partially polarized due to reflecting off electrons in air molecules, causing the light to scatter into what appears as haze. A polarizing filter arranges, and filters, this directionally polarized light perpendicularly to the reflected light, allowing for the absorption of much of this light. This results in a noticeable reduction of glare and reflections from non-metallic surfaces and an increase in the saturation of skies, foliage, and allows the camera to capture what is under the surface of shallow water.
Our proprietary NiSi Pro Nano Coating helps to reduce unwanted reflections and provides a waterproof and scratch-resistant layer to assist in the cleaning of unwanted fingerprints, dust and water stains. The slimline frame of the NiSi Natural CPL is durable and tough and allows a lens cap to be attached for convenience.
How it Works
The Swift system uses the 1-5 True Colour VND as a foundation, which screws into the lens thread like any conventional filter. A variety of other popular filters can then be connected via a low-friction system that just pops onto the main filter to create up to 15 configurations. Each component is available individually or as part of a kit and is available in sizes 67, 72, 77, 82 and 95mm.
Foundation
- 1-5 True Colour VND – The world's best VND
Stackable Add-ons
- ND16 True Colour (4-stop / 1.2) – Convert the 1-5 VND to 5-9 VND
- Black Mist 1/4 or 1/8 – Add cinematic atmosphere and bloom highlights
- IR Cut – IR Cut filter for BMPCC and RED users
- True Colour Circular Polariser - Remove Reflections and Glare, Enhance Contrast, Saturate Foliage
Use the add-ons without the 1-5 VND foundation
- Adapter Rings – To mount Swift filters without 1-5 VND in low light
Adapter Ring for Low Light – What if you're shooting in low light and don't want to use the 1-5 VND as a foundation? The Swift system offers affordable adapter rings that then serve as the foundation that the other filters can clip onto.
New Optical Tech – The New ND16 features all of the latest tech that has made NiSi's 1-5 True Colour VND the best in the world. A lot of this tech comes form NiSi's R&D to develop the ultimate full spectrum ND filters for cinema (still unreleased). It ensures that you can darken your exposure by up to 9-stops with class-leading colour, contrast and detail performance.
The IR-Cut filter has the most layers in any NiSi filter ever made - a total of 38, to ensure the best possible colour capture for RED and Blackmagic users.
Swift Kit Options
NiSi offers kit options for existing 1-5 True Colour owners as well as new buyers with different needs.
VND Kit – Allows 1-9 Stop ND range without X-effect or colour cast
- 1-5 Stop True Colour VND
- ND16
- Filter Cap
- Caddy Pouch
VND Mist Kit – Full house filmmaker filter kit
- 1-5 Stop True Colour VND
- ND16 Black Mist 1/4
- IR Cut
- Filter Cap
- Caddy Pouch
Leading the Market | NiSi Video Filters
NiSi's video filter system comes at a premium because it is the best offering available. There is a lot of outdated junk on the market and while it may be tempting to save a few bucks by buying something cheaper, you will end up paying much more in footage ruined by x-effect and hours wasted on colour correction. Watch the below video by Jacques Crafford to learn why you need to use ND filters to capture cinematic motion and why NiSi's True Colour VND is so damn good.
