Variable ND: All the things our new filter can do

It is extremely popular with our customers because of its highly practical nature. Especially for photographers who like to have a larger selection of filters with them on their excursions. And that's exactly what our variable F:X Pro ND8-512 offers you.

Its special feature is that the filter has strengths from ND 8 to ND 512 – with all these strengths combined in just this one filter.

Marking on the filter for precise darkening

It is helpful that the ND filter is marked for each strength, so that the darkening can always be precisely adjusted to what is desired. The variable ND filter also comes with a shutter speed table, which can be used to calculate the exposure times for the individual filter strengths.

Professional photographer Harald Kröher tested the variable ND filter for us and achieved these great results:

Harald Kröher says: "I used the variable ND filter in the beautiful Palatinate, in the Black Forest, in Ticino, and also in Brittany on the Atlantic coast. You can essentially imagine it as a double polarizing filter, where by rotating the polarizers, stepless darkening can be achieved."

A huge advantage over conventional gray filters, Kröher explains, are the following points:

1. You only need one gray filter and avoid cumbersome changes.
2. Compared to a complete set, money is saved.
3. You can work with the exact desired time-aperture combination.

"The often-cited disadvantages of a variable ND filter do not apply to the Rollei product. There was no discoloration, not even at one f-stop and an exposure factor of 9," Kröher explains further.

"The variable ND filter was very easy to clean," Kröher said after the test. In light rain, no water penetrated between the polarizing filters, and using the included table, the filter could easily be set to the desired time.

In Brittany, the filter was briefly showered with saltwater due to heavy surf. Even here, however, no effects were visible after cleaning.

His Conclusion

"I can only recommend this filter. It helps you achieve the desired result faster, it is particularly easy to handle, and you also save money. Instead of three or four neutral density filters, you simply take Rollei's variable ND8-512 and ideally already have the exact filter you had in mind."

More from Harald Kröher