Freewell’s K2 Magnetic Filter System is Both Clever and Affordable
Filter company Freewell has announced the K2 magnetic filter system. The new magnetic filters include a base ring, circular magnetic filters, and slide-in effects filters that can be freely rotated within the system itself.
The K2 isn’t the only magnetic filter system announced recently, as Kolari Vision announced its Atlas magnetic filter system last week. Freewell’s K2 system is more affordable, though, and starts at $350
The K2 magnetic filter system begins with a base ring that screws into a lens’s filter thread. Base rings are available in sizes from 52mm to 82mm, allowing the K2 to work on most mirrorless and DSLR lenses.
Not only does the Freewell K2 accept circular magnetic filters, but it also includes what Freewell calls the “K2 Island Slot.” This slot allows users to add special non-circular filters that can be adjusted as needed, like gradient, snow mist, glow mist, or streak filters.
A big issue with circular gradient filters is that users can’t adjust where the gradient is in the frame — it’s fixed. With the K2 Island Slot, users can adjust a filter’s height to change its effect on their photos and videos, and even rotate the entire assembly. The K2 also includes an integrated spirit level, or “gradienter tool,” to ensure level gradient filters.
Alongside the distinct Island Slot for gradient filters like a graduated neutral density (ND) filter, snow mist, glow mist, and streak, the K2 filter system also includes circular variable neutral density (VND), circular polarizing (CPL), solid ND, and graduated neutral density (GND) filters.
The K2 magnetic filter system is 18 millimeters thick, and its diameter is 118 millimeters. The base ring, filter adapter, VND base, and a VND 1-5 filter add just under 300 grams of weight to a lens. Magnetic ND, mist/streak, and GND filters range from 20 to 35 grams in weight.
While crowdfunding campaigns always have some risk, this isn’t Freewell’s first rodeo. In 2021, Freewell announced the “world’s first magnetic variable ND filter.” The development of the K2 filter system began just a couple of months after Freewell’s last filter project finished.
Backing options start at $350 for the Starter kit. This option includes a master base ring, adapter, VND1-5/CPL, VND6-9/ND32CPL, caps, and a pouch. For $50 more, the Creative Capture backing option adds the K2 Snow Mist FW-K2-SMIST1/8 filter. Rounding out the options is the $450 Landscape kit. This includes everything in the Creative Capture bundle, plus the K2 Soft Gradient FW-K2-SGN0.9 graduated ND filter and the FW-K2-ND1000 solid ND filter. Shipping for all three kits will begin in June.
During development, Freewell supplied some photographers and videographers with testing units. Those early hands-on reports are available below.
There are multiple backing options available for the K2 Magnetic Filter System on the project’s IndieGoGo page.
Disclaimer: Make sure you do your own research into any crowdfunding project you’re considering backing. While we aim to only share legitimate and trustworthy campaigns, there’s always a real chance that you can lose your money when backing any crowdfunded project.
Image credits: Freewell
