95mm Black Mist 1/4 & Circular Polarizing 2-in-1 Filter Cinematic Polarizer Effect Filter with 28-Layer Coating for Camera Lenses Nano-Xcel Series

The K&F CONCEPT 49mm True Color CPL & Black Diffusion Mist Filter is a 2-in-1 lens. The polarising filter delivers sharp, clean clarity, while the mist filter creates a subtle highlight bloom for a dreamy, cinematic look. This is an ideal filter for nature, landscape, portrait, and street photography. The lens also has a 28-layer nano-coating containing anti-scratch, water repellent, oil and dust resistant film, which is easy to clean.

The lens is not cheap, but the results are visible, as this lens delivers and is worth the price. I am impressed with the results and the sharp and clear images I have received when using the lens. I would recommend this lens as it has made a difference and is worth the price.

I’m a pretty solid prosumer photographer. I have dozens of filters. This filter is among my best. The black diffusion effect is quite discreet, but artful. It’s as optically clear as any I own.

Look for yourself! The third pic was shot thru a Canon 1DX Mk III, with a 35-350mm L lens and this very filter.

BL: I like it!

The K&F CONCEPT 72mm True Color CPL & Black Diffusion Mist Filter reduces light transmission by a fraction over 1 stop, which is slightly more than a CPL filter alone, to be expected with 1/4 diffusion added.

The diffusion effect is very subtle, and is barely noticeable in the 2nd photograph below, there is a slight softening of the outline of the mannequin and a slight glow surrounding the pinpoint lights in the background. The first image is normal with no filter attached. I did test the CPL filter during a brief break in the clouds when visiting a local lake, reflections were reduced and the bright highlights slightly softened, unfortunately the sun disappeared before I could take a comparison normal shot!

Construction of the K&F CONCEPT 72mm True Color CPL & Black Diffusion Mist Filter is solid & (relatively) heavy compared to my hobby version, the machining on the threaded mount is excellent and very positive to attach to the lens, over several fittings there was no 'searching' for the thread fitting, it screwed in positively each time. (and removed equally cleanly)

I can vouch for the water repelling function of the final coating on the filter with raindrops beading and falling to the bottom of the filter easily, as soon as we get some sunny weather, I'll add a couple of shots to show the CPL in action, as well as the contrast softening effect of the diffusion filter, my demo shots are fairly low contrast so do not show the K&F CONCEPT 72mm True Color CPL & Black Diffusion Mist Filter at its best.

The K&F Concept 82mm True Color CPL & Black Diffusion Mist Filter is an interesting example of how modern filter design is evolving to match the needs of hybrid shooters. Photographers and videographers increasingly want fewer accessories in their kit while still maintaining creative control, and this 2-in-1 filter is clearly built with that workflow in mind.

Build Quality & Design

From the moment you take it out of the box, the filter feels like a well-engineered piece of gear rather than a casual accessory. The aluminium frame is lightweight but solid, with precise threading that mounts smoothly onto lenses without the grinding or cross-threading that cheaper filters sometimes suffer from. The knurled edge provides a reassuring grip and makes adjusting the polariser easy even when working quickly.

The rotating CPL ring has a particularly pleasing action. It turns smoothly with just enough resistance to stay exactly where you set it, which is important when shooting handheld or on a gimbal. Overall, the construction reflects the kind of quality control that K&F Concept has built its reputation on.

The included storage case is functional and protective, though slightly oversized for the filter itself. A silicone insert keeps the filter secure inside, and the bundled microfiber cloth is a useful addition for quick cleaning on location.

Optical Performance

Optically, the filter performs very well. The CPL (circular polariser) component works as expected: reflections on water, glass, and foliage can be significantly reduced by rotating the front element, while colours—particularly skies and greenery—become noticeably richer and more saturated.

At the same time, the 1/4 black diffusion element introduces a subtle cinematic softness. Highlights bloom gently rather than appearing harsh or overly digital, which can be especially pleasing for video work, portraits, and scenes with practical lights. Importantly, the diffusion effect is restrained. It softens the image just enough to reduce the clinical sharpness of modern lenses while preserving detail.

In terms of colour reproduction, the filter remains impressively neutral for a combination design. Any shift is minimal and easily handled by auto white balance or minor colour correction in post.

Practical Advantages of the 2-in-1 Design

The real strength of this filter lies in its practicality. Normally, achieving both polarisation and diffusion would require stacking two separate filters, which adds bulk and can introduce vignetting on wider lenses. By integrating both effects into a single filter, this design keeps the setup slim while simplifying shooting.

For run-and-gun filming, travel photography, or compact rigs—including smartphones or small mirrorless setups—this can make a noticeable difference. Instead of swapping filters constantly as conditions change, you can simply rotate the CPL and continue shooting.

Real-World Use

In real shooting situations, the filter proves particularly useful for:

Outdoor video and documentary work, where glare reduction and softer highlights improve overall image quality.

Portraits, where the diffusion effect subtly smooths skin tones without sacrificing sharpness.

Landscape photography, where polarisation enhances sky contrast and foliage colour.

Mobile filmmaking, where carrying minimal gear is essential.

The diffusion strength sits somewhere between very subtle and moderately noticeable—arguably a sweet spot for general use. It’s strong enough to add atmosphere but not so heavy that it limits versatility.

Value for Money

Considering the optical quality, robust construction, and the convenience of combining two creative effects into a single filter, the price sits comfortably within the range expected for a serious enthusiast or professional accessory. It may not replace dedicated high-end cinema filters for specialised productions, but it offers a compelling balance between performance and practicality.

✅ Final Verdict

The K&F Concept True Color CPL & Black Diffusion Mist Filter is a smart, well-executed tool for photographers and filmmakers who want cinematic character and glare control without carrying multiple filters. It delivers strong build quality, pleasing optical results, and genuine workflow benefits.

For hybrid shooters, travel creators, or anyone building a lighter camera kit, it’s the kind of filter that quickly becomes a regular part of the setup rather than something that only comes out for special occasions.

[For the sake of transparency, I received this item for free through the Amazon Vine programme on condition that I leave an honest review. I give this review honestly and the fact that I did not pay for this item has not influenced my rating]

This filter works beautifully. When using either my EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 ao EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L lenses, there is an expectedly small loss of light but it doesn't affect my autofocus on either of my bodies. The filter really brings out blue skies well and allows natural colours to show more readily as it reduces glare and light scatter.

I've used some CPLs that had either a slight yellow or blue tinge but this one by K&F Concept is definitely more neutral.

I'm very happy to recommend this product. If you shoot regularly, don't be discouraged by the high price. It's an investment worth making.

Arrived promptly the next day in a nice filter case for storage.
I ordered the 55mm version for my Sony Alpha 7iv and had no trouble fitting it.
As usual with K&F Concept the quality is excellent and at £69.99 it should be!
I suppose the price is justified by this being a dual filter.
Normally you would need to buy and carry a CPL filter and a black mist filter separately. This product combines both effects, saving money, space, and setup time.
The polarizer enhances colors, deepens skies, and reduces reflections from water, glass, and shiny surfaces. This makes landscapes and outdoor shots look more vivid and professional.
It adds a Cinematic Look.
The black diffusion effect softens harsh highlights and adds a gentle glow around light sources, which is popular in cinematic photography and video, although personally I don't do much video.
Because it keeps colors accurate and improves contrast directly in-camera, your photos require less post-processing.
Instead of constantly switching filters, you can leave this one on your lens and use it for multiple types of photography.
This filter is worth buying because it improves color, reduces reflections, and adds cinematic softness—all in a single high-quality filter, making it a practical upgrade for photographers who want better results with less gear.

I have CPLs in other sizes, which I use with an SLR (remember those?) They're good for landscapes at times and are essential for car photography, which is one of my interests. Although I can use one of my larger ones with a reducer ring, this is the right size for a lesser-used lens.

I have some other K&F bits (mainly stuff for action cameras) and have found their products mostly to be good quality. This seems no different. It comes in a circular storage box which screws together. It's clearly a one-size box used on their different filter sizes, so it's larger than needed for this filter and takes up a bit more space than necessary in my bag.

Not the end of the world, however. It's a better box than many of the flip-open types that filters usually come in and break easily. This is much more solid and has a silicon moulded piece inside to keep smaller filters from rattling around inside.

The filter itself is commendably thin. I can't see any trace of it in the viewfinder or on images. It works smoothly.

I can see that some have commented that they didn't notice as much of a polarising effect with this filter. In my limited time with it so far, I think it stands up well against my other (non high-end) CPLs.

I tried to understand a bit more about what this filter claims to offer vs others in the K&F range and other makes I'm familiar with. I tried....and only partially succeeded. If you visit the K&F site you'll find a completely baffling huge array of CPLs with slightly different names and claims for what they offer.

I dare say some more experienced or longer term uses of K&F gear will be able to discern what's what. This particular one is claimed (on the box) to be True Colour, ultra low reflection, black diffusion 1/4&CPL.

I couldn't find this exact filter on the K&F site. The SKU (KF01.3230V2) is not found either. Perhaps it's very new? Perhaps it's discontinued?

So, it claims to actually be a combined CPL and a "black diffusion" or "black mist filter". The 1/4 indicates that its a stronger black mist effect (than, say, a 1/8).

I'm quite out of touch, as I had not come across black mist filters until now. Now I realise they're all over the place (at least in influencer circles). It's clear that I should not even consider taking another photo or shooting any video until I have one (or several) :-)

Check out some online videos if you want to know whether or not you want the black mist abilities of this or perhaps prefer a filter that does one thing.

I tried to see if I could spot the black most effect. To be honest, even when looking at some of the videos online, I struggled to see the effect (apart from the halos it creates around lights at night).

I have included a couple of shots of a lamp; one with and one without the filter. They have not had any other processing (apart from resizing and adding the text label). The shot with the filter used a 1/40th exposure, and the one without 1/80th. All other shooting variables the same.

I have also included a couple of shots of reflective surfaces on a car. Both shots are with the filter on, but in different rotations to illustrate the amount of reflection control possible.

I found that I could also completely block the image on an LCD screen. I'm not sure how much use that it is to know, but I noticed that another reviewer had trouble with this - ?

It seems to be towards the upper end of their range (based on cost), but how it compare to the others (many of which are in the Nano-X range also, but with slightly different names)? Beats me. Not a criticism of the product. Just my way of saying that you may want to curl up with a glass of your favourite drink whilst soaking up the specs and trying to decide which one you want.

As a photographer who enjoys experimenting with in-camera looks, I was excited to try the K&F Concept 2-in-1 CPL and Black Diffusion filter because it combines two useful effects in a single filter, eliminating the need to carry and switch between multiple filters when lighting changes. The build quality is excellent, with a solid metal frame and smooth threading that attached easily to my 67mm lens. The circular polarizer works as expected, reducing reflections on surfaces like water and glass while enhancing color in skies and foliage, while the 1/4 black diffusion effect adds a subtle cinematic softness to highlights, especially useful for portraits and scenes with bright light sources. The diffusion gently softens skin tones without making images look blurry, and the optical glass maintains accurate, natural color without noticeable shifts. Because both effects are combined into one filter, it also avoids the vignetting that can occur when stacking filters, keeping the setup slim and balanced. Overall, it’s a durable, convenient filter that produces pleasing results for portraits, landscapes, travel, and cinematic-style photography while simplifying the shooting process. Another winner from K&F!

K&F CONCEPT 72mm True Color CPL & Black Diffusion Mist Filter, Ultra Low Reflection Polarising Filter, Ultra Definition, 28 Layer Multi Coated Polarized MRC Filter (Nano-X Series)

K&F have long been a go to of mine, they aren't cheap but they are fantastic, the quality is exceptional with every product. This filter gives a sharp, clean look giving true to life colour to images. There's nothing not to love, while it isn't cheap, I still consider it value for money considering the quality