Tiffen Variable ND Magnetic Control System (MCS) filter review

Magnetic Control System (MCS) is a new line of Tiffen filters launched at NAB this year and come with some tantalising upgrades over the older non-magnetic filters such as 2011's Tiffen 2-8 stop VND filter.

These upgrades include a brand-new magnetic design which allows filters in Tiffen's MCS range to be snapped on and off the front of your lens quickly. The front metal cap is also magnetic so clips on when you’re not shooting. It also claims to have a wider set of ND of strengths, ranging from 1.5-10, an increase from the 2-8 stop range found on Tiffen’s standard VND, though I put these claims to the test in this review and found Tiffen overpromises on this front. It also boasts a sleek, more user-friendly design, a screw-in handle for fine adjustments and hard stops at the extreme ends for haptic feedback so you don't accidentally push the filter past its intended strengths.

Both the standard and new MCS VND filters are proudly made in the USA, though the newer magnetic model will set you back about $40 more for the equivalent VND size. I got hold of one and put it through its paces to see if it’s worth the extra money and here I run through my thoughts...

Specifications

Build & Handling

The headline feature of the new MCS Variable ND filter is its new magnetic properties, which allow a metal ring to be screwed into your front filter thread, the core filter size options are a bit limited at just 58, 77, 82mm, so you’ll need an adapter ring to use the filter with other filter thread sizes. But with your metal adapter in place, the VND quickly and easily snaps on and off the front of the lens. The metal lens cap is magnetized too, so that can be quickly snapped onto the front to keep your lens protected when not in use. The filter can also be screwed directly into the front filter thread of your lens if you prefer.

As nifty as the magnetic features are, this isn’t the only notable upgrade from Tiffen’s basic and cheaper Variable ND filter. For starters, the filter is a consistent size and doesn’t get bigger towards the front element – this was an issue with the older 2011 Tiffen VND which meant your lens cap would no longer fit and also made it very awkward to grab the rear knurled part of the filter to screw it on or off the front of your lens. As the filter has a consistent rim size from front to back, that wasn't an issue screwing the filter in here, and it can be magnetically popped onto an adapter ring instead if you like – this makes it super easy to swap between any of Tiffen's MCS filters that are the same size.

Its magnetic metal front and back caps also keep the Tiffen MCS VND filter protected when the filter is stored away and also removes the need to carry a case like the soft pouch that comes with Tiffen’s standard VND, so it cuts down on gear you have to carry. I find soft pouches to be big, bulky, and a faff to use – I love the magnetic front and back caps for the MCS VND here as they snap onto the filter and become a hard case – best of all, they take up hardly any space in your bag.

The new model also features a wider range of stop options at 1.5-10, an increase from the 2-8 stops on the standard Tiffen VND. Bear in mind that each stop is a doubling, or halving of light, so when fully open it should be around a quarter lighter at its minimum and four times darker at its maximum strength. However, my tests revealed it didn't quite live up to these expectations, I'll cover this in more detail when I talk about its Performance.

Another welcome addition is a hard stop at the extremities of the scale. This gives you some haptic feedback to let you know when you max the filter out. Hard stops also prevent user error from turning the filter too far which could worsen image quality and create a dark blobby ‘X’ in the middle of your images – an image defect known as ‘X Bar Effect’ created by cross polarization and is fairly common on VND filters.

Performance

So the new MCS model has a solid set of features and handy upgrades but how does it perform in the field? Well, the short answer is it surpasses its predecessor in virtually every way possible, though it still has a few shortcomings.

The redesigned thin profile makes it easy to attach whether you’re screwing it directly into the front filter thread, or using the magnetic adapter to pop it on and off quickly. It’s about 40% thinner than Tiffen’s standard VND when mounted, the 82mm version's diameter is also about 10% smaller too – a noticeable space-saving, and it doesn’t require the bulky soft pouch either as its metal front and back caps turn it into a portable hard case

It’s really easy to use and also stow away safely using the magnetic front and rear metal caps. I really enjoyed this feature as it meant I didn’t have to clutter my camera bag up with an extra hard case or soft pouch and I’m all for traveling light. The front metal cap also has a nice beveled edge to it so it's easy to get a hold of and remove.

I’m a fan of the hard stops that have been added at the extreme ends of the ND strength scale as this gives you some haptic feedback when you’ve hit the maximum settings and also prevents the filter from turning past its intended position which could worsen image quality.

The filter is also smooth to turn and doesn’t click into each specific stop value, as it does on the PolarPro Peter McKinnon VND 2-5 Edition II. This could be seen as a positive or negative depending on whether you wish to shoot stills or video with the filter. If you want to set the filter to a specific ND strength value then you probably want it to click into position, however for ‘run and gun’ videographers who need to adjust the strength of the VND on the fly then you’ll likely prefer the de-clicked feel of the VND offered here.

The Tiffen MCS Variable ND filter also comes with a handy screw-in handle which sticks out about 8mm and gives you more control and leverage for either video or fine-tuning the strength for stills photographs. With Tiffen’s older non-magnetic I noted that it was quite noisy and you could hear the metal rubbing against metal when turning the filter, but the new MCS version was to my ear at least, notably quieter.

One issue with the 2011 Tiffen VND was the strength gauge markings appeared on the underside of my lens when screwed in, so it was really difficult to see exactly what strength it was set to.

I had the same issue with the new MCS VND version, however I will caveat that because it has hard stops at the extremities there is haptic feedback to let you know when you've reached the minimum and maximum settings. Also, if you're mounting the filter on the magnetic adapter ring this won't be an issue as its magnetic design allows you to swivel the VND filter around until the markings are at the top of the lens barrel for easier viewing.

The new MCS VND filters also get a new Multicoating and spraying the front of the filter with water revealed that it has a hydrophobic coating so water beads off it nicely and also makes it easier to clean compared to filters that don't have this coating.

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When it came to image quality it was a bit of a mixed bag. Sharpness remained very strong across the frame, though we did see the cross polarisation you get with all VND filters – it’s an inherent design flaw of this type of filter. I can’t recommend shooting wide at 16mm with this filter as it produces an unsightly X Bar effect in corners of images due to the cross polarisation, this is particularly bad at strengths above its three setting. Zooming into 35mm I’d expect this not to be a problem, though it persists and the X Bar effect is too bad to use above its five setting. The positives are it handles cross polarisation much better than the regular Tiffen VND filter, but it’s still not ideal, and certainly no substitute for larger dedicated ND and CPL filters.

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Another downside of all VND filters and not just Tiffen’s products is that because they’re essentially two polariser filters sandwiched together, there’s no feasible way to use polarising filters with them, this also means that the polarisation effect in your pictures depends on the strength setting of your VND.

While Tiffen claims the MCS VND filter has a strength ranging from 1.5-10 stops, at the maximum end I was only able to muster up a maximum of 7 stops, and holding the MCS VND up to the light next to my LEE 10-stop Big Stopper the difference was clear – the LEE Big Stopper was completely opaque, whereas I could still see through the Tiffen MCS VND. So I think it’s a bit misleading to market it as a 10-stop filter.

Verdict

Costing only $40 more than Tiffen’s basic VND filter, I think the upgrades in the new MCS model are so plentiful that it’s well worth spending the extra. The improvements don’t just stop at its magnetic construction either, which makes it super easy to attach or replace filters in a hurry. Its front and back metal caps make for a convenient and slimline protective hard case when the filter is not in use, it has hard stops at each end for haptic feedback, a more easily visible strength gauge on the filter rim and a handle for making smooth, precise adjustments.

My issue is that it doesn’t offer the full 10 stop light blocking that Tiffen claims, in reality it’s more like seven stops, which is a bit cheeky of Tiffen to market it otherwise. But if you don’t mind the maximum strength being less than advertised it’s still a very capable, versatile and compact VND filter.

VND filters are arguably more suitable for video work where you need to adjust lightflow on the fly as your shutter speed will be locked in to suit your recording frame rate. For stills photos I would still recommend dedicated ND and CPL filters as they provide the best image quality and compatibilty with circular polarising filters, though if space or budget doesn't allow for this the Tiffen MCS VND is a good option for travelling light.

Alternatives

Tiffen’s older 2-8 stop Variable ND filter is more basic and lacks many of the desirable features found in Tiffen’s latest magnetic MCS offering. However, it’s a good choice if you’re on a tight budget as it’s about $40 less than the magnetic option on review here. It’s also available in a much wider range of filter thread options natively so you don’t have to use a step-up ring.

Is this the ultimate VND filter? The PolarPro PMVND Edition II demands top dollar but has exceptional image quality and build. Its Defender360™ system doubles up both as your filter caps and weather-sealed hard case when stowed away, and it has a clicked strength ring for haptic feedback.