Urth Magnetic ND Selects Filter Kit Plus+ Review
The Urth Magnetic ND Selects Filter Kit Plus+, showing from left to right,
top: end cap 1, magnetic adapter ring, end cap 2,
bottom: ND 8, ND 64, ND 1000.
Summary Verdict
The Urth Magnetic ND Selects Filter Kit Plus+ is a solid choice for photographers seeking ease of use and good image quality. Its magnetic design speeds up filter changes, while the inclusion of three ND filters makes it versatile and useful in different lighting conditions. You may see some vignetting at shorter focal lengths, but this is a minor issue considering the kit's overall performance and convenience.
Score: 5/5
For
Convenient and portable
Strong magnetic connection
High optical quality and neutral colour
Against
Some vignetting at wide angles - to be expected
Step rings needed for lenses with different filter sizes
The Urth Magnetic ND Selects Filter Plus+ ND1000 filter blocks out 10-stops of light.
What is the Urth Magnetic ND Selects Filter Kit Plus+?
The Urth Magnetic ND Selects Filter Kit Plus+ is a filter system designed for photographers who frequently use neutral density (ND) filters to control exposure and achieve creative effects. ND filters reduce the amount of light that passes through the lens and hits the camera sensor or film, allowing for longer exposure times or wider apertures in bright conditions. The kit includes three ND filters, providing different levels of light reduction and uses a magnetic system to make attaching and switching filters quick and simple.
Urth was called Gobe until the company rebranded in 2020.
The Urth Magnetic ND Selects Filter Kit Plus+ holds together through magnetic attraction, making it easy to transport between shoots.
Features
The Urth Magnetic ND Selects Filter Kit Plus+ comes in 11 sizes, for lenses with filter threads from 37mm to 82mm. Urth makes the individual filters in sizes up to 95mm, but the kit only goes up to 82mm.
This Magnetic ND Selects Filter Kit includes three neutral density filters: ND8, which gives 3 stops of light reduction, ND64. giving 6 stops, and ND1000, giving a ten-stop light reduction. Because the most well-known 10-stop ND filter is Lee Filters' 'Big Stopper', some people call all 10-stop filters big stoppers.
One of the key features of this kit is its magnetic system. The filters attach via a magnetic adapter which screws onto the lens filter thread.
Helpfully, the kit also includes protective magnetic caps, which snap securely into place, protecting the filters when they're not in use.
Urth has designed the filters with slim magnesium/aluminium alloy rims, which help to minimise vignetting, especially on wide-angle lenses. These rims house high-quality German B270 Schott optical glass, renowned for its clarity and durability. Each filter is coated with a 20-layer nano-coating that enhances image quality and makes the filters more resistant to dirt and easier to clean.
The 82mm magnetic adapter ring mounted onto the Song FE 24-70mm F/2.8 lens.
Build and Handling
As I mentioned, Urth's flagship Plus+ range features premium materials, with each filter made from German Schott B270 glass, known for its clarity and light transmission.
The magnetic system includes a magnetic adapter that screws onto the lens, allowing the filters to snap into place easily. It’s a well-thought-out system, ideal for photographers who need to change filters quickly without fiddling with screw threads. Once the adapter is mounted, it's very easy to swap between filters. Of course, screwing and unscrewing filters isn’t complicated, but it's surprising how much quicker and less fiddly it is to use magnetic filters.
The kit’s build quality is impressive, and the included magnetic end caps are a smart addition. They mean the whole kit can stack together neatly, and the end caps protect the glass, making it a highly portable set.
I tested the 82mm version of the kit, using it with a mix of lenses, some of which required step rings. While the filters fitted perfectly on my lenses, it's worth noting that Urth doesn't include step rings in the kit or separately. These will need to be sourced elsewhere if you plan to use the filters with lenses of different thread sizes.
Once the magnetic adapter ring has been threaded onto a lens, the filters can be snapped on and off with ease.
Performance
The Urth Magnetic ND Selects Filter Kit Plus+ does exactly what it promises. Using a 61MP Sony A7R IV paired with a Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM, I found no noticeable drop in image quality, even with the high-resolution sensor. Crucially, the filters deliver the advertised level of light reduction without introducing any colour casts. Lee Filters’ Big Stopper is known for its strong blue cast, and some other filters have a slight warming effect. Not the Urth ND Plus+ filters!
However, I did observe some slight vignetting when shooting at the wide end of the 24-70mm lens, which has an 82mm filter thread, when using the 24mm focal length. This vignetting becomes more pronounced when stacking filters, but it can be mitigated by zooming in to 35mm (or longer) when two filters are stacked or 50mm with the three filters.
I saw no vignetting when using the filters on the Sigma 24mm F1.4 DG DN Art lens, which has a 72mm filter thread and, therefore, requires a step-ring with the 82mm filter.
The filters performed reliably under a range of natural lighting conditions. Whether using the ND8 for a subtle reduction in light or the ND1000 for a dramatic long exposure, the kit delivered consistent results. On one particularly bright September morning I used the 10-stop (ND1000) and 3-stop (ND8) filters together to extend the exposure to 30 seconds and smooth out the choppy water of the river Thames in breezy conditions.
The filters in the Urth Magnetic ND Selects Filter Kit Plus+ are made from German Schott glass with magnesium alloy rims.
Urth Magnetic ND Selects Filter Kit Plus+ Sample Images
Image Credit: Angela Nicholson. This image was shot without a filter.
Camera: Fujifilm X-T5, lens: XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR, exposure: 1/300 sec, f/8, ISO 125.
Image Credit: Angela Nicholson. This image was shot using the ND1000 (10-stop) filter, it's impressively neutral.
Camera: Fujifilm X-T5, lens: XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR, exposure: 18 seconds sec, f/8, ISO 200.
Image Credit: Angela Nicholson. This image was shot using the ND1000 (10-stop) and ND8 (3-stop) filters for more blurring of the clouds.
Camera: Fujifilm X-T5, lens: XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR, exposure: 30 seconds sec, f/9, ISO 125.
Image Credit: Angela Nicholson. This is the previous image but with a back and white conversion made using Adobe Camera Raw.
Image Credit: Angela Nicholson. The 64ND (6-stop) filter extended the exposure time to 14 seconds with an aperture of f/5.
Camera: Sony A7R IV, lens: Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG DN Art.
Image Credit: Angela Nicholson. This image was shot without a filter so the water movement is frozen.
Camera: Sony A7R IV, lens: Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG DN Art, exposure: 1/2500 seconds, f/1.4 at ISO 100
Image Credit: Angela Nicholson. This image was shot using the ND1000 (10-stop) filter to extend the exposure and blur the water.
Camera: Sony A7R IV, lens: Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG DN Art, exposure: 30 seconds, f/16 at ISO 100
Image Credit: Angela Nicholson. This image was shot using the ND1000 (10-stop) filter to extend the exposure and blur the movement of the people milling around the statue.
Camera: Sony A7R IV, lens: Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG DN Art, exposure: 13 seconds, f/11 at ISO 200
Verdict
The Urth Magnetic ND Selects Filter Kit Plus+ is a convenient and well-made option for photographers who need ND filters in a variety of strengths. The magnetic system is a real bonus, making it fast and easy to switch between filters without fuss. While there’s some minor vignetting at wider focal lengths, especially when stacking filters, the image quality remains high and the filters are a pleasure to use.
Having three densities in one kit is handy, particularly during changing light conditions, like at sunset when you might not need the full 10-stop reduction. Overall, the kit offers good value for money and is a practical, portable solution for photographers.
