With 85 years of experience, Marumi is a Japanese manufacturer known for producing high-quality optical filters. Indeed, it was the first manufacturer to produce a filter series specifically for digital cameras (the DHG series). Marumi is also known for its quick magnetic filter system, and the range of graduated ND filters I got hold of for testing all belong to this magnetic system that works with the Marumi M100 filter holder for fast filter changes.
I tested its Hard and Soft GNDs in 0.6, 0.9, and 1.2 strengths, as well as the Marumi Reverse GND4 and GND8 100x150mm filters, all of which work with Marumi's magnetic M100 filter holder. I loaded up my camera bag with the Marumi filters and took them to the coast to put them through their paces to see if they'll earn their place in our guide to the best ND grads. Here’s how I got on…
Marumi Magnetic Graduated ND Filters: Specifications
Filter type |
Graduated ND |
Material |
Schott B270i glass |
Size |
100x150mm |
Weight |
93g |
Marumi Magnetic Graduated ND Filters: Price
Marumi 100x150mm GND magnetic filters are quite pricey, with an RRP of $220 / £199.99; however, at the time of writing, they were on sale for notably less at $150 / £109 for the 0.6, 0.9, or 1.2 soft varieties, which makes them much better value.
The filters come complete with a built-in magnetic filter frame, which is permanently attached and cannot be removed, so frames can’t be purchased separately if they get damaged. The filters do, however, come with a nice soft pouch to keep each filter individually protected.
It is a bit of a shame that Marumi doesn’t offer any bundles for its graduated ND filters, either as sets or with the filter holder, as this could have made it better value for money. This is also something seen with competitors like LEE and Cokin, both offering bundles to make groups of GND filters or filter holders and CPL filters a better value proposition.
The Marumi 100x150mm GND filters on test have built-in metal frames on the sides to make them compatible with the M100 magnetic filter holder. This means you can’t use a different filter holder; you’re tied into the Marumi system. The M100 filter holder will set you back $105 / £98, while a circular polarizer costs $160 / £130, and a square 100x100mm ND filter is another $190 / £151. So, just putting together a basic set of everyday filters for the Marumi M100 system can see costs quickly rack up. Though this isn't a quirk exclusive to Marumi, many of the other filter systems I tested were also quite pricey.
Marumi 100x150mm Magnetic Graduated ND Filters: Design & Handling
The Marumi 100x150mm Graduated Neutral Density (GND) glass filter measures 100x150mm, but its magnetic frame increases the actual dimensions to 109x166mm. The frames are stuck in place with adhesive tape and clips, and while it’s clear they’re not meant to be removed from the frame, it is possible to do so without breaking them, should you want to. I’ll cover the magnetic frames in more detail in the 'performance' section.
Marumi’s 100x150mm GND filters are available in hard and soft varieties, and all are available in 0.6, 0.9, and 1.2 strengths to block out 2, 3, or 4 stops of light at the darkest part of the gradient, respectively. I also tried out Marumi’s Reverse GND4 and GND8 100x150mm filters that also work with the M100 filter holder. Marumi also makes no fewer than nine square ND filters, ranging from ND4 all the way up to ND32000 for super-long exposure times.
All of Marumi’s GND filters in the range employ double-sided coatings, which are dust, water, oil, and fingerprint resistant – they’re also low reflection too, with Marumi claiming the filters offer outstanding maintenance and optical performance.
To put the coatings to the test, I was keen to find out how their water, oil, and scratch-resistance held up under pressure. I’m thrilled to report that the Marumi GND filters were easy to wipe clean, as they’re coated on both sides. The coating on the Marumi GNDs actually performed a little better than the Cokin Nuances Extreme, which is one of my most highly rated filter sets; grease was a little easier to wipe off on the Marumi without smearing. Water also readily beaded off the Marumi magnetic filters.
To test scratch-resistance, I first subjected the filters to a scratch test using a sharp wooden toothpick, and as a toughened glass filter, it is perhaps unsurprising that this didn’t leave a mark, even with substantial pressure. So I upped the ante and switched out the toothpick for a sharp metal screw and dragged this against the glass surface, starting with light pressure and medium pressure, and the Marumi held up well and was pretty much unfazed. However, when I exerted as much force as I could, I was able to leave a small scratch in the filter coating. It's still a very impressive result, and reassuring should it take a tumble onto hard, abrasive surfaces.
So we’ve determined the coatings are pretty hardy and scratch-resistant, but how do the Marumi GND filters hold up when dropped from height? To assess this, I dropped the filters from 1.5m to simulate a working distance when using a tripod to shoot landscapes. I kept the filter in its magnetic metal housing, as this is how it’s intended to be used. I dropped the filter onto a hard concrete floor, and it made direct contact with one of the corners of the frame – the plastic frame did split, however, the important glass filter came away unscathed, so it would seem the frame did its job and took the brunt of the damage. My only issue here is that the frame cannot be purchased and replaced separately.
That being said, dropping the filter and frame onto hard concrete from 1.5m was supposed to provide a worst-case scenario, and dropping the filter onto a softer surface like sand or grass, or from a less extreme height, would likely be more forgiving, and the small crack I did make in the filter frame was repaired with a small glob of superglue.
Marumi Magnetic Graduated ND Filters: Performance
The frames are made of a plastic top and bottom with two metal side pieces that snap magnetically into the Marumi M100 filter holder without the need for lining up the filter with guide rails and then sliding it into place, so it is more convenient. The top plastic piece of the frame sticks out by about 1.3cm and acts as a tab to grab onto. At first, I thought this plastic piece was quite flimsy as it has a lot of flex to it, but it is securely attached to the frame, and I think this bit of wiggle room is intentional to help you pull filters away from each other when they’re attached, so they actually work rather well.
The Marumi M100 filter holder has a small thumb screw on the side, which screws into the knurled edges on the side of the magnetic filter frames. This helps add a little security and prevents the weight of several stacked magnetic filters from drooping down. My only problem with this screw is that it can potentially come loose in your kit bag, as it isn’t set in place as on other systems, such as the LEE100.
While not a specific feature of the GND filter, one aspect of Marumi’s M100 filter holder that I particularly liked was its circular polarizer, which mounts at the back of the filter holder and is my preference both from a cost and usability point of view, as the smaller CPL filters are usually more affordable. I also find CPL filters easier to use and store when they’re at the back of the filter stack instead of the front. A small thumbwheel at the bottom of the M100 is used to rotate the CPL, though you do need to show a bit of care when turning it so you don’t accidentally touch any attached GND filters to avoid leaving a fingerprint.
To judge the performance of the GND filters, I also need to review them in the wider context of use within Marumi’s M100 filter holder, and I’m pleased to report that the whole system works rather well. The Marumi holder has the ability to stack many magnetic filters, unlike a slot-in system that is restricted by the physical number of guide rails, such as the LEE100. However, things can get a little precarious with the more filters you stack.
As the CPL filter is loaded into the filter holder adapter ring, it doesn’t put any strain on the magnetic connection when you’re using a CPL. In most situations, you may want to use an ND filter as well as a graduated ND or reverse ND – so for the most part you’ll only be stacking a couple of filters, and Marumi’s own advice is to stack a maximum of three – as the weight of each additional filter becomes a little precarious and a slight knock could cause the filters to shift downwards or detach altogether, potentially causing damage. So, you definitely have to take a bit more care than with a traditional non-magnetic filter holder. But the upside of this system is its speed, ease of use, and the M100 filter holder remains nice and slim, because it doesn't have lots of guide rails that would protrude outwards.
One small aspect of the M100 filter holder where I feel there's room for improvement is that the adapter rings are secured by two thumbscrews on the back of the holder, and this makes it a bit clunky to attach and detach the M100 from the adapter and your lens, though once it’s in place, it is rock solid and secure. But it’s definitely less elegant than the simple pull lever lock on the competing LEE100 holder.
While Marumi’s GND filters are produced in Japan, the glass comes from Schott in Germany. Schott claims its B270i glass used for the Marumi GND filters delivers a crystal-clear performance and consistent transmittance of light across a range of wavelengths, and uses high-purity raw materials to avoid discoloration.
For my tests, I headed to my local beach at sunset, and I had access to nine of Marumi’s magnetic ND grads, in a range of densities, with both hard and soft transitions, along with a few reverse grads thrown in for good measure; the GND Reverse 16, Reverse 8, and Reverse 4.
Image quality proved to be very good, with colors nicely rendered, exhibiting strong sharpness and contrast. I also didn’t see any adverse optical defects introduced, such as chromatic aberration, nor did I see any vignetting from the magnetic filter holder when using my wide-angle Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM lens.
Marumi Magnetic Graduated ND Filters: Verdict
The Marumi 100x150mm GND filters are a decent option, and while their list price is high, you may well be able to find them on sale, where their value for money is much better. The wider filter system, comprising the M100 holder and proprietary CPL and square filters, adds to the expense, and be aware that you can't 'mix and match' with other brands as you can with standard slot-in filters, which could be a bit limiting.
However, image quality scored highly, with strong sharpness, contrast, and color rendition. Plus, the filter did very well in my stress tests against scratches and drops, though it didn’t fare as well as the Cokin Nuances Extreme GNDs, which are admittedly more expensive but have a more bulletproof build.
The Marumi magnetic filters remain a great choice for those looking for a filter system that is quick and easy to use, with its snap-on and snap-off attachment. No slots means the filter system is slimline and more portable, too.
|
Features ★★★★★ |
The Marumi GND filters are pretty well specced with quality coatings and a magnetic design. Though there are only Hard, Soft and Reverse options, with no Medium variants in the range. |
|
Design ★★★★☆ |
The magnetic clip-on design makes the filters quick and easy to use and stack together, but the plastic top and bottom frame is a point of weakness. |
|
Performance ★★★★☆ |
The Marumi GND filters delivered a strong performance with great image and build quality, but aren't quite a match for Cokin Nuances Extreme GNDs. |
|
Value ★★★★☆ |
The filters are currently sold separately and are expensive when not picked up on sale. You're also tied into the Marumi M100 system, due to its proprietary magnetic frames. |
