Filters are an essential tool for photographers, helping to control light, reduce reflections, and enhance image quality. Over the years, I’ve experimented with various filter systems, from bulky square filters to traditional screw-ons. Recently, I had the opportunity to test Maven’s Magnetic Circular Filters—a system designed to simplify workflow while maintaining professional-grade results.

This Maven Filters Review by Pia Steen, reflects her honest experience with Maven filters, highlighting their unique features, performance, and practical advantages. Whether you’re considering upgrading your current filter setup or exploring magnetic systems for the first time, this guide will provide valuable insights to help you decide. Let’s dive in!

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Testing Maven Magnetic Circular Filters

Transparency: I am sponsored by the filter manufacturer Maven. However, Maven has not asked or pressured me to write anything about their filters. This review is entirely voluntary and reflects my honest opinion. Nevertheless, it should be considered as advertising.

Square Filters vs. Magnetic Circular Filters

There are countless filter manufacturers, but the differences in quality can be significant. Common issues include color casts, blurriness, and flares.

For years, I used a square filter system. The key advantages of square filters are their flexibility, particularly when using graduated neutral density (GND) filters. With this system, you can shift the filter up or down to match the horizon, even if it’s not centered. Additionally, square systems allow stacking multiple filters without causing vignetting.

However, there are downsides. Square filter systems are bulkier than circular filters, taking up more space in your backpack. They also take a bit more time to attach to the lens, which can be inconvenient in fast-paced shooting situations.

Therefore, I took a closer look at magnetic circular filters from various manufacturers. These filters are smaller, take up less space, and can be quickly attached to the front of the lens using magnetic adapter rings. This process is much faster than using a square filter system—very convenient!

However, I noticed a significant issue when stacking two filters together (e.g., a polarizing filter and an ND filter). Even with an 82mm filter diameter on a 77mm lens, I experienced noticeable vignetting in the image. Adding another filter on top only worsened the problem. This is a major downside for me.

I use a polarizing filter for nearly all my shots, but when I attach an additional magnetic filter in front of it, vignetting becomes apparent at focal lengths below 24mm. If I wanted to stack two ND filters along with a polarizer, the resulting vignetting would be severe, making this setup nearly unusable in my opinion.

Additionally, with GND (graduated neutral density) filters, the horizon is fixed in the middle and cannot be shifted. However, thanks to the high dynamic range of modern cameras, I personally find that I rarely need GND filters anymore and can manage just fine without them.

Dark CPL? What’s That?

I mentioned my issues with filters to a friend, and he asked why I don’t use filters where the polarizer is integrated into the neutral density (ND) filter—a so-called Dark CPL.

I had heard about Dark CPLs many years ago but was never convinced by the system. Reports of image flaws, color shifts, and loss of sharpness made me hesitant. However, technology evolves, so I decided to give them another shot. I had a set of Dark CPLs sent to me to see if they could address my concerns.

The filters are from the brand Maven—admittedly, a name I had never heard before. The company is relatively new, having emerged from a Kickstarter campaign in the USA.

What immediately caught my attention was the distinct colors of the filter edges. The filters are no thicker than other magnetic circular filters and feel very high-quality.

The Dark CPL Set includes the following:

3ND Dark CPL

6ND Dark CPL

10ND Dark CPL

Linear Polarizer

Magnetic Adapter Ring

Front Cap 2.0

Quick Case 2.0

 

Once the adapter ring is screwed onto the lens, it can remain permanently attached. What I prefer about this screw-in version compared to a fully magnetic system, where the adapter rings are also magnetically installed, is that the adapter ring doesn’t come loose when removing the filter. Since it’s screwed in place, it stays securely attached.

Additionally, the compatible lens cap protects the lens from scratches even with the adapter ring in place, allowing you to keep the ring on the lens permanently without any issues.

 

The different colors of the magnetic rings make it much easier to grab the correct filter from your bag without having to decipher the fine print indicating the filter density. The base color is always blue, signaling that the filter includes an integrated polarizer.

Here’s how the inventor, Michael, explains the color scheme:

Yellow (10 ND): When the sun is still shining brightly, you need a strong filter to darken the image. Yellow represents the sun.

Purple (6 ND): As the sun sets and the sky turns purple, you need a slightly weaker filter. Hence, the 6 ND has a purple edge.

Red (3 ND): Red is reminiscent of the record button on cameras, as the 3 ND is often the most used filter in videography.

Blue (Linear Polarizer): Blue symbolizes the sky and water, which this filter enhances or de-reflects.

This thoughtful color-coding system is a practical and intuitive way to identify filters at a glance.

 

I found this reasoning very appealing and logical. Indeed, after some time using the filters, you quickly learn to identify each one at a glance. It’s often the small details that make working so much easier.

For added clarity, the filter size and type are also engraved in white text on the back of each filter. The neutral density filters conveniently indicate the number of stops rather than the more traditional and complex nomenclature like “ND8,” “ND64,” or “ND1000.”

Another great feature: Each filter has unique grooves, making them easier to grip. The magnets are impressively strong and keep the filters securely in place, even when carrying the camera around.

The magnetic lens caps also come in different colors, adding a splash of brightness to your camera bag. If you choose, you can even identify your lenses by the color of the caps.

 

Quality of Maven Magnetic Filters

While stylish colors are a nice touch, what truly matters is the quality of the filters. How do they perform, especially with the integrated CPL?

Older systems from other brands often used two layers of glass that you rotated against each other to adjust the polarizer. This setup was bulky and prone to issues such as artifacts, loss of sharpness, and color shifts. That’s not the case with Maven’s filters.

The frames are made of aircraft-grade aluminum, paired with thin optical glass from AGC. This combination makes them both lightweight and durable. With the Dark CPL filters, there is a single piece of glass that rotates like a traditional polarizer. The difference is that the CPL is inherently darker, functioning as an ND filter as well. This two-in-one design means only one layer of glass is placed on the lens, reducing the risk of vignetting and simplifying handling.

Performance Highlights

No Color Casts: I didn’t observe any color shifts or unwanted artifacts.

Sharpness: Images remained crystal clear, with no noticeable loss of detail.

Build Quality: The glass appears scratch-resistant and feels premium in construction.

Flare Resistance: Direct sunlight produced flares similar to shooting without a filter, outperforming other brands that struggle more with direct backlight and generate additional flares.

The combination of robust materials and thoughtful engineering results in high-quality filters that are not only practical but also deliver excellent optical performance.

Filters from other manufacturers produce significantly more flares.

With Maven filters, you only see the flares that the lens itself would produce in backlight, even without a filter.

 

Water splashes can be wiped off easily without leaving streaks—another practical advantage.

But why does the set also include a linear polarizer? Naturally, it’s for shooting without an ND filter. If you only want to use a polarizer, you can do so. However, the system offers an additional clever trick: if you clip the linear polarizer in front of a Dark CPL, you essentially create a variable ND filter. This allows you to further darken the exposure by 1.3 to 5 additional stops. For example, a 10-stop ND filter can effectively become a 15-stop ND filter.

Ingenious!

 

 

 

Linear vs. Circular Polarizers – The Differences

While circular (CPL) and linear polarizers (LPL) produce similar effects, linear polarizers offer slightly better color performance when used with mirrorless cameras. Circular polarizers, on the other hand, are compatible with both mirrorless and DSLR cameras. However, using linear polarizers with DSLRs can interfere with autofocus and metering systems.

You might wonder why Maven doesn’t use Dark LPLs instead. The answer lies in the combination of neutral density and circular polarization films in the Dark CPLs, which provide better color performance than standard CPL filters. The main advantage of Dark CPLs is their compatibility with both DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, ensuring seamless functionality without sacrificing color quality. This flexibility makes CPLs the preferred choice over LPLs in Maven’s system.

Other Accessories from Maven

In addition to a wide range of filters and lens caps, Maven also offers magnetic lens hoods. These attach to either the adapter ring or the filter itself, allowing you to use the hood simultaneously with a filter. A truly brilliant feature! The lens hoods are available in various sizes and diameters to suit different setups.

 

 

 

 

Advantages of Maven Filters

I’ve discovered that Maven filters offer several advantages over other brands I’ve used:

Easy installation

No vignetting

User-friendly color coding for quick filter selection

Less glass in front of the lens thanks to combined filters with integrated polarizers

Highly scratch-resistant due to premium glass quality

Excellent sharpness

Minimal color shifts compared to competing products

Initially skeptical, I am now completely convinced and have found my new go-to filter system with these magnetic circular filters. The combination of CPL and ND filters is perfect for long exposures, and the linear polarizer works wonderfully on its own or as a variable ND filter when combined with a Dark CPL. The logical color coding of the filter edges makes it incredibly easy to grab the right filter from my bag and start shooting immediately.

 

Awards and Recognition

Maven Filters have also received the PetaPixel Accessory of the Year and the Phoblographer 2023 Editor’s Choice Award—a testament to their quality and innovation.

If you’re interested in these filters, you can support me by using this affiliate link: www.mavenfilters.com

Here are some images I’ve captured using Maven filters.

 

To make the mist appear smooth and flowing, I need a long exposure time. That’s why I use the ND 6 Dark CPL along with the linear polarizer.

 

 

Thanks to the ND 6 Dark CPL, I can achieve a long enough exposure, even in sunlight, to make the mist appear smooth and flowing.

 

 

The ND 6 beautifully allows the mist to flow over the ridge. (The image isn’t 100% sharp due to the strong wind and resulting camera shake—this is not caused by the filter.)