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Aurora Aperture Inc. has announced a next-generation rear mount filter system for wide-angle lenses. The new filter system is designed to allow for the use of filters with many popular ultra wide-angle lenses, including those which do not include a front filter thread.
In 2017, Aurora Aperture released a rear mount filter system for the Canon EF 11-24mm F4L USM lens. The newly-announced next-generation system works with the 11-24mm lens, plus the Canon EF 8-15mm F4L Fisheye USM, EF 14mm F2.8L USM (versions I and II), EF 15mm F2.8 Fisheye, EF 16-35mm F2.8L USM (versions II and III are not supported), EF 17-35mm F2.8L USM and EF 17-40mm F4L USM. In addition to Canon lenses, Aurora Aperture’s new filter system is also compatible with the Nikon Nikkor AF-S 14-24mm F2.8G ED, Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM Art (Canon EF, Sony E and L mount versions), Sigma’s 14mm F1.8 DG HSM Art for Canon EF mount and the Sony FE 12-24mm F4 G lens.
Not only is Aurora’s latest rear mount filter system compatible with a wider array of lenses, but it also includes other new features. The new rear mount filter system utilizes a magnetic quick-release structure, allowing for easier installation and removal from the lens. In addition, there are a variety of new filters available for the system, including graduated neutral density filters and light pollution reduction filters.
Neutral density – Aurora Aperture refers to them as PowerND – filters are available in 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 stop variants. Graduated neutral density (GND) filters are available in 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5 stop densities. Each GND filter features a soft transition at 60 percent of the image frame height. Finally, the new PowerDusk filter is designed to filter out artificial lighting and reduce visible light pollution in urban areas, which Aurora Aperture states will allow for better astrophotography and even improved nighttime street photography. For specific information on how the PowerDusk filter reduces the light which hits your image sensor at different wavelengths, click here.
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| Image credit: Aurora Aperture |
In order to utilize the magnetic filters on the rear of your wide-angle lens, you must first install the new rear mount filter system. The installation process will vary depending on the lens in question, but it ranges from using specialty adhesive to replacing existing gel filter holders. Once the filter holder adapter has been installed, using and changing filters is as placing a small glass filter into the magnetic filter holder.
The Aurora Aperture next generation rear mount filters will be available through a Kickstarter campaign starting this month and general availability is expected in September. The price of lens adapters range from $ 35 to $ 41 USD and filter prices range from $ 43 to $ 113. Stay tuned to Kickstarter and to Aurora Aperture’s website for additional information and availability.
Disclaimer: Remember to do your research with any crowdfunding project. DPReview does its best to share only the projects that look legitimate and come from reliable creators, but as with any crowdfunded campaign, there’s always the risk of the product or service never coming to fruition.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)