Urth Essentials Magnetic Filter Kit Review
I am a firm believer that every camera lens should have a filter, regardless of what type of photographer you are. And that goes double if you are a landscape or travel photographer. A UV filter at minimum adds an extra layer of protection to your glass, and other filters can add to your shoots. But they can be a pain to switch, even more so than switching lenses, and that can be off putting. So I was glad when Urth offered to give me the Urth Essentials Magnetic Filter Kit to review and test.
As always with gifted products, Urth has had no consultation on what is said in my review, and any and all opinions are my own.
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- Urth Essentials Magnetic Filter Kit: Our Verdict
- Urth Essentials Magnetic Filter Kit: My First Impressions
- Where to buy a Urth Essentials Magnetic Filter Kit
- What's included?
- Swapping Filters
- Magnetic Rings
- UV
- CPL
- ND Filters
- Value for Money
- Longevity
- Kit Expansions
- Camera Gear Essentials
- What I’d add
- Urth Essentials Magnetic Filter Kit: Final Thoughts
Urth Essentials Magnetic Filter Kit: Our Verdict
Pros
Cons
Urth Essentials Magnetic Filter Kit: My First Impressions
Straight out of the box, these filters feel built for travel. They are lightweight, solid, and stack beautifully into a nest little cylinder. It’s the kind of gear I would not hesitate to grab and bring with me, regardless of what type of shoot I was doing.
Where to buy a Urth Essentials Magnetic Filter Kit
If you want to level up your photography with a filter kit that adapts to your photography, check out the link to Amazon below.
What’s included?
In each magnetic filter kit you receive all the essentials I would want on a trip:
- a bracket you can leave on the camera at all times in case you don’t want a filter.
- UV Filter for protecting your lens. Especially useful for travellers
- CPL (Polariser) great for cutting reflections on water and glass
- ND 8 (3 Stop) ideal for soft motion stops
- ND 1000 (10 Stop) perfect for long exposures in bright daylight.
It’s a versatile setup that works whether you plant to shoot landscapes, cityscapes, or even content for socials.
Swapping Filters
The standout feature here is the miagnetic system. You don’t have to get the grooves to bite or fumbling with threads. The magnets snap on instantly and create a secure hold. No more fumbling when you race to capture a moment.
I’ve used them in moving vehicles on bumpy roads, usually I struggle to change a filter with all the movement. But having the magnets do all the work for me made it so much easier.
The simple fact is that conditions change quickly, and you need to adapt. Light shifts, crowds move, moments disappear. This kit keeps you ready.
Magnetic Rings
The magnetic ring is for people who are happy to not have a filter on their camera at all times. It just gives the other lenses a place to magnetise to. If you want to expand your kit to be compatible on other lenses, this is the cheapest and easiest way.
New magnetic rings are £15 (except the 95mm which is £19) and they all simply screw on like a regular filter. You then have all your lenses ready to go. Instead of paying £50 for a new filter every time, or spending time swapping filters between lenses, you pay a smaller price for adapters and have access to the whole system of lens filters.
UV
With all my lenses I keep a UV filter on 24/7. I accept that with modern cameras and lenses, they may not be as necessary as they once were. But UV lenses are a great additional layer for protection. I’ve met photographers who have dropped cameras and since the filter took the brunt of the impact they only have to replace that rather than a whole lens.
I am the sort of person who has a case and screen protector right next to my new phone as soon as I unbox it. And that behavior does carry over to the rest of my tech too. I will always have a filter on my lens for additional protection. But it makes no sense to spend thousands on a lens and use a cheap, low-quality filter. I have always found the Urth UV filters to be premium, professional optical glass and that still is the case with this set.
CPL
As I do more landscape photography, I’m really enjoying using CPL Polarising filters to improve my shots of water. Unlike other CPL’s you don’t require any moving parts to ensure it you are cutting reflections correctly. The magnet system makes it easy to twist and adjust.
I love how easy and accessible the filters are. When I first grabbed this kit, I knew the theory of a CPL, but understanding something and putting it into practice is two entirely different things. But that’s the beauty of the magnetic system. You can take a photo, add the filter, take another and easily compare. Seeing side by side exactly what its doing. Its perfect for professionals and those just starting out.
ND Filters
The pack comes with two ND Filters, an ND8 (3 stops) and an ND1000 (10 stops). At first I thought this was maybe an odd choice. Maybe an ND64 would be better than the 1000 as it’s still darker but it’s a bit closer. But the longer I thought about it the more it made sense.
The ND8 is great during sunny days, if you want to get a creamier background by lowering the aperture and not have the highlights blown out. But the ND1000 is great if you want to do longer exposure. Maybe shoot a scene in the city and make it look like nobody is there, or create that glassy look on waterfalls or running streams.
Value for Money
The price of this set will vary depending on the size you need. Currently the smallest is £89 at 37mm, and it goes up to £225 for the largest 95mm.
Now whilst that does sound expensive, it does represent value for money. The majority of my lenses are 67mm, which is great as they can all share.
So currently that’s £145, but it’s a one time cost. Whenever I get a new magnetic UV lens as a base for £49, or just a magnetic ring for £15. The CPLs and ND filters will still magnetise on and I can easily switch them between lenses. That makes the initial outlay a one time cost and much more versatile as a bit of kit.
Of course this does rely on your lenses being the same size. But there you can purchase step up rings as well to adapt to different sizes.
Longevity
Filters last for years when you look after. As long as you look after them, keep them clean and avoid scratches. They will always perform as well as the day you took them out of the packaging.
My first ever lens filter was a URTH UV+ for my Sony A6000 nearly 6 years ago. I still have that filter to this day and it’s still going strong. Although the majority of my lenses require bigger filters now so it doesn’t get as much use. I have been using the magnetic lens filter kit now for nearly a year, and it’s been fantastic.
I keep the UV lens on at all times, and choose to add on the CPL elements or ND when necessary. Having too much glass has never been an issue providing you keep all elements clean.
Kit Expansions
The great thing about using magnets to connect the filters, is that the kit becomes expandable. Now this is the essentials level kit, it has ND filters, CPL and a UV, but you can buy more to make the kit adaptable to your style of photography.
There are filters for night, to improve the reflection of light on water, variable NDs and more being added all the time. Regardless of what style of photography you are, three is something for you.
Camera Gear Essentials
What I’d add
The magnetic filters do come with a metal magnetic cover to protect the glass. But I would love the addition of a soft pouch with a carabiner. The magnetic system is designed around ease of use and speeding up swapping filters. Now the main choke point is finding them in my bag in the first place.
I do have a case from JJC that works. I bought initially to store an old tiny lens, But I found the filters fit perfectly. It has a carabiner so it allows me to store them on my belt loops. I would love to see URTH make their own version designed specifically for these filters. I’d rather something tailored than making something do.
Urth do make a filter case, but it seperates the filters. I would much prefer a case that keeps them all together and makes use of the magnets.
Urth Essentials Magnetic Filter Kit: Final Thoughts
have three main lenses that I like to use. The Sony 16-25, Sigma 28-70 and the Sony 85mm Prime. All three of these are 67mm, and all three have either the Magnetic Ring or Magnetic UV.
Since receiving this kit, I haven’t been on a shoot without it. With new filters coming I can’t wait to see how it goes. For now the main thing I’d like to see URTH add is a soft cover case to store them in, preferably with a carabiner. That way I can have them clipped to my belt and swap even faster.