The MAVEN Color-Coded filter kit consists of five magnetic or screw-on filters, including a CPL, three NDs (10, 6, and 3 stops), and a UV “Splash Guard” filter. Each filter is color-coded for faster recognition in the field. They are now available through a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter.
Lens filters are essential pieces of every filmmaker’s kit. I personally switched from traditional screw-on filters to the Freewell Magnetic VND Filter Kit last year, and I can assure you that their magnetic design has been a huge time-saver on set.
Recently, a new family of color-coded filters with a similar design popped up as a crowdfunding project on Kickstarter. Called MAVEN filters, these accessories are born out of the mind of the photographer and YouTuber Michael Andrew and his relentless pursuit of the perfect filter set. Let’s take a closer look.
MAVEN filters: color coding for easier recognition
The MAVEN Color-Coded filters come in two different variants, with a magnetic or traditional threaded design. The magnetic ones attach to the front of the lens via a screw-on adapter. Once the latter is in place, the filter quickly snaps to it. This solution also allows multiple filters to be stacked together.
Regardless of the attachment option you choose, each line of MAVEN filters contains five pieces: a circular polariser (CPL), a 10-stop ND, a 6-stop ND, a 3-stop ND, and a UV filter. Unfortunately, the MAVEN filter set currently lacks a variable ND option, which can be a major drawback for filmmakers, in my opinion.
However, these filters offer the benefit of color-coded identification. Indeed, each filter type can be easily recognized by its color without having to read filter labels every single time. Moreover, colors and filters are associated in a way that is effortless to remember:
- CPL is blue, since one of its most common applications is that of making the sky stand out more;
- 10-stop ND is gold, as this filter is most often used to maintain a wide aperture while shooting videos under intense daylight;
- 6-stop ND is purple, just like the mid-lighting conditions of the sky at dusk or dawn;
- 3-stop ND is red to recall the REC start/stop button found on many video cameras. Its intensity should be a good starting point for videographers shooting in daylight.
- UV filter is silver – This accessory gets its neutral color from the fact that it only filters light outside of the visible spectrum.
Optical design and color neutrality
The MAVEN filters are built with AGC Japanese optical glass. Each piece features a 16-layer design that relies on multi-resistant coating and nano-particle technologies and has a hydrophobic surface that makes it easy to clean, according to the company.
Moreover, Michael Andrew states that these filters are the result of his research for a true color-neutral filter. While cheap ND filters are famous for introducing weird color casts in the image, MAVEN filters are claimed to be Tier 1 rated, which means that, theoretically, they shouldn’t produce any color shift.
Price and availability
The MAVEN Color-Coded Filters project is now live on Kickstarter. The filters are available in no more than 12 different sizes, divided into 4 groups: Small (43, 46, 49mm), Medium (52, 55, 58, 62mm), Large (67, 72, 77, 82mm), and XL (95mm).
The MAVEN Color-Coded Magnetic Filters are currently available at a special Kickstarter price, starting at $149 for a Small Set and climbing up to $349 for a full XL pack. They are expected to ship in February 2023.
We are saying this at the end of every crowdfunding-related article: Be aware of the risks when backing a project on a crowdfunding platform. Please read the platform’s terms of use and keep in mind that there can be significant delays when delivering the product. Some projects even don’t get delivered at all.
For more information, please visit MAVEN’s Kickstarter project here.
Do you think a color-coded filter system can save you time in the field? What do you think of the MAVEN Color-Coded filters? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!
