The K&F Concept Nano-X MCUV is a slim, screw-on UV filter with a coating that sheds water, oil and fingerprints. We keep the 82mm version on our Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II for outdoor shoots so rain, spray and smudges land on an inexpensive piece of glass instead of the front element. It's an easy recommendation for the price, as long as you buy the size that matches your lens.
Quick verdict
Cheap, effective protection for outdoor shoots. Water beads off, fingerprints wipe away, and we haven't seen it hurt our image.
- Best for: Shooters who work outdoors and want light weather and smudge protection they can leave on.
- Skip it if: You need protection for a real downpour. Use a full rain cover for that.
What it is
This is a protective UV filter that screws into your lens's front filter thread. K&F lists a 28-layer multi-coating on its Nano-X filters, described as water-repellent, oil-resistant and scratch-resistant, in a slim frame meant to limit vignetting.
It isn't a rain sleeve or a lens cap. It stays on while you shoot, and water droplets bead up and roll off the coating instead of smearing across the glass. Removing it means unscrewing it, which takes a few seconds.
How we use it
Los Angeles is mostly sunny, but rain tends to arrive at the worst moment, like in the middle of a wedding ceremony. We use the filter on outdoor documentary and event shoots, and on shoots for our sister brand, Gabe Silverstein Photography, where the glass needs to stay clean from first frame to last.
The coating works. Water hits it and beads up right away, and we've shot through light rain without a single drop reaching the front element. Fingerprints, the more common hazard, wipe off with almost no pressure.
What we like
- Water beads and rolls off with no smearing or streaking
- Fingerprints wipe away easily
- Slim frame that doesn't add noticeable bulk
- No color shift or flare problems we've noticed in our footage
- Costs far less than cleaning or repairing a front element mid-shoot
What to know
- Buy the right size. Ours is 82mm to fit the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II; yours must match your lens's filter thread.
- It screws on and off, so removal isn't instant.
- Any filter adds two glass surfaces. If you see flare shooting into strong light, take it off for that shot.
- It won't protect your camera in heavy rain. Use a full rain cover.
What to know before you buy
Filter size is the one thing to get right. Check the diameter printed on your lens barrel or lens cap (it's shown as a number like 67mm, 77mm or 82mm) and buy that size. K&F sells the Nano-X line in most common thread sizes. If you shoot several lenses with different threads, you'll need one filter per lens, or a step-up ring to share one larger filter.
The lenses we put these on are in our guide to the best lenses for video production.
Our pick
K&F Concept Nano-X MCUV Filter (82mm) — the one on our 24-70 GM II. Other sizes are available if your lens takes a different thread.
Check price on AmazonBottom line
If you shoot outdoors, the K&F Concept Nano-X MCUV is a cheap way to keep rain and fingerprints off your lens. It's light, it stays out of the way, and it does what it promises. We carry them on every outdoor shoot. For keeping the rest of your kit dry in transit, see our camera bag guide.
Questions about our gear, or planning an outdoor shoot? Get in touch.