Reviews
An exceptional filter, specifically for photographing subjects with background lights...?
The K&F Concept 6-Point Starburst Filter arrived packaged in a simple plastic case inside a cardboard box, and included three individually wrapped cleaning cloths.
The build quality seems good to me. The filter screws easily onto lenses with a matching thread diameter—in my case, for example, onto a Canon RF 85mm f/2.0.
Of course, one should always keep in mind that any piece of glass mounted in front of a high-quality lens will inevitably degrade image quality to some extent; however, the quality of this filter seems absolutely fine to me, and I haven't noticed any perceptible degradation during my usage so far. Nor does it present any disadvantage compared to time-tested brand-name filters—such as those from Hoya—that I have been using for years.
A starburst filter causes light sources—particularly smaller points of light—to appear with "star-shaped" rays in your photos. This filter can also be adjusted by rotating the front element, allowing you to slightly alter the direction of the rays.
It is a very nice effect—and for me, an especially interesting addition to my gear during the Advent and Christmas season. In my people and portrait photography involving background lighting (e.g., in the evening at a Christmas market or during street photography), this allows me to add some creative variety. It is certainly versatile enough for use in other contexts as well.
Incidentally, there are different variants available—such as a 4-point starburst filter—which produce only 4 light rays instead of 6 for the "star-shaped" highlights.
Conclusion:
Anyone who enjoys experimenting with physical filters—and prefers to capture their photos "complete in-camera" rather than doing everything in post-processing—will find this to be an interesting addition to their kit. So far, I’ve found it to be a filter that fulfills its purpose and appears to be flawlessly constructed. All in all, I am satisfied.
However, when shooting subjects without strong, distinct light sources, you shouldn't expect to see any noticeable effects from this filter. The example photo—with and without the filter—was taken with an 85mm f/2 RF lens at f/2.0, using an LED flashlight set to a lower power level as the light source.
The build quality seems good to me. The filter screws easily onto lenses with a matching thread diameter—in my case, for example, onto a Canon RF 85mm f/2.0.
Of course, one should always keep in mind that any piece of glass mounted in front of a high-quality lens will inevitably degrade image quality to some extent; however, the quality of this filter seems absolutely fine to me, and I haven't noticed any perceptible degradation during my usage so far. Nor does it present any disadvantage compared to time-tested brand-name filters—such as those from Hoya—that I have been using for years.
A starburst filter causes light sources—particularly smaller points of light—to appear with "star-shaped" rays in your photos. This filter can also be adjusted by rotating the front element, allowing you to slightly alter the direction of the rays.
It is a very nice effect—and for me, an especially interesting addition to my gear during the Advent and Christmas season. In my people and portrait photography involving background lighting (e.g., in the evening at a Christmas market or during street photography), this allows me to add some creative variety. It is certainly versatile enough for use in other contexts as well.
Incidentally, there are different variants available—such as a 4-point starburst filter—which produce only 4 light rays instead of 6 for the "star-shaped" highlights.
Conclusion:
Anyone who enjoys experimenting with physical filters—and prefers to capture their photos "complete in-camera" rather than doing everything in post-processing—will find this to be an interesting addition to their kit. So far, I’ve found it to be a filter that fulfills its purpose and appears to be flawlessly constructed. All in all, I am satisfied.
However, when shooting subjects without strong, distinct light sources, you shouldn't expect to see any noticeable effects from this filter. The example photo—with and without the filter—was taken with an 85mm f/2 RF lens at f/2.0, using an LED flashlight set to a lower power level as the light source.
10/03/2026