picture one: before
picture two: after
Sony a74 with sony gm1635 at 35mm
shutter speed 1/4000 ISO 3200 F2.8
the second picture is a bit over exposured, but you will be able to see the details, creates a bit of film like texture of the picture.

We are very impressed with this K&F Concept Vintage Soft filter, and it lives up to the high quality we expect from the brand. The filter itself feels very well-made, and the threads screw onto our lens smoothly. It also arrived well-packaged in a high-quality, protective case.

The results from this filter are great and give us exactly the look we were hoping for. When testing it, it did a beautiful job of naturally smoothing skin and softening minor blemishes without making the image look blurry or sacrificing key details. The effect is subtle and very flattering. When tested on lights, it brings down the intensity of the highlights and creates a gorgeous soft glow around them, which is perfect for creating atmosphere.

For our content creation, this filter is a great tool. It will help us achieve a smoother, more polished, and beautifully cinematic look and feel directly in-camera. We're extremely happy with its performance and quality. Highly recommended for anyone looking to add that soft, dreamy, professional touch to their photos or videos.

I find this filter quite interesting. It produces a very subtle softening effect, which can smooth out blemishes in skin pretty nicely. When looking through the glass, it looks like a strange warping is going on, but when attached to the lens, it all works great. The filter itself is nicely made, and has great threads that screw on tightly, and remove easily. I like the case it comes in, although it is a bit oversized for the smaller lens filter size I ordered. This filter is great for portraiture, or shooting at night to get some interesting lighting effects. Very nice filter.

I'm a big fan of K&F Concept and already own several of their filters, including their ND, CPL, and black mist options. I picked up this 1/4 soft filter for an upcoming trip to try and capture a more cinematic, dreamy look in my footage—and I’m really impressed.

This filter gives portraits a soft, creamy glow by subtly diffusing light, smoothing skin, and reducing harsh shadows and highlights without losing facial detail. Compared to black mist filters, this one leans more toward that vintage, romantic aesthetic—great for flattering skin and softening digital sharpness.

For around $50, it’s a solid buy for anyone doing portraits, vlogs, or cinematic B-roll. And yes, the lens coating is supposed to have that dotted texture—it's not dirty, just part of the optical design. Threads on easily and feels well made like all my other K&F gear.

If you want to add character and polish to your shots without spending hundreds, this is a great filter to keep in your kit!
Customer image

I regularly use filters like black mist and "cine" effects, and almost always have one on my cameras unless I specifically need clean shots for something like art. I like getting as much of the image right in camera to lessen time in editing, and they've just become a regular part of my workflow. This falls right between two of my favorites, and in the best possible ways. It isn't quite as contrasty as the black mist ones I use, but not quite as "dreamy" and less color distortion than my current favorite "cine". I really...REALLY love this filter. Very subtle, very pleasing. Does a really nice job of softening the digital sharpness while not going so far as to be a 'look' that might feel a little tight and restricting. Very pleasing effect for video, probably my favorite use case. Also: comes with a nice case, which I super appreciate. Would happily get again.

In my opinion, this filter is a "restyling" of the Black Pro Mist filters mentioned in the title. It's true that they don't work in bright daylight, only being effective in the late afternoon and evening with backlighting. The resulting look is pleasing and optimal for video, although in photos they've managed to avoid a noticeable loss of sharpness, unlike what would happen with the BPM filters. A 10 out of 10 for the K&F Concept case, which is also suitable for other types of filters regardless of diameter, covering up to 82mm.

The filter is of the high mechanical and manufacturing quality typical of K&F Concept products.

The filter effect is very subtle and makes the image minimal, almost invisible, and slightly softened. The effect is more pronounced around lights, where a slight glow is noticeable. The effect is less pronounced than with a fog filter, making it discreet and not immediately recognizable as a filter.

It's an interesting effect, but whether it's worth the price is a matter of personal preference. You could probably achieve the same softening effect electronically, but the very subtle glow around light sources would likely be more difficult to achieve.

My rating: 5 stars - a perfect product, or almost perfect.

Transparency: I received this item free of charge for product testing. However, this does not influence my review. It is just as honest and critical as my reviews of products I pay for. I did not conduct a professional product test; I am simply evaluating the product as a regular consumer.

I tested this filter on my Sony ZV E10 with a 16mm f1.4 lens. The first photo is without the filter and looks sharp. The second photo is with the filter and shows a nice soft glow, especially around the highlights.

It keeps the subject clear but gives the image a smooth, vintage feel. The background also looks a bit more blurred. Perfect for portraits or adding style to your shots without losing too much detail. Build quality is solid and it fits the lens easily.

I recently added this vintage soft 1/4 filter to my kit as a complementary piece to my other diffusion filter. My intent was specifically to introduce a subtle, aged aesthetic to my digital photography—a gentle, glowing quality that mimics the look of classic portrait lenses or slightly older film stock, perfect for creating timeless, romantic images.

What I Like About the Product (Pros)
The effect is beautifully controlled. The 1/4 strength is ideal because it provides that desirable soft bloom around highlights, reducing digital harshness without becoming overwhelmingly hazy. It gives a lovely, diffused glow to light sources, which adds immediate atmosphere to a scene. Like the other filters from this brand, the multi-coating is superb, successfully minimizing reflections and maintaining accurate color rendition, which is crucial for professional work.

Drawbacks to the Product (Cons)
Due to its light-diffusing nature, the filter requires a little more focus-peaking effort, especially in low light. The subtle softening of contrast means the camera's autofocus might hunt slightly more than usual, particularly on very fine details. This is an expected trait of soft-focus filters, but it does require a photographer to slow down and verify sharp focus manually in some situations.

Setup: Installation is effortless. The filter has well-machined brass threads that screw smoothly onto my 67mm prime lens in seconds. The low-profile design also means I do not have to worry about unwanted vignetting, even when shooting wide open.

Build/Quality: The filter is very well built. The metal ring is slim and sturdy, and the specialized glass feels durable. It is clearly designed to withstand the rigors of being carried and swapped in a working photographer's bag.

Functionality: This filter is a powerful, non-electronic tool for in-camera creative effects. It softens high-contrast edges and textures, which is incredibly useful for flattering skin in portraiture and giving video footage a smoother, less clinical look.

Durability: The glass holds up very well to handling. The coatings are resistant to minor smudges and seem highly durable against common wear and tear from cleaning and environmental exposure.

Care: Thanks to the multi-coatings, the surface resists dust and moisture very effectively. Cleaning involves a quick brush-off with a lens pen or a gentle wipe with a quality microfiber cloth. It requires minimal maintenance to keep the light-diffusing effect pure and clean.

Ease of use: This is as easy as using any other filter. Once it is on the lens, the effect is instantly applied. It is a simple creative modification that saves significant time in post-production by getting the desired look right in the camera.

Price for value: For the professional quality of the optical effect and the build of the frame, the purchase price represents excellent value. It performs identically to, or even better than, soft filters from premium brands that cost significantly more. It is an affordable way to add a unique, high-quality vintage look to a digital image pipeline.

Summary and Recommendation
This K&F CONCEPT Vintage Soft 1/4 Filter is a truly excellent tool for any photographer or videographer aiming for a refined, classic, and gentle aesthetic. It beautifully softens digital sharpness and creates lovely light blooms without compromising color fidelity. Despite the slight need for care in focusing, the artistic results are phenomenal. I would strongly recommend this filter for anyone specializing in portraiture, wedding photography, or cinematic video.

This lens is excellent for photography. It delivers sharp, clear images and really shines when taking portraits. The background blur looks smooth and professional, and it’s easy to use even for someone who isn’t an expert. A great addition to any camera kit.