Why You Need a CineBloom VND for Slow Shutter Photography
...and why I never take it off my lens.
9MomentScore
It’s rare to find me without my 10% CineBloom Filter glued to my camera lens these days. It’s a lightly strengthened diffusion filter that softens the clinical edge to any photo or video I'm shooting; neatly editorializing my image to look more cinematic and less choppy or too-sharp feeling.
But, when I was shooting video in bright daylight (which was often), I had to quickly attach the standard Moment Variable ND Filter to the CineBloom to control the camera's shutter speed and exposure settings manually. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to shoot anything because it’d be too bright.
But not anymore…
Shot on CineBloom VND 10% by George Holden
Shot on CineBloom VND 10% by George Holden
Shot on CineBloom VND 10% by George Holden
Shot on CineBloom VND 10% by George Holden
Shot on CineBloom VND 10% by George Holden
A 2-In-1 Solution for Street Photos
The CineBloom VND is Moment’s latest filter golden child. It combines the CinBbloom diffusion, in either 10% or 20% strength, with the Variable ND effect. It’s a two-in-one filter combination that threads right on and off — no need to stack two separate filters anymore.
And I know that the usual case for using a VND filter is reserved for video, as that’s how I primarily used it in the past. However, I’m starting to realize the incredible impact of the VND filter for still photography. With the VND, you can control the exposure without changing any settings, so can still get the correct aperture and shutter speed.
You may have used a standard Variable ND filter for daytime long exposures or slow shutter shots with light trails or waterfalls — but the combination of creamy, diffused light sparked the inspiration to try this filter with still street photography: a perfectly exposed image with a lightly bloomed, editorial feel.
I took my Sony A7C II with the 24-70mm F/4 lens and a filter for a spin on a bright, sunny day in London. For the images below, I used the 10% strength, which is the perfect balance between a softer image and one that doesn't feel overly stylized.
Shot on CineBloom VND 10% by George Holden
Shot on CineBloom VND 10% by George Holden
Shot on CineBloom VND 10% by George Holden
Shot on CineBloom VND 10% by George Holden
Shot on CineBloom VND 10% by George Holden
Standard VND Filter vs CineBloom VND Filter
For these pictures, I wanted to create a shutter-drag effect, mathematically capturing the speed and feeling of motion with my subjects. To achieve this, I panned with them to make a true-to-life movement in the background, while keeping my subjects relatively sharp in the foreground. With this filter, I can experiment with different shutter speeds, ranging from 1/60th of a second down to 1/4 of a second, for a range of totally different looks.
And while it’s possible to shoot these kinds of photos without a VND, especially in shutter priority mode to allow the exposure to go extremely high, you won’t be able to fully achieve complete manual control, as you would with a filter, altering the overall look of your image. I prefer to shoot photos with a more visually pleasing background-foreground separation by utilizing a lower aperture, so a VND is crucial. More importantly, though, the CineBloom VND provides a combined diffusion effect that softens the picture just enough to blend the shadows and contrast more beautifully. It gives an atmospheric glow to the image that I’ve come to love.
👍 Pros
Warm, soft tones made perfect for portraits.
Dreamy look but maintains detail.
Like sunglasses for the lens.
Premium build, feels nice in the hands.
A 2-in-1 effect for pros.
👎 Cons
Not ideal for stacking with variable ND filters due to the circular polarizer also rotating.
Shot on CineBloom VND 10% by George Holden
Shot on CineBloom VND 10% by George Holden
Shot on CineBloom VND 10% by George Holden
Shot on CineBloom VND 10% by George Holden
Shot on CineBloom VND 10% by George Holden
Shot on CineBloom VND 10% by George Holden
Shot on CineBloom VND 10% by George Holden
I’m a massive fan of Moment gear always, whether it's the standard VND filter or the CineBloom VND filter. As someone who enjoys capturing a mix of photographs and video while traveling, and who doesn’t want to lug a considerable amount of gear and gadgets, the CineBloom VND 10% checks all the boxes for me.
It’s now permanent on the front for my lens.
Moment CineBloom VND Review: The Simple Filter That Changed How I Shoot Portraits
One part diffusion, one part ND, all soul — this real-glass hybrid changed how I shoot. Built for photographers who want mood, not just mega...
How We Rated It
- Rugged Ability
- Leave it the Studio
- Daily Carry
- Traveler
- Mountain Goat
- Build Quality
- Cheap
- What You’d Expect
- Solid
- Top Of The Line
- Image Quality
- Is that even in focus?
- Passable
- Sharp
- Tack Sharp
- Color Temperature
- Super Cool
- Slightly Cooler
- Slightly Warmer
- Super warm
- How Wide Of A Lens
- 35mm- Infinity
- 24mm- Infinity
- 16mm - infinity
- 12mm - Zoom
- Skill Level Required
- Just getting started
- Upgrading from Kit Lens
- Shoots regularly
- Professional
- Filter Stacking
- Can’t
- 1-2
- 2-3
- 3+