Aurora Aperture – Next Generation Rear Mount Filters for SIGMA, Nikon, Canon and Sony Lenses

Lens Filters

by Jakub HanMay 28^th, 2020

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Aurora Aperture – an American company specialized in making optical filters, is running a new Kickstarter campaign for their new rear mount filter system supporting the Canon 11-24mm F4L USM and other select Canon wide-angle lenses, Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8G, SIGMA 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM Art EF mount and SIGMA 14mm F1.8 DG HSM Art EF mount, SIGMA 14-24mm F2.8 DG DN Art E and L mount, and Sony 12-24mm F4 G. More importantly, the new system features a robust magnetic quick-release mechanism.

Rear Filter System. Source: Aurora Aperture

Aurora Aperture has already designed multiple innovative products like its Adapter Mount Filter System which we featured last year. In 2017, the company introduced Aurora Aperture CR format – a rear mount filter system for the Canon EF 11-24mm F4L USM ultra-wide lens. This time, they are introducing the next generation rear mount filter system. What does it offer?

Aurora Aperture Rear Mount Filter System

Designed in California, the Aurora Aperture next generation rear mount filter system provides a simple and elegant solution for ultra-wide-angle lenses that lack a front filter thread.

The new Aurora Aperture Rear Mount Filter System expands supported lenses to several other popular ultra-wide-angle lenses and adds more filter choices. It also improves usability by adding a magnetic mounting system. A filter is installed to a supported lens simply by attaching it onto the magnetic adapter on the rear of the lens.

The filters are very compact and lightweight and they are made from high-quality Schott D 263 T eco thin glass (except the PowerDusk LPR filter which is made with Neodymium based glass). The glass has multi-layer nano-coatings for light reduction capability and according to Aurora Aperture the result is an accurate color rendition and minimizing field curvature.

Rear Filter System. Source: Aurora Aperture

A PFPE based nano-coating is applied to both optical surfaces, ensuring the protection of filters against water, oil, dust, and dirt. This coating allows filters to be cleaned easily and it has a 110-degree static contact angle.

The filter glass is protected by a stainless steel frame which makes the filter easier to handle and adds protection to the filter glass. Aerospace-grade 7051 aluminum alloy is used for the filter adapter. Available Filters are:

• PowerND – neutral density (ND) filters for light reduction – available strengths: ND4 (2 stops), ND16 (4 stops), ND64 (6 stops), ND256 (8 stops), ND4000 (12 stops).
• PowerGND – soft graduated neutral density (GND) filters for light reduction – available strengths: ND3 (1.5 stops), ND6 (2.5 stops), ND12 (3.5 stops)
• PowerDusk – a light pollution reduction filter for astrophotography and for cityscape photography in blue hours by reducing artificial light pollution.

Rear Filter System. Source: Aurora Aperture

Supported Rear Mount Lenses

• Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM
• Canon EF 11-24mm F4L USM
• Canon EF 14mm f/2.8L USM & EF 14mm f/2.8L USM II
• Canon EF 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye
• Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM (EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM not supported)
• Canon EF 17-35mm f/2.8L USM
• Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM
• Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8G ED
• SIGMA EF 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM Art
• SIGMA EF 14mm F1.8 DG HSM Art
• SIGMA E-Mount 14-24mm F2.8 DG DN Art
• SIGMA L-Mount 14-24mm F2.8 DG DN Art
• Sony FE 12-24mm F4 G

While designed primarily for photographers, I think these filters could be very helpful for us filmmakers too as many of us use photo lenses anyway. It looks like an elegant solution for adding the necessary ND filter to an ultra-wide-angle lens when the camera does not have an internal ND.

Rear Filter System. Source: Aurora Aperture

Availability and Pricing

The Aurora Aperture next generation rear mount filters is now available through a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. Standard purchase availability is expected in September 2020. The price of filters will start from $43 and it will go up to $113 per filter – depending on the type. The price of lens adapters will be $35 to $41, depending on the supported lens.

As always, please be aware that this is a crowdfunding project and not sold by a retailer, so do your research accordingly. cinema5D does its best to share only the projects that look legitimate, but as with any crowdfunded campaign, there’s always the risk of the product or service never coming to fruition.

What do you think about the Aurora Aperture Rear Mount Filter System? Do you have a different solution on how to mount filters to an ultra-wide-angle lens? Let us know in the comments underneath the article.