At Cine Gear Expo 2026, Tilta officially showcases its new Illusion Magnetic Filter series, a modular, magnetically attached filter ecosystem designed around a reimagined approach to circular polarizers and variable ND.
How the System Works
The foundation of the Illusion Magnetic system is a Circular Polarizer filter that snaps magnetically onto a screw-on adapter ring attached to the lens. From there, a separate VND Adapter stacks onto the polarizer, turning it into a variable ND filter.
Rather than stacking multiple independent filters, which typically causes vignetting and color shifts, Tilta has integrated common filter combinations into a single piece of glass. A standard CPL pairs with the VND Adapter to give 1–5 stops of variable ND. Swapping to the 5-stop ND version of the CPL and adding the same VND Adapter jumps the range to 6–10 stops. A third CPL variant combines a polarizer with Black Mist 1/4 diffusion for a cinematic portrait look, also stackable with the VND Adapter.
All filters use a cinema-grade Full Spectrum (FS) coating, Tilta says, that delivers low reflectivity and neutral color transmission. The surfaces are water- and oil-repellent, and a microfiber cleaning cloth is included.
Protective covers attach to the front and back of any stacked combination, letting users travel with a locked, compact filter stack without disassembling it.
Individual Filters and Accessories
The Tilta Illusion Magnetic Circular Polarizer Filter is available in three variants — Polarizer Only, Polarizer with 1/4 Black Mist, and Polarizer with 5 Stops of ND — each priced at $69 USD.
The Illusion Magnetic VND Adapter for Circular Polarizer Filter is $69 USD. It cannot be used without one of the CPL filters.
The Illusion Magnetic UV Filter is $39 USD.
The Illusion Magnetic Filter Adapter Ring is available in multiple sizes at $10 USD each.
The Illusion Magnetic Dual 95mm Filter Tray Holder — which allows two 95mm filters to be used within the magnetic ecosystem — is $49 USD.
The Illusion Magnetic Filter Protective Cover (front and back variants) is $6 USD each.
Kits
Tilta offers two kit configurations for those starting with the system.
The Illusion Magnetic Filter Creator Kit includes a standard Circular Polarizer Filter, VND Adapter (covering 1–5 stops of variable ND), 77mm and 82mm adapter rings, front and back protective covers, and a soft carrying case. It is priced at $159 USD.
The Illusion Magnetic Filter Ultimate Kit builds on the Creator Kit by adding all three CPL variants — standard CPL, CPL with 5-stop ND, and CPL with Black Mist 1/4 — along with the VND Adapter, both adapter rings, covers, and carrying case. Combined, the three polarizers and the single VND Adapter provide access to the full 1–10-stop range, plus the Black Mist option. It is priced at $279 USD.
Compatibility
The kits include 77mm and 82mm adapter rings. Additional sizes are available separately for $10 USD each. The system is built for both photo and cinema lenses.
Pricing and Availability
The Tilta Illusion Magnetic Filter series is available now directly from Tilta’s website.
Full pricing summary:
- Illusion Magnetic Filter Creator Kit (1–5 Stops VND, CPL) — $159 USD
- Illusion Magnetic Filter Ultimate Kit (1–10 Stops VND, CPL, Black Mist) — $279 USD
- Illusion Magnetic Circular Polarizer Filter (Polarizer Only / Polarizer with 1/4 Black Mist / Polarizer with 5 Stops ND) — $69 USD each
- Illusion Magnetic VND Adapter for Circular Polarizer Filter — $69 USD
- Illusion Magnetic UV Filter — $39 USD
- Illusion Magnetic Dual 95mm Filter Tray Holder — $49 USD
- Illusion Magnetic Filter Adapter Ring — $10 USD
- Illusion Magnetic Filter Protective Cover — $6 USD
