Quick answer

Buy a NiSi 100mm ND kit if you want one holder that accepts all standard 100mm wide square filters, including graduated ND, and a magnetic mount that stays aligned. Buy single 100x100mm ND filters if you only need solid neutral density, want the lowest cost per stop, and prefer packing light. The kit costs more up front but replaces a drawer of one-off filters.

What a 100mm ND kit actually includes

A kit pairs a 100mm filter holder with an adapter ring, so the holder screws onto your lens and then accepts 100mm wide square filters. The NiSi JetMag Pro 100mm Filter Holder Kit for 82MAG is one example: it includes the 100mm holder and an 82MAG magnetic adapter ring. The holder attaches magnetically to JetMag Pro filters with a lock, and it rotates 360 degrees so you can angle a graduated ND exactly where you want the transition.

What single 100x100mm ND filters do differently

A single 100x100mm ND filter is just the glass. You still need a holder or a magnetic system to mount it, and you buy each stop separately. That keeps the entry price low, but it also means you carry one filter per density and swap them by hand. If you shoot mostly one light level, a single filter can be enough. If you shoot sunrise through bright overcast, you will want more than one stop range.

The real difference: graduated ND and alignment

The 100mm holder kit is compatible with all standard 100mm wide square filters, including graduated ND. That matters because a graduated ND needs to slide up and down and rotate independently of the camera. A single 100x100mm solid ND cannot do that job. If your landscape ND filter setup includes balancing a bright sky against a darker foreground, the holder is what makes it practical.

Cost, weight, and how many stops you need

A kit concentrates cost into one purchase. Single filters spread cost across stops, but each stop is another item in your bag. For a lightweight kit, one 3-stop and one 6-stop cover most daylight and water-smoothing work. NiSi's magnetic filters attach or remove in seconds with the JetMag Pro magnetic system, so you can stack a 3-stop for bright light and switch to a 6-stop for longer exposures without unscrewing anything.

Vignetting and wide-angle use

Holder depth and filter frame thickness decide how wide you can go. The JetMag Pro 100mm holder kit gives zero vignetting at 16mm with one JetMag Pro filter plus the 100mm holder, and minimal with two. The JetMag Pro FS ND8 95MAG uses an ultra-slim frame to avoid vignetting even with wide-angle lenses. If you shoot wider than 16mm, check your specific lens and filter stack before committing.

When a dedicated holder kit is the better answer

Some lenses cannot use a generic 100mm holder without heavy vignetting, especially ultra-wide zooms with bulbous front elements. The NiSi S6 150mm Filter Holder Kit with True Color NC CPL for Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 G2 is a custom design for that lens, also compatible with the original Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 and Pentax 15-30mm. It allows two filters with an integrated rotating True Color CPL, which prevents the yellow cast regular CPLs can introduce. That is a different system from the 100mm kit, and it is the right call when your lens demands it.

NiSi S6 150mm Filter Holder Kit with True Color NC CPL for Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 G2

NiSi S6 150mm Filter Holder Kit with True Color NC CPL for Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 G2

Trade-offs to weigh

  • Up-front cost vs cost per stop: A 100mm ND kit costs more at once because it includes the holder and adapter ring. Single 100x100mm ND filters cost less per filter, but you buy each stop separately and still need a way to mount them. Choose the kit if you will use three or more densities; choose single filters if you shoot one light level.
  • Graduated ND capability vs solid ND only: The 100mm holder kit accepts all standard 100mm wide square filters, including graduated ND, and rotates 360 degrees. A single 100x100mm solid ND cannot slide or rotate to balance a bright sky. If your landscape ND filter setup includes graduated ND, the holder is not optional.
  • Magnetic speed vs manual filter changes: JetMag Pro magnetic filters attach or remove in seconds with a locking design. Single square filters require sliding them into a holder by hand, which is slower in changing light. For fast-changing sunrise or weather, magnetic mounting saves time and reduces dropped filters.
  • Generic 100mm vs dedicated lens-specific kits: A 100mm kit covers many lenses but may vignette on the widest zooms. The NiSi S6 150mm kit is custom for the Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 G2 and adds an integrated rotating True Color CPL. Check your widest lens first; if it is a bulbous ultra-wide, a dedicated kit may be the only clean option.

Product facts

Which should you buy?

Best for

  • Landscape shooters who use graduated ND and need to rotate and slide filters
  • Photographers who want one holder for multiple 100mm filters and fast magnetic changes
  • Wide-angle users at 16mm who need zero vignetting with one filter

Not for

  • Shooters who only need one solid ND density and want the lowest possible cost
  • Travelers who want the absolute lightest kit and rarely use graduated ND
  • Owners of bulbous ultra-wide lenses that require a dedicated holder like the NiSi S6 150mm kit