Tilta Mirage Motorized VND Kit

Built rugged for daily use on your camera rig yet lightweight for handheld, gimbal, stabilizer, or drone work, the Tilta Mirage Motorized VND Kit is a modular component system combining a matte box that clips onto 95mm OD and a variable ND system with a motor and wireless controller that allows you to precisely adjust the ND effect from 0.3 to 2.7 stops when needed. The matte box weighs about the same as a standard 4 x 5.65" glass filter, and it accepts Tilta's 95mm round filters with the included filter adapter. The modular design means you can configure the matte box to match your needs on a shot-by-shot basis.

The Tilta Mirage Motorized VND Kit is Mirage with everything: a variable ND 0.3–2.7 module, a wireless motor, a NATO-rail controller, a 14500 power supply with battery and charger, and a 15 mm LWS rod support. ND density changes on the move up to 100 metres, or up to two kilometres with a signal repeater.

Fits cine and photo lenses alike

Mirage clamps straight onto lenses with a 95 mm front diameter, that is onto classic cine glass such as the ARRI Ultra Prime or Leica Summicron-C. It reaches DSLR and mirrorless lenses through adapter rings — four come in the basic kit, for 67, 72, 77 and 82 mm, and other diameters are sold separately.

The filter slides in, it does not screw on

The circular filter sits in a cartridge that clicks into the matte box with a single press. Swapping takes a second, you need not remove the sun hood or touch the glass, and the filter cannot seize in a thread. The idea comes from film production — faster and kinder to the glass than a screw-in filter.

A quarter the weight of a rectangular filter

Mirage's round 95 mm filter is 2 mm thick and weighs 30 g. A traditional 4×5.65″ filter is 4 mm and 135 g. That is over a hundred grams saved per filter; take five on a shoot and it is half a kilo that neither the gimbal nor the drone has to carry. Smaller glass costs less, too.

Ready for 4×5.65″ filters as well

When you need the classic rectangular format or several filters at once, stackable 4×5.65″ trays and their holder are available for Mirage. Round and rectangular filters can be combined in one build, so you do not have to decide in advance.

Effect filters from several makers

Other brands make filters for Mirage's 95 mm standard, so you can pick star patterns, coloured streaks, anamorphic flares, black and white pro mist and further effects. They all slide into the same cartridge, so you can swap them on set without tools.

Variable ND 0.3–2.7 module

The variable ND module was developed with leading optics makers and weighs 130 g in its lightest configuration. PL + CPL technology keeps colours true even at maximum density, and the ND 0.3–2.7 range has hard stops so it cannot be over-turned. Density is set on the module's ring — or wirelessly with the motor included in this kit.

A wireless motor designed for Mirage

The motor sits directly on the VND module and changes ND density on the move without you touching the matte box. The kit also holds the 14500 power supply with battery and charger, so the motor runs independently of the camera and does not drain it.

Up to 100 m, two kilometres with a repeater

The VND module is controlled wirelessly up to 100 metres; a signal repeater extends that to 2 kilometres, enough for a drone. You can correct exposure even when the camera is out of arm's reach — on a crane, on a car or in the air.

One controller instead of three

The included wireless controller clips onto a NATO rail and drives the Nucleus M and Nucleus Nano motors besides the Mirage motor. The VND module also obeys the rest of the Nucleus range, so one controller covers focus and ND density on set.

Aerodynamic body with vents

The matte box body is aerodynamically shaped with integrated vents that cut wind resistance. The rig stays calm at speed or in drone flight; the optional front protective element shields the filters from stones and insects.

Modular — build it for the scene

Mirage comes apart. Take off the sun hood, swap the filter holder, add the 15 mm LWS rod support — or instead the light clamp-on adapter, and a full matte box turns into a gimbal build. Tilta has patents pending on the system.

Worth knowing

Recommended ranges: ND 0.3–2.1 for wide lenses, ND 2.1–2.7 from 35 mm upwards. Outside them vignetting or a cross shadow may appear.

Mounted the usual way round, the VND filter does not polarise. Reversed it does — polarisation is then set by turning the whole matte box, but the wireless motor can no longer be fitted.

Do not power the Mirage motor over USB-C while the 14500 power supply is connected. Tilta side focus handles power the motor but do not control it.