If you are asking which black mist filter to buy from our store, the short answer comes down to your lens thread, your light sources, and whether you shoot daytime portraits or night city streets. XT Filters makes three black mist options: the XT888 135 Top for daytime clarity on standard portrait threads; the XT888 135 Bottom for everyday cinematic atmosphere on lenses below 135mm at our lowest entry price; and the flagship XT925 for night scenes, silver frames, and diameters up to 112mm. All three are sold as a 1/4 grade. We do not sell a 1/8 mist. But having three filters at the same density rating does not mean they deliver the same picture.

Filter thread size cuts the list first

Before looking at optical coatings, check the thread size marked on your lens. Thread availability eliminates options immediately.

The XT888 135 Top Black Mist Filter comes only in black frames and covers 49–82mm. That size run covers standard portrait primes and mid-range zooms (such as 67mm or 77mm threads). If your lens thread is under 49mm or over 82mm, Top is off the table.

The XT888 135 Bottom Black Mist 1/4 Filter covers a wider span: 39–105mm in black frames. This range includes 39mm threads for Leica and Fujifilm lenses, as well as a 49mm size for bodies like the Leica Q3 43.

The XT925 Black Mist Filter covers our broadest catalog, from 39mm–112mm. It includes Leica Q3 43 threads, Leica S7 Starlight, and large Fujifilm 111/112mm sizes. If you need a Fuji 111/112mm, a Leica S7 Starlight, or a silver frame, XT925 is the only one of the three that comes that way.

Daytime skin, general atmosphere, or night lights

Once you know what fits physically, the choice comes down to the balance of resolution, shadow contrast, and stray light control.

The XT888 Top is built clarity first, intended for mid-to-long focal lengths. Although sold as a 1/4, its mist level sits between 1/8 and 1/4. In practical terms, that lighter diffusion density produces a slight bloom around highlights while keeping fine facial textures and eye catchlights intact. On the spec sheet, it delivers an average transmission of 89%–92.5%, average reflectance ≈0.3%, and double-sided 28–36 layer multi-coating. It is built for daytime portraits, street scenes, and video where you want skin to soften without turning muddy.

The XT888 Bottom is tuned for atmosphere first and intended for focal lengths below 135mm. It carries an average transmission of ≈88.8%, average reflectance ≈0.3%, and double-sided 28–36 layers. Its job is to take a little of the digital edge off, and it puts mood ahead of fine edge definition. If you want a black mist 1/4 for portraits and video that you can leave on all afternoon without worrying about clinical sharpness, Bottom does that job. If you need maximum facial clarity, choose the Top type instead.

The XT925 is our flagship mist filter, carrying the 135-top optical design for mid-to-long focal lengths. It shares an average transmission of ≈89%–92.5%, but pairs that with double-sided 36–48 layers to reach an average reflectance of ≈0.1%. That lower reflectance becomes critical at night. When bare bulbs, storefront neon, or oncoming headlights hit the front element, a filter that reflects more of that light can bounce it back into the lens as ghosts. At ≈0.1%, the XT925 reflects a third as much as the XT888 pair at ≈0.3%, so you get the halo around point lights with fewer stray reflections. For night work, XT925 is the intended choice; if you rarely shoot after dark, the XT888 Top is the one our spec sheet points to.

Frame color and relative cost

Physical finish and budget are the final considerations.

Both the XT888 Top and XT888 Bottom come only in black frames. If you shoot a silver Leica M, Leica Q, or Fujifilm body and want the filter ring to match your lens barrel, only the XT925 offers Black, Silver, and Black-Silver frame finishes.

Across the lineup, the XT888 Bottom sits at the lowest entry price, making it an accessible starting point. The XT925 range goes the highest: its 36–48 layer coating, large 111/112mm glass, and Silver frames represent our most expensive options.

Quick choice by setup

To match a filter to your kit:

  • Daytime portraits and street (49–82mm lenses): XT888 Top. Skin softens while facial detail and eye clarity stay sharp.
  • Everyday character and smaller threads (39–105mm): XT888 Bottom. Takes the digital bite off standard glass at our lowest entry price.
  • Night scenes, silver finishes, and large diameters (39mm–112mm): XT925. Its ≈0.1% reflectance means fewer ghosts from streetlights and neon.

Pick by size first, then shop the black mist that fits your lens.

— Leo Liang