OM System OM-3 Constructed-in ND Filter: Does It Truly Work?

One of the options I’ve at all times beloved about Olympus/OM System cameras is their cutting-edge computational modes. I keep in mind years in the past sitting in amazement as my Olympus E-M5 constructed a dwell model on my display of the northern lights I used to be taking pictures on a sub-zero Hebridean night time.

From long-exposure methods to one of the best IBIS within the enterprise, OM System cameras have delivered some unimaginable instruments through the years — a lot of which customers of different manufacturers could not even remember exist.

The newest of those computational modes embrace built-in software-created ND filter and ND grad filter results that mix a number of exposures to simulate the outcomes of bodily ND and ND grad filters. These two intrigue me essentially the most, as a result of in the event that they work as marketed they may permit me to go away bodily filters at dwelling — together with my tripod — whereas nonetheless retaining the artistic potential to provide photographs as if I’d bothered to hold the total filter equipment, adapters, and rings.

So as we speak I took the OM-3 out on the identical stroll the place I shot the X100VI earlier within the week, to a neighborhood park the place the River Earn winds by means of the panorama. With the OM System 12–40mm f/2.8 II connected, I needed to place the Live ND filter to a correct take a look at — extra totally than I’ve earlier than — and see whether or not it may possibly genuinely replicate bodily filters, or whether or not there are trade-offs that will rule it out for severe use.

How I examined Live ND on the River Earn

I needed to check the OM-3’s ND filter on transferring water, so I returned to my native stroll alongside the banks of the River Earn. At this time of 12 months the river affords loads of fast-flowing water, with boulders scattered all through that create eddies, ripples, and diverse currents. I hoped these circumstances would let me select patterns and texture within the water in the identical approach I usually would utilizing a standard bodily ND filter.

With the 12–40mm f/2.8 II connected — and counting on the OM-3’s wonderful IBIS — I felt assured I may shoot hand-held right down to round a one-second publicity whereas holding the necessary components sharp. My goal was to see whether or not I may reliably create that silky water impact with out ugly artefacts showing within the photographs.

As I crossed the primary bridge, I fired off a few normal frames for reference after which switched the OM-3 into shutter precedence mode, as Live ND solely works on this mode or in full handbook. The preliminary pictures had been wide-angle views of the river because it flowed shortly beneath the bridge.

I attempted each setting from ND2 (1 cease) by means of to ND64 (6 stops) and located that I may comfortably hand-hold the OM-3 right down to round a one-second publicity. The six-second publicity I tried with the strongest ND64 setting was formidable and in the end a step too far.

One factor I actually like in regards to the OM-3 in comparison with my OM-1 Mark II is that OM System have given direct entry to the computational modes through a devoted button on the again of the digital camera. Activating — and biking by means of — the completely different modes is fast and intuitive, which implies I’m much more more likely to experiment with them within the discipline.

I moved on, attempting to maintain up with Sofia who was racing forward, as I knew there can be higher alternatives additional up the river. As I wandered alongside the sodden banks, I observed a big rock sitting roughly in the course of a fast-flowing part. I zoomed in to isolate it and took a take a look at shot at 1/13 sec.

Below you may see the usual picture, adopted by variations utilizing the ND4 and ND8 results. Even at an efficient publicity of 0.6 seconds, the rock stays tack sharp.

In my view one of the best end result got here from the ND8 setting mixed with stopping the lens right down to f/8, which produced a one-second publicity. The central rock stayed sharp, and I most well-liked the sample and circulation of the water at this size of publicity — a lot past one second would have created an excessive amount of motion and too little element.

More importantly, after inspecting the file at 100%, the silky impact and texture of the water seems to be — to my eye — indistinguishable from what I’d count on utilizing a bodily ND filter. I can’t see random artefacts or unnatural areas within the body, and the tangible, textured look of the water is strictly how I prefer it to look, notably for printing on tremendous artwork matte papers.

What’s the aim of the ND filter?

So why would you really wish to use this function? I believe the photographs beneath make the case clearly.

The first shot was taken with none ND impact at 1/40 sec. The water is flowing naturally, however to my eye it creates a barely disorientating and nervous picture. You can’t concentrate on something besides the dashing blur of water, and the entire scene feels un-sharp — although the rocks are, in reality, tack sharp.

Contrast that with the subsequent picture, shot utilizing the ND4 impact at an efficient shutter pace of 1/4 sec. You can nonetheless clearly sense the motion and vitality of the river, nevertheless it’s now not visually distracting. That uneasy, jittery feeling has gone, changed by a calmer ambiance that permits your eye to wander across the body. The picture feels sharper general, but once you study the rocks in each images, they’re equally sharp in every.

Again, after I study the picture made with the OM-3’s computational ND mode, I can see no issues — no unusual results or artefacts — it genuinely seems to be as if it had been shot with a bodily ND filter.

One factor to bear in mind when chasing this type of look, whether or not you’re utilizing Live ND or bodily ND filters, is that it typically takes many makes an attempt to get a really satisfying sample in transferring water. That wasn’t actually my objective as we speak. I used to be extra fascinated about whether or not this computational mode may ship outcomes I’d really be pleased with — and, crucially, outcomes I may belief after I do resolve to spend the time looking for that excellent circulation.

Based on what I noticed on this stroll, I’m very assured that it may possibly.

As we neared the tip of our stroll — and Sofia’s endurance with my images was clearly working out — I took one last shot of a gorgeous part of the river utilizing the ND4 impact. Once once more, the OM-3 didn’t let me down.