Hey everyone, I have a question: Is an ND32 filter enough for bright sunlight skiing with the Osmo Action 4, or do I need to go with an ND64 filter for better motion blur?
The sun reflects brightly on snow sometimes. If you want motion blur, you’ll likely need both ND32 and ND64. If you don’t care about motion blur, just use the ND32 and adjust your shutter for exposure.
@Lennon
Thanks! I’m getting the ND filters for motion blur specifically, so I should go with the ND64 for skiing, right?
Fifer said:
@Lennon
Thanks! I’m getting the ND filters for motion blur specifically, so I should go with the ND64 for skiing, right?
It depends on how much motion blur you want. If you want consistent blur across different lighting conditions, you might need a variety of ND filters, including ND64 for skiing. If you’re fine with some motion blur, the ND32 could work. Do you plan to use stabilization? It makes a difference if you ski on really bumpy terrain.
@Lennon
What should I consider for stabilization? I was thinking of using just the ND32 for everything, but I’m concerned that skiing in bright sun might need a stronger filter.
Fifer said:
@Lennon
What should I consider for stabilization? I was thinking of using just the ND32 for everything, but I’m concerned that skiing in bright sun might need a stronger filter.
The purpose of the ND filter is to keep your shutter at a specific value to avoid overexposure. If you use the same ND filter for everything, you’ll have to adjust your shutter when the light changes or use auto-shutter. This affects motion blur because the shutter changes with the light. Normally, you’d pick an ND filter to match your desired shutter speed based on available light. On really sunny days, you’ll need a stronger ND filter to maintain consistent motion blur. Too strong an ND filter in lower light can ruin your footage. Here’s an article I wrote about stabilization and motion blur, specifically for GoPro but it works the same with the Osmo Action: [link]
@Lennon
Got it. I looked into how low shutter speed affects stabilization and didn’t find great results. Stabilization seems to get worse with lower shutter speeds (at least with the 180-degree rule, if I’m understanding it right).
I think the key is to balance shutter speed with stabilization—try to get the most motion blur possible without losing too much stabilization.
@Fifer
Stabilization doesn’t get worse with slower shutters, it still works well. The issue is that the stabilization is working, which can sometimes mess with the blur. If the motion is smooth, you can get away with more motion blur. It’s the jerky, random movements that cause issues (since stabilization removes the motion, but the blur stays). If the terrain is bumpy, you’ll need a faster shutter, maybe around 90 degrees.