OTHER: Osmo Pocket 3: do you recommend a ND or VND filter?

F

FoxAdriano

Well-known member
Hi,
in addition to having the main camera, I sometimes use the Osmo Pocket 3 to take some quick shots.
I'm undecided whether to buy a fixed or variable ND filter.
I'm not the type to change the filter often. With the fixed one I would behave in this way:
I let the Pocket 3 decide the exposure (as I have always done and I'm quite satisfied), I don't put the fixed filter on days with little light or cloudy and I put the ND filter on when it's sunny and I always leave it mounted oon the lens.
With the variable one I'm afraid that it's difficult to turn the ring once mounted on the lens, I'm also afraid of ruining the gimbal motor, as well as obtaining slightly more degraded images than with the fixed ND filter.
What do you think about filters?
Thanks
 
I use these Tiffin ND/PL filters on my Pocket 3 and I like them a lot. But I very rarely rotate the polarizer. I'm usually moving too fast to bother changing the polarizer and the screen is too small to make any meaningful judgements about the best angle. And as soon as I move, the angle wouldn't be correct any longer, so I just use them as NDs to keep the shutter speed under control.

 
No, the filter is barely noticeable and the Osmo folds up and goes to sleep completely normally. You won't even know the filter is there.
 
Doug Jensen said:
I use these Tiffin ND/PL filters on my Pocket 3 and I like them a lot. But I very rarely rotate the polarizer. I'm usually moving too fast to bother changing the polarizer and the screen is too small to make any meaningful judgements about the best angle. And as soon as I move, the angle wouldn't be correct any longer, so I just use them as NDs to keep the shutter speed under control.
Click to expand...
So I understand you don't like VND filter, right?
In your opinion if I buy a ND filter with 4 f-stops and if I always leave it mounted on the lens, without ever removing it (unless there is little light), am I doing something bad?
 
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Okay, I understand now. Yes, I like variable ND filters, but they are not practical on the Osmo 3. It is a camera where exposure has to be run on automatic 99% of the time because it does not have a large enough LCD monitor or good zebras that would be necessary for setting exposure manually. You just need some simple ND filters to help the camera keep the shutter speed under control. That's all. Give up any plans to run exposure on full manual.
 
I asked also: "
In your opinion if I buy a fixed ND filter with 4 f-stops and if I always leave it mounted on the lens, without ever removing it (unless there is little light), am I doing something bad?"
Merry Christams.
 
I don't think you can get by with having a single ND filter. You've got to have at least two or three filters in different strengths to match the current lighting conditions.
That's why the Tiffen filters come in a set of three with a carrying case. It's only $36 for the whole set. What's the problem, is money that tight? Just buy them and move on.
 
Do you know what my doubt is?
Let me give you an example:
when you want to change the intensity of the filter, instead of removing the fixed filter to put another one, you can remove the VND filter, turn the ring and apply it again on the lens.
Carrying 2 or 3 filters instead of 1 would be more inconvenient.
Don't you think?
 
I understand your point, but it's not like you'll be changing the fixed ND filter very often. You only need to change it in late afternoon, dusk, when the weather changes, etc. -- when there are big changes in light. It's like the ND filters for my DJI drone, I choose one, and go with it until lighting conditions change a lot.

BTW, the Tiffen filters are magnetic, so it literally takes less than 10 seconds to swap one for another.

Or you can get a variable ND if you prefer, but you'll still need to let the camera run on auto exposure anyway so the advantages of variable are somewhat moot.
 
I've been using the Small Rig VND filter - which lets you dial in between 2-5 stops (and also comes in various "sets" with polarizer, etc . It still allows the pocket to close normally and I pretty much leave it on if I'm shooting outdoors... and I find it easier to rotate the dial than I did switch out various strengths of ND's - but that may just be personal personal preference... and mostly agree with Doug, unless you're in a very controlled circumstance, you'll likely still want to use auto exposure. And I do like the way you can choose ISO ranges to do that. Very handy.

 
If you're asking me... neither. I fix the shutter speed and the f-stop, and set the ISO to usually a range such as 50 - 400, which then automatically adjusts as the scene / frame changes.
 
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