OM System OM-3 Built-in ND Filter: Does It Actually Work?

One of the features I’ve always loved about Olympus/OM System cameras is their cutting-edge computational modes. I remember years ago sitting in amazement as my Olympus E-M5 built a live version on my screen of the northern lights I was shooting on a sub-zero Hebridean night.

From long-exposure tricks to the best IBIS in the business, OM System cameras have delivered some incredible tools over the years — many of which users of other brands may not even be aware exist.

The latest of these computational modes include built-in software-created ND filter and ND grad filter effects that combine multiple exposures to simulate the results of physical ND and ND grad filters. These two intrigue me the most, because if they work as advertised they could allow me to leave physical filters at home — along with my tripod — while still retaining the creative ability to produce images as if I’d bothered to carry the full filter kit, adapters, and rings.

So today I took the OM-3 out on the same walk where I shot the X100VI earlier in the week, to a local park where the River Earn winds through the landscape. With the OM System 12–40mm f/2.8 II attached, I wanted to put the Live ND filter to a proper test — more thoroughly than I have before — and see whether it can genuinely replicate physical filters, or whether there are trade-offs that would rule it out for serious use.

How I tested Live ND on the River Earn

I wanted to test the OM-3’s ND filter on moving water, so I returned to my local walk along the banks of the River Earn. At this time of year the river offers plenty of fast-flowing water, with boulders scattered throughout that create eddies, ripples, and varied currents. I was hoping these conditions would let me pick out patterns and texture in the water in the same way I normally would using a traditional physical ND filter.

With the 12–40mm f/2.8 II attached — and relying on the OM-3’s excellent IBIS — I felt confident I could shoot hand-held down to around a one-second exposure while keeping the important elements sharp. My aim was to see whether I could reliably create that silky water effect without ugly artefacts appearing in the images.

As I crossed the first bridge, I fired off a couple of standard frames for reference and then switched the OM-3 into shutter priority mode, as Live ND only works in this mode or in full manual. The initial shots were wide-angle views of the river as it flowed quickly beneath the bridge.

I tried every setting from ND2 (1 stop) through to ND64 (6 stops) and found that I could comfortably hand-hold the OM-3 down to around a one-second exposure. The six-second exposure I attempted with the strongest ND64 setting was ambitious and ultimately a step too far.

One thing I really like about the OM-3 compared to my OM-1 Mark II is that OM System have given direct access to the computational modes via a dedicated button on the back of the camera. Activating — and cycling through — the different modes is quick and intuitive, which means I’m far more likely to experiment with them in the field.

I moved on, trying to keep up with Sofia who was racing ahead, as I knew there would be better opportunities further up the river. As I wandered along the sodden banks, I noticed a large rock sitting roughly in the middle of a fast-flowing section. I zoomed in to isolate it and took a test shot at 1/13 sec.

Below you can see the standard image, followed by versions using the ND4 and ND8 effects. Even at an effective exposure of 0.6 seconds, the rock remains tack sharp.

In my view the best result came from the ND8 setting combined with stopping the lens down to f/8, which produced a one-second exposure. The central rock stayed sharp, and I preferred the pattern and flow of the water at this length of exposure — much beyond one second would have created too much movement and too little detail.

More importantly, after examining the file at 100%, the silky effect and texture of the water looks — to my eye — indistinguishable from what I would expect using a physical ND filter. I can’t see random artefacts or unnatural areas in the frame, and the tangible, textured look of the water is exactly how I like it to appear, particularly for printing on fine art matte papers.

What’s the purpose of the ND filter?

So why would you actually want to use this feature? I think the images below make the case clearly.

The first shot was taken without any ND effect at 1/40 sec. The water is flowing naturally, but to my eye it creates a slightly disorientating and nervous image. You can’t focus on anything except the rushing blur of water, and the whole scene feels un-sharp — even though the rocks are, in fact, tack sharp.

Contrast that with the next photo, shot using the ND4 effect at an effective shutter speed of 1/4 sec. You can still clearly sense the movement and energy of the river, but it’s no longer visually distracting. That uneasy, jittery feeling has gone, replaced by a calmer atmosphere that allows your eye to wander around the frame. The image feels sharper overall, yet when you examine the rocks in both photographs, they are equally sharp in each.

Again, when I examine the image made with the OM-3’s computational ND mode, I can see no problems — no strange effects or artefacts — it genuinely looks as if it had been shot with a physical ND filter.

One thing to keep in mind when chasing this kind of look, whether you’re using Live ND or physical ND filters, is that it often takes many attempts to get a truly satisfying pattern in moving water. That wasn’t really my goal today. I was more interested in whether this computational mode could deliver results I’d actually be happy with — and, crucially, results I could trust when I do decide to spend the time hunting for that perfect flow.

Based on what I saw on this walk, I’m very confident that it can.

As we neared the end of our walk — and Sofia’s patience with my photography was clearly running out — I took one final shot of a beautiful section of the river using the ND4 effect. Once again, the OM-3 didn’t let me down.

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