Time Lapse ND Filters

RandomlySet

RandomlySet

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Mat
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Which ND filter should I "start" with for time lapse?

I'm wanting to try a little more daytime stuff, and use longer shutter speeds, so understand a ND filter will help.

I/m sure I've read that a ND4 is a good place to start, but I'm seeing ND2, 4 and 8 available and wondering which would be the best to start with (I understand different situations will call for different filters).
 
Shooting time lapse in daytime generally means you don't need long exposures. You shoot multiple images over a period of time then combine them to give the impression of video.
 
Also, as you say there is no ideal filter. The only difference is how many stops of light you want to reduce your exposure by so it's worth having one of each so you can pick the best option for the situation.
 
stevelmx5 said:
Shooting time lapse in daytime generally means you don't need long exposures. You shoot multiple images over a period of time then combine them to give the impression of video.
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Yes, I get that. I was thinking more so about having a slightly longer shutter than normal if people are around to create some "natural" motion blur. Or near water.

Take this as an example I did last week

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEAM0DuEyPo


ISO was 200 (thought it was 100), f/16 and 1/200 exposure.

Maybe I have a little room to play with in terms of dropping the ISO to 100 and using a higher F number and thus allowing to have a slightly longer exposure, but I think the water would still look a bit choppy. But say I wanted to use a Sutter of 1/20 to get smoother water, I don't think the highest F stop would compensate and then my images would all be over exposed
 
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If you know what shutter speed you want, count back from the one you got in that light with F16 and work out how many stops you require the filter to 'work' by. I've just found this image on a quick search showing shutter speed stops;

shutter-speed-table.jpg


From there you can see there are around 3 stops between 1/200 and 1/20 so you need a filter that cuts out 3 stops of light. I wouldn't increase your aperture higher because you will start seeing some drop in quality due to diffraction.

The thing to keep in mind is that light varies all the time hence the need to have a variety of filters to fit the conditions.
 
One thing I would say is buy a bigger holder and set than you need as this will scale up to wider lenses and or bigger kit.

You can always use step up rings to fit a smaller lens screw fit.
 
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