Bulb setting

[randell]

Moderator note:  this topic was split off from Randell's "70 hours" trip report.

And then it got dark.  This photo was taken an hour and a half after sunset.

Amazing Randell, I dont want to ruin this thread, could you later or by pm tell me how you got that night shot, please. Thanks.

I just set the camera up on the tripod and hooked up my remote cord.  Set ISO to 1000, open aperture to max, and set shutter speed to max.  In this case, shutter speed was 30 seconds.  One of the reasons I got a DSLR was so I could open the shutter for as long as I wanted to.  I never had time to practice and never looked into it, but come to find out my Nikon D80 doesn't have this capability.  I guess I just assumed it would, but it doesn't.  I could only leave the shutter open for 30 seconds compared to the 15 seconds of my point and shoot.  I was pretty po'd about my camera and my oversight.  Fortunately, the moon was nearly full so I had enough light.

[tjavery]

Awesome report, amazing photos! That first shot of the del Carmens is really damn nice!

More! MORE!

..but come to find out my Nikon D80 doesn't have this capability.  I guess I just assumed it would, but it doesn't.  I could only leave the shutter open for 30 seconds compared to the 15 seconds of my point and shoot...

As Mr. Marty pointed out, your camera should have a BULB setting. I just checked Dpreview's review, and the D80 does.

You'll need a cable release to open and lock down the shutter, but you should be able to keep the shutter open as long as the battery holds out (I've done exposures up to 47 minutes on my cameras (Canon)).

If you don't have a cable release, then you could possibly make it work by taping over the shutter button to hold it down. Because of the long exposure, the motion effects that register on the photo (because of adding and then removing the tape) should be negligible.

If you're worried about motion, then resort to a 100+ year old technique: leave the lens cap on. Once you've taped down the shutter, then carefully take the lens cap off. Then, when you're ready to remove the tape, put the cap back on just before you tear off the tape.

[xseption]

Damn Good Photos! As Mr Marty and TJ have said, your camera has a bulb setting. I have a Canon Rebel XTi and I can use the bulb setting in conjunction with an infra-red remote. The remote clicks the shutter open then press the remote once more to close the shutter. Your camera may have the same type of setup.

Also, I have done multi-minute exposures by using the bulb setting, then holding the button down for say, two minutes (you can vary the time). It is tiring, yet  gets the job done. (I was trying to shoot infra-red photos which require several seconds or even minutes of exposure.) That may work for you as well.

In fact, I found an inexpensive wireless remote for the D80 HERE and it performs much the same way as mine. Click the reviews tab and read the second review at the bottom to understand how it would be used.

~ edd

[randell]

I have both the corded and wireless remote.  I used them both on the trip and I even saw the bulb setting.  However, it just didn't seem intuitive that "bulb" means leave the shutter open.  I kept thinking it had something to do with an external flash.  For some reason, not thinking straight I guess, I didn't try to hold the shutter button down on the remote.  I'm kicking myself right now for not figuring that out.  I should have packed in the manual!  Thanks for clearing it up, though.  Now I don't have to research it.  I just have to find a remote with a lock on it because I'd like to play with some longer exposures. 

[bdann]

"BULB" refers to the old pneumatic shutter release systems used in early cameras.  You'd squeeze a rubber bulb on the end of a tube to release the shutter.  The longer you squeeze the bulb, the longer the shutter stays open.  My Dad had some cameras he used to tinker with when I was a kid that used this sort of system. 

Randell, I bet your remote cable does indeed have a lock.  I've seen the wireless Nikon remote, I think it has a lock too, not 100% on that though. 

[badknees]

Awesome report, amazing photos! That first shot of the del Carmens is really damn nice!

More! MORE!

..but come to find out my Nikon D80 doesn't have this capability.  I guess I just assumed it would, but it doesn't.  I could only leave the shutter open for 30 seconds compared to the 15 seconds of my point and shoot...

As Mr. Marty pointed out, your camera should have a BULB setting. I just checked Dpreview's review, and the D80 does.

You'll need a cable release to open and lock down the shutter, but you should be able to keep the shutter open as long as the battery holds out (I've done exposures up to 47 minutes on my cameras (Canon)).

If you don't have a cable release, then you could possibly make it work by taping over the shutter button to hold it down. Because of the long exposure, the motion effects that register on the photo (because of adding and then removing the tape) should be negligible.

If you're worried about motion, then resort to a 100+ year old technique: leave the lens cap on. Once you've taped down the shutter, then carefully take the lens cap off. Then, when you're ready to remove the tape, put the cap back on just before you tear off the tape.

The electronic remote control will work. One click to open shutter.....One click to close. ( I use a universal TV remote- $5.99)

[randell]

The electronic remote control will work. One click to open shutter.....One click to close. ( I use a universal TV remote- $5.99)

Well aren't you a MacGyver.  Thanks for the tip, I'll try it.

[jeffblaylock]

However, it just didn't seem intuitive that "bulb" means leave the shutter open.

Nope, not in this era of modern switches. But, back in the days of flash powder and manual everything, the only way to get a mechanical shutter to open and close on command was to squeeze air into it and then release it. The best way to do that was with a bulb. The shutter stayed open as long as you squeezed the bulb. The term stuck  for any open-ended exposure. 

[badknees]

The electronic remote control will work. One click to open shutter.....One click to close. ( I use a universal TV remote- $5.99)

Well aren't you a MacGyver.  Thanks for the tip, I'll try it.

I believe that using the remote will allow a maximum time exposure of 30 minutes in D40, D50, D70 and D80. Don't know about D200 and >. Unless you are doing astro stuff, 30 minutes should be OK.

If in doubt RTFM

[tjavery]

...RTFM

 

[jeffblaylock]

If in doubt RTFM

That's no fun -- it reads like stereo instructions.    Besides, I'm too busy figuring out ways to cut weight out of my pack to actually learn how any of the stuff works! 

[badknees]

...RTFM

 

Obviously that was a pretty transparent of me