Time lapse + Any free photo editing software?

[betancourt.a]

Hey!
Since you guys know a lot more about photography than I do, I´d like to ask for some advice on two topics:

1) Time lapse using D40. I heard there´s no such feature in my camera, but that I can get it with a remote control or accessory. Any idea/recommendation on this?

2) Photo editing software. I´m a PC user and my wife owns a Mac, so any advice on some good free software for photo editing is highly appreciated. Can be priced as well, but at good value. What should I look for to get started?

Thanks always,
Alex

[teaking]

on the photo editing front it all depends on what post processing you require for quick simple image viewing and basic photo editing iranview its free and does a great job it also supports adobe 8bf filters including the smart curve plugin which is great.

How ever for RAW support and more advanced post processing lightroom will allow you much more freedom and organises your collection to and is the cheaper alternative to photoshop products.

For advanced photo editing then photoshop is the way to go, an alternative is "the gimp" thats its actual name lol but its a great package and its open source and free.

How ever there are many more these are just my recomendations.

[dcclark]

For time lapse photography, you have a few options.

1. If you just want to take individual, really long photos, you can get a Nikon ML-L3 wireless remote. Set the shutter speed to Bulb, press the wireless remote's button, and the camera will take up to a 30 minute exposure (I have no clue why 30 minutes is the limit, sadly). It's also great for taking group shots when you're in the photo -- you don't have to run back and forth and use a timer!

2. If you want to take many photos at predefined intervals (example: a photo every 5 seconds), you need some kind of camera controlling software. Since you asked about free software, I won't recommend Nikon Camera Control Pro, since it's mucho dinero. I personally use gphoto2 (I also have a tutorial on using gphoto2). You hook up your camera using the cable that came in the camera box, and a computer drives the camera. This means having to have a portable computer, but if you do, it's great! (I take lots of star trail photos this way.)

3. A more expensive -- or technical, depending -- option is to buy a separate intervalometer. For example, there's Pclix -- a little box that controls your camera. It's about $150 US, so it is probably not something you want. You can also make one yourself if you're handing with circuits and a soldering iron.

[AnneWynne]

Originally Posted by betancourt.a

2) Photo editing software. I´m a PC user and my wife owns a Mac, so any advice on some good free software for photo editing is highly appreciated. Can be priced as well, but at good value. What should I look for to get started?

Thanks always,
Alex

GIMP is a pretty comprehensive open-source photoprocessing program.

Picassa is another free online program you can use.

GL,
Anne

[sybren]

I've also used gphoto2 myself, worked pretty well. As for photo editing software my favourite is Bibble Pro.