Long repeated exposures

[Paul690]

hello
Can anyone tell me how i take long repeated exposures. i would like to try Star Trails and i see that i need to set a shutter speed of about 30sec and then repeat the shots for an hour or more, so how do i keep the camera taking these shots without me actually standing with it and pressing the remote?

I have a Sony A55 and a Sony A580 so what camera is best and how do i do this?

Thanks for any help in the matter Paul

[Doug Pardee]

Don't take repeated shots. Set your camera on "Bulb" mode and just leave the shutter open for however long it takes. Depending on how your camera is set up, you may need to use a shutter release cable that you can lock "down" so that you don't have to keep your finger on the shutter release button.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by Doug Pardee

Don't take repeated shots. Set your camera on "Bulb" mode and just leave the shutter open for however long it takes. Depending on how your camera is set up, you may need to use a shutter release cable that you can lock "down" so that you don't have to keep your finger on the shutter release button.

Actually, image stacking is the most common way of taking Star Trails, and likely the better quality option as well.

If Sony has an intervalometer, you can use that. Likely wont be cheap, but it works.

[ccting]

Originally Posted by Paul690

hello
Can anyone tell me how i take long repeated exposures. i would like to try Star Trails and i see that i need to set a shutter speed of about 30sec and then repeat the shots for an hour or more, so how do i keep the camera taking these shots without me actually standing with it and pressing the remote?

I have a Sony A55 and a Sony A580 so what camera is best and how do i do this?

Thanks for any help in the matter Paul

I am using D5100. You can set timer to shoot and how many times you can shoot. Hehe, take many short exposure photos and then combine them.. is better than a long bulb shooting.. I have seen this advice from an nighttime star expert but i can't remember where is the URL...

Some triggers does not support bulb timer.. and you need to hold the button as long ....

I suggest that you, could ask electronic technician to add timer to your wireless shutter trigger to timely trigger the camera. It should be very cheap. Last time i developed a circuit that controls a toy car from my parallel port. Simple and cheap enough. Just be careful with the voltage and refer to RFC. Wrong voltage you will get your camera wireless trigger burnt. I think you need a bit assembly language.

[FlyingKiwiGirl]

ccting, so you haven't developed a circuit for your parallel port that will take photos yet? Too much playing with toy car, not enough playing with camera!

[ccting]

Originally Posted by FlyingKiwiGirl

ccting, so you haven't developed circuit for your parallel port that will take photos yet? Too much playing with toy car, not enough playing with camera!

... I am not a electronic engineer. I developed a few myself last time and my USB get burnt a few before get the working one... It is better asking an electronic engineer to do it.. i can do the coding..My fren successfully developed circuit to digital cam.

[Paul690]

thanks for that. Is it ok to keep shutter open for 60 minutes plus will thai just make the sky over exposed. I was to understand that you take a hole lot of 30 sec shots then stack them up to give you the finished item... I cant keep my shutter locked open on both my remotes, so looks like i need to spend more money on another. I hoped there is a away to get these multiple shots without standing with the camera..

paul

[OsmosisStudios]

The bigger issue isnt exposure (though it might become one if you have bright light sources), but noise. Long exposures generate noise, and 60 mins is LOOOONG. I try not to go above 10 minutes, and that's extremely rare. You'd be best with 30-60s max and stacking.

[Paul690]

I think i am saved GOOD old eBay has come up with the answer again, i can buy a Timer Shutter Remote for my camera for little over £10 that will not only give me timed shutter releases but it will also keep shutter open for any time i wish and it will do time laps shutter..


Thanks for ALL your help, its so good to get advice and help.

Paul

[ccting]

Originally Posted by Paul690

I think i am saved GOOD old eBay has come up with the answer again, i can buy a Timer Shutter Remote for my camera for little over £10 that will not only give me timed shutter releases but it will also keep shutter open for any time i wish and it will do time laps shutter..


Thanks for ALL your help, its so good to get advice and help.

Paul

D7000 has the same problem with the cheap Nikon IR remote control ,, you just need to keep holdingthe button.. once release the window will be closed.. D5100 works just fine with the cheap IR remote control (if i am not mistaken.)