View Full Version : Firework phtography with old Minolta
blazingsunset
07-10-2007, 10:27
I've a Minolta Dynax 2xi which I would like to take firework photographs with this week. In bulb I have to manually hold the shutter release for as long as I want the exposure to be, which is unrealistic as there will be camera shake. It also doesn't have a manual shutter release cable option. Does anyone have any advice on the settings I could use to get around this? I've ISO 200 and 400 film. Many thanks.
His post suggests he has one already...
Doh now I see. *Hold* the shutter button. Ok, remote shutter release cable. Which he can't use... ok... er....
blazingsunset
07-10-2007, 10:59
Unfortunately this camera doesn't have a facility for remote cable. Wishing I'd bought my D80 last month now...
You see the thing with fireworks is that its not really so much about a fast shutter speed, its more about capturing them going up and exploding. You need like 2 second exposures generally. Do you have a timer? You could get lucky that way. If you're very careful you could push the shutter on a 2 second exposure when you hear the fireworks go up. Should be ok.
HIMUPNORTH
07-10-2007, 11:01
If you have a timer function you can use that to avoid camera shake but make sthe timing a little more hit & miss.
200 is fine but you will have to try to vary your exposure times. A typical exposure could be 3 seconds plus and a second over or under could make a big difference.
i have found shooting fireworks in bulb mode is easier as you can release immediately if a bright one suddenly goes off.
HTH.
blazingsunset
07-10-2007, 11:10
Timer sounds good, thanks.
zeroeseight
07-10-2007, 11:24
As I didn't want to use timer to miss shots on my D40, and I had no remote method of releasing the shutter I used the following method. Get a piece of black card and set your camera to manual and a long exposure. Place your black card to cover the lens, release the shutter, then remove your card when you want to take the shot. Place the card back over when you have exposed, you can also remove and place the card multiple to times during a single exposure to capture a number of fireworks on the same image.
Depending on the light around you, I've used a baseball cap to cover the lense if you don't have any card (just make sure it doesn't have any holes in it).
Yeah, timer's not a bad idea, although could be tricky trying to time it with the fireworks. How about a firmer tripod?
StewartR
08-10-2007, 10:09
As I didn't want to use timer to miss shots on my D40, and I had no remote method of releasing the shutter I used the following method. Get a piece of black card and set your camera to manual and a long exposure. Place your black card to cover the lens, release the shutter, then remove your card when you want to take the shot. Place the card back over when you have exposed, you can also remove and place the card multiple to times during a single exposure to capture a number of fireworks on the same image.That's the way to do it. Simple and foolproof.
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