D700 and Bracketing

[nikonuser]

Can I only bracket to a maximum of +-1 stop on the D700.
If so, how can I get a 3 bracket shot of -2 0 +2
I want to do some HDR work - is it better to use 3 shots or more for this type of work and what sequence should I use please.
Appreciate any help.
Thanks
Dave

 

[loplyg]

You can only do 1 stop yeah, but what you can do is a series of 5/7/9 at 1 stop apart, then discard the ones you don't need.

 

[DigitalRelish]

You can auto-bracket up to 9 individual frames, but the maximum increment you can use is +/- 1-stop. So, to get -2, 0 and +2 you could set the auto-bracketing to shoot 5 frames giving you -2, -1, 0, +1, +2.

Whether it's better to use 3 shots or more is dependent entirely on the circumstances, how much dynamic range (DR) there is in your scene and your own requirements. The more DR, the more bracketing you may require to fully capture it all. Lower DR scenes may be sufficiently captured (for you - others may want more or less - it's a very subjective thing) with only 3 shots.

Not sure what you mean by

what sequence should I use

If you're referring to whether or not to shoot the -ve frames first etc then I just leave mine on the default which I think is 0, least exposure to most exposure. It works for me and you should find out what works for you.

For lots more information, the first few hits are excellent places to start digging for information and don't forget TP's got its own Post Processing & Image Editing forum which makes a good place to find past HDR discussion

 

[dinorock]

you can brackett as much as you like you just need to up the number of shots to do it re the sequence which ever you prefer i use -1 mtr +1 its a individual preferance thing

 

[nikonuser]

Thanks Guys, really appreciate your helpful comments.
I though I may have been able to shoot just 3 shots -2 0 +2 but that does not seem to be possible.
Will, with regards to sequence what I meant was either 0.3; 0.5 or 1 stops.... which is best, but you answered my question anyway.
Thanks again
Dave

 

[dinorock]

Thanks Guys, really appreciate your helpful comments.
I though I may have been able to shoot just 3 shots -2 0 +2 but that does not seem to be possible.
Will, with regards to sequence what I meant was either 0.3; 0.5 or 1 stops.... which is best, but you answered my question anyway.
Thanks again
Dave

the +2 and -2 you could do manually if your only doing 3 shots using exposure comp

 

[DigitalRelish]

Will, with regards to sequence what I meant was either 0.3; 0.5 or 1 stops.... which is best, but you answered my question anyway.

If you're shooting in raw then bracketing at 0.3 or 0.5 increments might not gain you very much additional sensor data. Remember that raw has a lot more latitude for altering exposure than JPG because it doesn't lose any sensor data when it's saved. So, you should find at least a few stops worth of exposure data in the raw file which means the 0.3 or 0.5-stop brackets overlap a lot of the same sensor data.

As has been said, you can bracket manually, but you'd lose the benefit of shooting at 5fps (or 8fps with a suitably powered grip) to minimise the chance for any changes to the scene in-between frames and you may introduce the risk of camera movement if you're changing the settings directly on the camera.

 

[nikonuser]

Thanks Mike and Will, I see what you mean thanks for your detailed reply.
Could I ask another newbie question please since I have never tried bracketing on my camera.
Am I right in thinking that if you, say, bracket for 5 shots and are in S mode then you need to press the shutter button 5 times but if you are in C mode then you only need to press it once, or am I completely wrong in my thoughts.
Cheers
Dave

 

[Simonhi]

In single frame and self-timer modes one shot will be taken each time the shuter button is pressed. In continouus high or low speed modes shooting will pause after the number of shots specified in bracketing program have been taken.

Page 134 of D700 manual

 

[nikonuser]

Thanks Simon