Newbie question: if I want a 3 second exposure but my shutter only has a maximum controlled speed of 1 second (with bulb as the next setting), how do I accurate ly time the exposure? The difference between 1 and 2 seconds is obviously a lot bigger in percentage terms than the difference between 14 and 15 seconds, so thi s is accuracy is more relevant at faster speeds, so how do you go about getting an accurate 2 or 3 second exposure?
Put it on bulb and use your shutter release to open it for 3 seconds and then release the shutter, or use the one second and cock it three times. Pat
Click - one elephant, two elephant, three elephant. - click.
Gavin,
I use 'T' with a good cable release and a stop watch. (During a long day of shooting I get watch crazy trying to remember the point I started at when I use my sweep second hand).
I also have a Prontor Timer cable release which has a clockwork timer from 1 second to 32 seconds. A rare bird but worth its weight in gold on a big shoot.
WG
Living here in the dark north, most of my exposures bumps into the painful range between one to five seconds. Though I've been practicing elephants and many other mammals all my life, I still make huge errors. And using a clock is really difficult, I can't take the picture without looking at the object during the exposure. So a timer cable release would be a gift from heaven. Any idea are they still made by someone, and if, is there possibly some place in Europa where such thing can be find? Thanks in forward, Jan, Finland.
OK then, how about an electronic metronome, set to 60 beats per second. I really don't see what the big problem is here.
Related to your question is the issue reciprocity departure. If your meter indicates that a 2 or 3 sec. exposure is necessary, don't forget that more time must be added to compensate for the film's gradual reduction in sensitivity beyond a 1 sec. exposure. There are tables for different types of film and in the case of color, recommended filters for compensating for color shift. As far as timing goes, I just count one thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three, etc. Works fine. For anything real long like 20 sec. to a minute or two, I use my watch's sweep hand.
For most modern color films the reciprocity factor will be only about 50 percent or less with a 2 second exposure. I hope it would be more, because, with longer exposure the latitude would be wider.
And Pete, why didn't you suggest me to hire an inuit mumbling; one icebear, two icebears...
Gavin: I have seen timers which screw directly into the cable release socket which work well with longer exposures. I don't know if they are still being made, but I have seen them at used camera trade shows. I agree about increasing the time with long exposures. There are tables available which gives you the additional time. It increases a lot beyond one second. I use the counting out loud method and have little trouble.
Regards,
Doug.
It seems like I almost never make exposures in the 1-4 second range, due to reciprocity. (i.e. if it meters 1/2 sec., the shutter handles it. If it meters 2 sec., I'll give it 5 or so for reciprocity.) That doesn't solve your 3 sec. problem if that's the actual exposure, of course, but I'm just saying not to forget about reciprocity. And don't worry about getting exactly 3 sec. - just count it out and you'll be fine. If you're concerned, practice a bit first with your watch - you'll be plenty close enough.
Don't worry, be happy, make picture!
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