tripods are neat

[grapedrink]

just got one a few days ago and have been dickin' around with it. these are my first attempts at long exposures so be nice, its all new to me. do the exposures and white balance look ok?

[MOHSHSIHd]

Looks good to me!

[Tippster]

1st two are hard to tell they're on tripods (too much light for the stars to "pop") but the rest are $$$$$$$$

[grizzle6]

Nice stuff for your first night outings. Try shooting the cityscapes around 20 min. or so after the sun goes down. That way you'll get a nice indigo sky and the city lights will just be starting to pop. Word.

[Conundrum]

Those are pretty cool. I just got a remote shutter release and you've inspired my night.

Since we're on the topic, what kind of tripod did you use? I've got a really cheap, light one and am thinking about upgrading.

[Natedogg]

Great pics, Grape.

Pro opinions on using mirror lockup for long exposures or even landscapes?

[dipstik]

Cool stuff. For more tripod fun, google "painting with light".

[advres]

How long was the shutter open for most of those?

[Junker]

Great pics, Grape.

Pro opinions on using mirror lockup for long exposures or even landscapes?

I am no pro, but here are my thoughts. Mirror lockup is good for long exposures with in reason-like 1/15, 1 sec, 10 sec, 30 sec etc. There is a point where your shutter speeds become so long (and as a result, very little light is striking the sensor i.e. F/22, or it's sensitivity is very low i.e. ISO 100) that a slight shake changing the placement of light on the sensor has no noticable effect- for exposures >2 minutes doesn't seem to matter. THough it's probably a good habit to form by using it.

[grizzle6]

Great pics, Grape.

Pro opinions on using mirror lockup for long exposures or even landscapes?

I say always afford yourself the absolute best opportunity to capture the sharpest shot possible. Whenever possible (and I usually can always make it possible somehow), I use a tripod with a cable release and mirror lockup. Just form good habits--can't really ever hurt. My .02

[MeatPuppet]

I am no pro, but here are my thoughts. Mirror lockup is good for long exposures with in reason-like 1/15, 1 sec, 10 sec, 30 sec etc. There is a point where your shutter speeds become so long (and as a result, very little light is striking the sensor i.e. F/22, or it's sensitivity is very low i.e. ISO 100) that a slight shake changing the placement of light on the sensor has no noticable effect- for exposures >2 minutes doesn't seem to matter. THough it's probably a good habit to form by using it.

Me=non pro, but my experience would agree with what Junker said. Also, the wider the angle you are shooting at, the less critical MLU becomes.

[grapedrink]

1st two are hard to tell they're on tripods (too much light for the stars to "pop") but the rest are $$$$$$$$

thanks, the first two were shot in total darkness, i couldn't even autofocus anywhere.. the stars are dim because i'm in the middle of the city.. they weren't actually visible at the time.

[grapedrink]

Nice stuff for your first night outings. Try shooting the cityscapes around 20 min. or so after the sun goes down. That way you'll get a nice indigo sky and the city lights will just be starting to pop. Word.

yeah i know, for the first one i was actually trying to get that but got stuck in traffic, by the time i got setup it was too late. the window was maybe 10-15 minutes tops.. i guess i should have just shot it quickly, the two panos are actually pretty big, about 30 pictures stitched together.

[grapedrink]

Great pics, Grape.

Pro opinions on using mirror lockup for long exposures or even landscapes?

well for what its worth i use MLU on all my tripod shots (as well as IS off), it makes a difference, take two and compare. you don't need a remote cable release, you can just put your camera on timer. i used a cable release on the panoramas though just because it was more convenient than reaching for the cameras button over and over, and they're necessary for bulb exposures unless you want to hold the shutter button down for 30+ seconds yourself. i got a cheapo one on ebay, $10-15, works great.

[Natedogg]

Whenever possible (and I usually can always make it possible somehow), I use a tripod with a cable release and mirror lockup. Just form good habits--can't really ever hurt. My .02

Cool, thanks--that's what I figured. I wasn't sure if lockup was some obscure thing that most people don't use because it doesn't make a huge difference, or if it's a legit method that should be used whenever possible.

well for what its worth i use MLU on all my tripod shots

Good to know... I have yet to take two to compare, but I will. Another convience with a remote shutter release is that you don't have to wait 10 seconds for every shot you take. It adds up, especially at dawn or dusk when good light is gone in no time.

[grapedrink]

Those are pretty cool. I just got a remote shutter release and you've inspired my night.

Since we're on the topic, what kind of tripod did you use? I've got a really cheap, light one and am thinking about upgrading.

i used a bogen/manfrotto 3021bpro with 488rc2 ballhead. the legs are bulky but i wanted something tall and sturdy, if you have small lenses you could definitely get away with something a lot smaller. the ballhead sucks but if you don't use your tripod much or have lots of time to fiddle with framing when you do then its probably not worth spending anymore money than that. heres my thread at w&w..

http://www.wheelsandwax.com/forums/v...t=1710&start=0