LF Long Exposure Question

[photomc]

Being new to LF was wondering 1. do all LF lens stop at 1 sec., in other words do any have 2, 4 or longer (as you can tell I come from 35mm/mf background) 2. If 1 sec is standard do you just lock the cable release/hold open the shutter and use watch, stop watch. Or as I did a while back when I had a 5 sec exposure, just use 1sec 5x's. (this is assuming that the 1 sec IS 1 sec.)

Thanks,

 

[Francesco]

Mike, for long exposures I use the 'B' setting and count one one thousand, two one thousand, etc.

 

[stephen]

And I use a pocket watch with a large second hand - with the T setting on the lens.

 

[bmac]

I use the "T" setting so my finger doesnt get tired . The problem with doing multiple 1 sec pops is that you can end up with slightly soft focus due to the extra camera movement possible when you recock the shutter. This is something I risk when I do multi exposure shots to blur water, grass, etc.

 

[lee]

I prefer the method that Francesco mentions. Barring that, T setting will work and tie down the cable release and release at the proper time.

lee\c

 

[photomc]

Thanks guys, pretty much what I thought but you guys always have a way of making things simple - which is why I ask.

Francesco/Lee you guys must stay really focused (no pun intended) on any exposure over a minute (heck anything over 30 sec)

BMAC, thanks for the insite on the multiple exposure - did not seem like the right way to go, but hey...

 

[Francesco]

Mike, it is certainly something you get used to after a while. Anything over 90 secs and I use my watch's second hand. No need to be exact at those kind of times.

 

[lee]

actually, Mike, if you remember that interior I showed you that morning we had coffee, the interior of that Mexican church? The one on Azo? That was about a 3.5 minute exposure. I just use my Swiss Army wrist watch and I just waited till the sweep hand hit 12 and hit the cable release and went to a pew and sat down. I watched the watch and counted the minutes and at 3 minutes I stood up and waited for the final 30 seconds. Then I hit the cable release again. It is not so much staying focused as it is being organised to do all the stuff ahead of time so it all comes together without much fuss. Reciprocity Failure is a real thing that must be accounted for just as is the bellows factor. Apply all of this and you should have a successful technical image. What you bring to the photograph mentally is a horse of a different color but at least it will look good.

lee\c

 

[photomc]

actually, Mike, if you remember that interior I showed you that morning we had coffee, the interior of that Mexican church? The one on Azo? That was about a 3.5 minute exposure.........

I do remember that image, was quite nice, but would never have thought it was that long. How did you come up with the expousre - meter reading, then reciprocity....

It is not so much staying focused as it is being organised to do all the stuff ahead of time so it all comes together without much fuss. Reciprocity Failure is a real thing that must be accounted for just as is the bellows factor. Apply all of this and you should have a successful technical image. What you bring to the photograph mentally is a horse of a different color but at least it will look good.

lee\c

Must admit I have yet to consdier bellows factor during exposure - guess that should be something I start learning about soon. Agree 100 percent your last statement Lee..a successful technical image is only part of it, the rest is up to the photographer. As always, your insite is appreciated.

Sure am glad you guys are around, this would be a great deal more difficult without your input. Can honestly say that I have produced some of my best work to date in the past few months and it is in due in no small part to the input from those on this site...Sorry, guys got to blame someone.

 

[lee]

Originally Posted by lee
actually, Mike, if you remember that interior I showed you that morning we had coffee, the interior of that Mexican church? The one on Azo? That was about a 3.5 minute exposure.........


I do remember that image, was quite nice, but would never have thought it was that long. How did you come up with the exposure - meter reading, then reciprocity....

Mike,
I read the meter and looked at a chart that I made up and it says something like this. "If the meter reads 1 sec then exp is 2 sec. If the meter reads 10 sec then the exp is 40 sec". I am guessing at the times right now but asked when we next meet and I will show you it. I had it laminated so it will be there for a long time. All the film manufactures have this info on their websites. I have a chart from John Sexton and TMax films that he uses. Jorge works with the BTZS and the software on a palm and I think that is all figured in to the works. I don't know but that is my perception.

lee\c