Tekforums
Chat => Photography => Topic started by: addictweb on January 08, 2013, 14:01:07 PM
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After Russel's excellent star trail shots I've been thinking about how I might manage it (D70 doesn't have cable release or custom firmware). My idea / plan:
Program the IR command from the shutter release on my Nikon remote into my Harmony remote.
Set up a macro/activity to fire a shot every 30s for X mins.
Take remote onto location and use it to control the camera.
= No need for intervalometer, fire and forget.
Chances of success?
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Don't see why it wouldn't work?!
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Yeah sounds like it will work if you can instead of just firing off one pulse to trigger the camera every 30s fire off off pulses for between 29 and 31s, that way if your camera misses the 30s pulse from the remote then it should trigger on the 31s pulse. Reason I say its a good idea is I did a test star trail shot in my back yard I used an intervelometer set to fire every 30s and by the end it was about 15s out, it did however continue shooting continuously so no idea what was wrong with it, no biggy for the test shot but might cause a problem for you.
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Too complicated...
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3pzXydA_9sg/SlhHgKN_68I/AAAAAAAAAFg/HmzjvmGLbnA/s320/Drinking-Bird-Simpsons-01.jpg)
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Ha that'd work too, get to it!
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I tested out the Helicon remote Android app last night. Works a treat on my Galaxy Note and Canon 7D.
Controls include:
Live view
Full settings controls (aperture, shutter, iso etc)
Exposure bracketing
Focus bracketing/stacking
Timelapse
Touchscreen autofocus etc.
I was pretty impressed. It's free to try, not sure what the limitations are if you don't buy a licence, as I have HeliconFocus Pro on my laptop and the licence transfers over. Might be worth a punt if you don't mind tethering by USB (if you're camera supports live view?)
At least this way you can actually get a preview of the images and get everything set up just right etc.
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Think I've heard of that App before, looks like it does support my camera so might be worth a try, but I'll have to get an adapter cable (£11.99 on amazon sure ebay'll have them cheaper)
Only problem is my phones got a fairly small screen which might be the same size as my cameras live view so no real improvement, might get myself a cheapo Android tablet one of these days though and if your doing startrails/long exposure stuff then your phones handy to play around on whilst you wait but with a tablet that's no issue.
Doesn't help Xentity too much though at the mo, the D70 doesn't support cable releases/live view so what we really need to do is pursuade him to buy a new camera, go on you know you want to ;)
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Doesn't help Xentity too much though at the mo, the D70 doesn't support cable releases/live view so what we really need to do is pursuade him to buy a new camera, go on you know you want to ;)
Addictweb*
Yep, pretty sure I've outgrown the D70 now, waiting until bonus time to see if there's room to get myself a new toy. Also considering hopping the fence to Canon, I'm certain I dont like them as much, Nikon are far nicer to use, but all my workmates have Canon and a lot of L glass. I only have stock and a 50mm 1.8 so not much to lose.
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Doesn't help Xentity too much though at the mo, the D70 doesn't support cable releases/live view so what we really need to do is pursuade him to buy a new camera, go on you know you want to ;)
Addictweb*
Yep, pretty sure I've outgrown the D70 now, waiting until bonus time to see if there's room to get myself a new toy. Also considering hopping the fence to Canon, I'm certain I dont like them as much, Nikon are far nicer to use, but all my workmates have Canon and a lot of L glass. I only have stock and a 50mm 1.8 so not much to lose.
That's what I get for having a sneaky 5 mins on the net at work and just scrolling up and seeing Xentity's post!
Having other people around you that shoot the same system is good, gives you access to some better lenses to try/advice and that sort of thing. Even more so that you don't have much in the way of lenses to replace should save you some money.
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I do find it interesting the canon / nikon divide. Work has a number of Nikon cameras that are used for Forensic photography training, and I just can't get on with them!
I'd like to spend more time getting to know the layout, though so I can really see if there is much in it, other than menu systems etc.
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One of the interesting things I found about the cheap nikons is that the it doesn't have an inbuilt motor, that some of the nikon lenses require, I had just assumed that the focusing motor was always in the lens like in canon, but doesn't appear to be on the case. I find the body's on the nikons to usually be cheaper in the budget range but then the lenses appear to be more expensive, a prime example is the cost of the 50mm on each.
I also had a similar discussion with someone a couple of days ago, but moving from the 500d to the 7d was a fair learning curve, everything was in a different place!
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One of the interesting things I found about the cheap nikons is that the it doesn't have an inbuilt motor, that some of the nikon lenses require, I had just assumed that the focusing motor was always in the lens like in canon, but doesn't appear to be on the case. I find the body's on the nikons to usually be cheaper in the budget range but then the lenses appear to be more expensive, a prime example is the cost of the 50mm on each.
I also had a similar discussion with someone a couple of days ago, but moving from the 500d to the 7d was a fair learning curve, everything was in a different place!
Its an interesting choice by nikon to have the focus motor in body or in the lens, tbh its a bit random really I think they're trying to keep the cost of the base models down whilst then chucking the standard motors into the cheaper lenses and AFS motors into the expensive lenses, maybe to justify the cost a little? The only other thing I can think of is its something to do with the older lenses that come in the nikon F mount, I dunno its odd and expensive my D7000 is the cheapest model that has a focus motor built into it.
Haven't actually used a Canon myself, but everytime I see the back of them they look a little well cheap and am not a fan of the wheel rather than a d-pad, but that doesn't bother me too much am never likely to swap over to canon :D
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I'd agree, when I've looked at Canon and nikon units side by side, Canon always seems a bit simplistic. Not sure if this is because I'm not comparing similar models (I've not grasped the nikon naming convention yet!)
Comes down to taste though. My 7d may be simpler than the nikon units at work, but it just makes it easier for me to use. I imagine if I took the time to understand the nikon units in might find them easier in their own way too though!
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Nikon units seem to come out better in reviews, their stock lenses are definitely better. I've not seen any better photos than those taken with a D800, unfortunately can't justify the price tag personally.
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Nikon units seem to come out better in reviews, their stock lenses are definitely better. I've not seen any better photos than those taken with a D800, unfortunately can't justify the price tag personally.
TBH that's probably the biggest factor in most peoples descisions as to what to buy, canon are slightly cheaper bodies and lenses and you get more on the lower end models on a canon, the focus motor being one thing. As it is they both produce brilliant photos most of the time so its fairly much of a muchness really. Would love a D800 though, definetly can't afford it or the lenses I'd need to upgrade to, maybe one day...
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Is there a logic to the Nikon naming convention?
At least with Canon it goes:
xD - premium / "professional"
xxD - "Semi-pro" - Keen hobbyist
xxxD - Hobbyist / Amateur
xxxxD - Budget
With all but the xD series, the bigger the number, the more recent. xD series, the lower the number, the higher end it is.
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Nikon:
DXX = Starter
DXXX = Mid range
DX = Pro
Where X is a number, so models like D3x are pro and D70s are starter.
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Cool. I assume that the numbers increase with upgrades? So a D80 is newer than a D70 which is newer than a D60?
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Cool. I assume that the numbers increase with upgrades? So a D80 is newer than a D70 which is newer than a D60?
Sort of, I had a D50, Nikon then brought out a D40 and then a D60 so they sort of screwed things up slightly there. You've also got the D300 (due an upgrade soon so probably D400 this year maybe) and D600, the D300 is a semi-pro crop only body the D600 is a semi-pro full frame body so who they're actually aimed at I dunno. Oh yeah then there's the D800 which well is a high res semi-pro full frame body yet has a high resolution than the top of the line pro model the D4. Confused yet? It is quite a weird system, but I think they're trying to more categorise the cameras by what they're meant for, the D4 is an all round pro body, the D800 more for the videographer and well everyone else too.
Have a look at these wiki pages, shows the current cameras and what market they're aimed at quite well:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Nikon_DSLR_cameras
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikon#Digital_single_lens_reflex_cameras
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:dunno:
That is just plain old confusing. I guess if you're a nikon user and follow the releases etc, it'd make sense, but I'm pretty sure despite that explanation, next time someone says about having or wanting a "Nikon Dxx" I'll just stare blankly and assume it's a good camera!
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:dunno:
That is just plain old confusing. I guess if you're a nikon user and follow the releases etc, it'd make sense, but I'm pretty sure despite that explanation, next time someone says about having or wanting a "Nikon Dxx" I'll just stare blankly and assume it's a good camera!
Yeah just a tad confusing, best bet sell all your canon gear and buy a nikon, once you start using them you soon work out whats what sort of!