Interval timer settings

New to the forum and also trying to learn my new Nikon D5300 and get away from point and shoot. I am trying to set my camera for time lapse photography and I did get it set and it did take some test pictures for me. My problem is the most photos (I think) that I can program in are 999. The books I look at and also some online videos all show that my last selection in the Interval setup screen is {now this is an example 002 x 2 = 0004} should look like this.

002 = total number of shots to be taken
2 = number of shots taken at each interval
0004=total number of shots in the sequence

However my screen only has _ _ _ (3 blank spaces) that will only let me change to 999, so as far as I can tell,the most I can photography is 999 shots.

I hope this jumbled mess will make sense to someone and they have the answer. Thanks for reading the post.

jct

Welcome to the forum.

I don't know about your source, but I do think that's correct, three digits can only count to 999. I think all models are that way. But the number of shots (say two per interval) can of course be greater. Here is a picture from the D800 manual:



The top LCD display seems to have four digits for number of intervals, but those same digits also show several other things too.

There is a D5300 Reference Manual you can download at
https://support.nikonusa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/18762

It is larger with more detail than the "User Manual". And it is text searchable too.

The maximum shots during interval shooting on the D5300 is 999 as far as I can figure out. According to the Reference Manual on pages 68-69 only one shot per interval and with only 3 spaces for the interval setting that would be 999 maximum. Hope that is what you are looking for. OH, and welcome to the forum. A great resource!

That's the way it is on all Nikons with the interval function. To go higher you need a separate trigger like this one.

Amazon.com : Vello Shutterboss Version II Timer Remote Switch for Nikon with DC2 Connection - Nikon: Df, D90, D600, D610, D3100, D3200, D3300, D5000, D5100, D5200, D5300, D7000 and D7100; CoolPix P7800 : Camera And Camcorder Remote Controls : Camera

Thank you Nikonites!

It looks like you are right and my sources are wrong - I am gong to have to take it up with David Busch. I bought his manual on the Canon G12, which is a helpful reference and also on the Nikon D5300. He writes other books on various cameras, including the Nikon D7000, which I think he may have crossed referenced these two cameras.

I did take a time lapse of the sunset here on Panama City Beach yesterday and it worked well. I need to adjust the interval, which I set at 2 seconds, but I expected that would be a learning curve. Trying to learn as much of the features of this camera as I can, so I am sure I will be posting many questions. Thanks again for the responses.

jctusa

jctusa said:

View attachment 129241

Click to expand...

I suspect this image may be leading to the confusion with the 4-digit number at the end. In reality that is simply the number of intervals (which is only 3 digits) multiplied by the number of shots per interval (1-9), and not a parameter you can set. The 002 number is the one you can input (# of intervals) and is consistent with the 998 number in the other image.

jctusa said:

I did take a time lapse of the sunset here on Panama City Beach yesterday and it worked well. I need to adjust the interval, which I set at 2 seconds, but I expected that would be a learning curve. Trying to learn as much of the features of this camera as I can, so I am sure I will be posting many questions. Thanks again for the responses.

jctusa

Click to expand...

The thing about intervals is that you need to make sure that you leave room for other camera activities before the next shot. In other words, if your intervals are 1 sec and your shutter speed is 1 sec then you'll actually get one shot every 2 seconds, with every other interval being counted against your overall interval count but without actually triggering a shot. So, if you asked for 500 shots you'll get 250 (or maybe 251). And don't forget about accounting for Long Exposure NR if it's on (shutter activation time is doubled). Like you said, there's a learning curve, but once you figure it out it sticks with you.

In reality that is simply the number of intervals (which is only 3 digits) multiplied by the number of shots per interval (1-9), and not a parameter you can set. The 002 number is the one you can input (# of intervals) and is consistent with the 998 number in the other image.

BackdoorHippie said:

I suspect this image may be leading to the confusion with the 4-digit number at the end. In reality that is simply the number of intervals (which is only 3 digits) multiplied by the number of shots per interval (1-9), and not a parameter you can set. The 002 number is the one you can input (# of intervals) and is consistent with the 998 number in the other image.

Click to expand...

BUT.................. on the D5300 the number of shots per interval can not be changed according to the Reference Manual page 69. It states "Regardless of the release mode selected, the camera takes one photograph at each interval"

I thought the same thing Walt, that is why I wanted Backdoorhippie to explain what I wasn't seeing. I hope he is right and we are wrong.
jct

Look, I don't have a D5300, and I have to say that I downloaded the D5300 manual and it does a shitty job of showing you anything that's actually in the menus, so I can only guess as to what's available. That said, looking at the photo above (of which the text has been removed so I cannot see what it says) I would have to assume that the 002 and the 2 are changeable parameters somewhere within the shooting menu. I suspect that if you highlight Now and then press to the right on the selector wheel it should give you the parameters. If that's not a photo of the D5300 menu then I'm not sure why you're showing it in the first place.

If you're telling me that only one shot can be taken per interval (there's nothing on pg. 69, actual or numbered, in the PDF I downloaded that has anything to do with intervals) then that could indeed be a limitation of the camera (1 shot per interval).

If you're looking at videos and books on other Nikon cameras to try to figure out your D5300 then good luck because they change the menus around from camera to camera to camera, even swapping stuff when going from one model to another within the same numbering scheme. Each one is its own mystery.

Thanks for the reply Jake, The images I posted were from the Busch D5300 manual (0002x2 = 0004) and the other directly off my camera (D5300). If you press NOW, it will take you to that screen and if you choose the other option (start time), it will bring up the screen to set time, then go to that same screen as hitting Now.

I got my question answered at least to my satisfaction, but I am going to notify David Bush, that he got it wrong.

jctusa said:

Thanks for the reply Jake, The images I posted were from the Busch D5300 manual (0002x2 = 0004) and the other directly off my camera (D5300). If you press NOW, it will take you to that screen and if you choose the other option (start time), it will bring up the screen to set time, then go to that same screen as hitting Now.

I got my question answered at least to my satisfaction, but I am going to notify David Bush, that he got it wrong.

Click to expand...

There seems to be another set of L-R arrows on the second screen. What happens if you go right after setting the number of intervals? I suspect like most other manuals, the Busch field guide for one camera is predominantly stolen from the previous version, so they likely missed a photo or substituted one from the D7xxx series. Write away.

If I am answering your question right, if I press the arrow (right) it will move the position from Hour Minute and Second. Moving the arrow left will go back from Seconds to Hours or to the previous screen (Start time - Now or set time)

I think that is what the author did, listed information from the D7000 instead of updating to the info for the D5300.

Time for me to experiment with another feature. Thanks again.

@BackdoorHippie, I now see where some of the confusion is. We are referring to the same Reference Manual, only I was referring to the printed page number (69) and you are looking at the PDF page number (89).



Also, I didn't realize that you were not in possession of the D5300. Please be assured that I was not questioning you on your responses as I have seen many of your very helpful posting and extensive knowledge (which far exceeds mine. Ha!). Just in one way or another hoping to see if I was missing something. I think it is sorted out for the OP and me too. Ha!

Thanks for your help.

ANd that content is nowhere in the D5300 manual I downloaded from NikonUSA. Go figure.

Funny, but since I never use this function in-camera I've never looked at it on my D750. Well surprise, surprise - the number of intervals option now has 4 digits!! Not sure if this was changed on the D810, but my D800 still has only 3 digits.

Way to go, Nikon.

I have never used in camera menus for time laps personally, I find the Giga T Pro2 (remote trigger) is great for this. Far more programable and unlimited frames.. (Apart from camera / memory constraints)!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk