Bracketing With a Twist

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nmccamy

Senior Member
I would like to know if the D800 (or D800E) can do the following:

I want to be able to lock up the mirror, then take a pre-determined number of bracketed shots. BUT! I want to be able to press my remote for each bracketed shot. I don't want all the bracketed shots to go off all at once.

For example, suppose I set up the camera for 3 bracketed shots. I would lockup the mirror, then press the remote 3 times to get the bracketed shots.
 
BackdoorArts

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
Yes, it can do that, though it would not stop after the predetermined number of bracketed frames since you want control the timing of the shot. In other words, you're operating in single frame, Mup mode, with the bracketing set at whatever your desired quantity of total shots is, from -3F to +3F or 3 to 9 frames at +/- 0.3 to 1.0 stops. Press the shutter release on the remote every time and count your frames. Once you cycle through one set of bracketed frames it will start a second.
 
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nmccamy

Senior Member
Thank you Jake! Sounds exactly what I want to do.

Just thought of something. How can I verify that I'm onto the next shot? Obviously by simply counting I could get out of sync.
 
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nmccamy

Senior Member
I don't own the D800 yet, hence my questions.

Is the "frames remaining counter" accurate, or is it just an estimate?
 
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Marcel

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
I don't have a d800 but is there a mirror lockup mode, or is it mirror up mode. If you'll be using the mirror up mode, you would then have to press your remote 6 times since you have to press the remote to get the mirror up, then press again to take the shot. You'd have to do this 3 times hence 6 remote control press.
 
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nmccamy

Senior Member
OK, so I can't "lock" the mirror up for all of those bracketed shots. So after firing off the 3 bracketed shots, the mirror comes down. I can deal with that, though it will be a pain.
 
BackdoorArts

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
nmccamy said:
OK, so I can't "lock" the mirror up for all of those bracketed shots. So after firing off the 3 bracketed shots, the mirror comes down. I can deal with that, though it will be a pain.
Click to expand...

Marcel brings up a good point. The Mup mode is a 2 stage shutter, regardless of whether or not you have bracketing turned on or not. First press raises the mirror, second fires the frame and puts the mirror down. There is no mirror lock mode, so every frame throughout the series will require 2 actuations, 1 for the mirror, one for the shot.
 
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nmccamy

Senior Member
OK, I see your point. Keeping track of all this will be lots of fun! :)

But I've always been a glutton for punishment anyway. I do everything the hard way. I shoot strictly manual, no auto of any kind and I focus manually. So maybe I'll just adjust the shutter speed after each shot so I can keep track of what's going on.
 
BackdoorArts

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
Careful with Live View as I believe that when the shutter is activated the mirror does at some point go down and back up again If the idea is to reduce camera movement and vibration then the 2 step manual control method may work better.
 
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nmccamy

Senior Member
Jake,

Thanks for the info. The idea is to approach zero camera movement. I plan on buying the D800E and I guess I'll sort things out when I start using it.
 
Marcel

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
nmccamy said:
That's perfect Geoff! Because in live view I can obtain precise manual focus too!
Click to expand...

So here is what you can do: Focus with live view, when focus is achieved, switch auto-focus OFF, go in mirror up mode, expose your shots with the 2 clicks per shot as Jake explained. This would, in my opinion, get you the maximum quality (regarding lack of movement) depending on the tripod you'd use and the complete stability of the subject.
 
G

Geoffc

Senior Member
BackdoorHippie said:
Careful with Live View as I believe that when the shutter is activated the mirror does at some point go down and back up again If the idea is to reduce camera movement and vibration then the 2 step manual control method may work better.
Click to expand...

I think you're right Jake having thought about it.
 
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