Long exposures with Nikon D5200: Hi all, I need some help. I have been wanting to do some long exposure night photography. I just can't find out how to just open the shutter and close...

GBrcka Loc: Albuquerque, NM

Hi all,

I need some help. I have been wanting to do some long exposure night photography. I just can't find out how to just open the shutter and close it after a prolonged period. 30 seconds is all I've been able to get with the long exposure setting enabled in my settings.

Thank you all in advance for the help.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

GBrcka wrote:

Hi all,

I need some help. I have been wanting to do some long exposure night photography. I just can't find out how to just open the shutter and close it after a prolonged period. 30 seconds is all I've been able to get with the long exposure setting enabled in my settings.

Thank you all in advance for the help.

Can you use “B” to lengthen the exposure— or does that model not have a “B” setting?

I’ve taken a 3 minute exposure with my mirrorless.

Charlie'smom

I’d like to know, too.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

On a Nikon, adjust shutter speed past 30 sec until you see BULB. Then you need a remote release or an intervalometer for long exposures.

GBrcka Loc: Albuquerque, NM

LoneRangeFinder wrote:

Can you use “B” to lengthen the exposure— or does that model not have a “B” setting?

I’ve taken a 3 minute exposure with my mirrorless.

Hi,

There is no "B" on mine. Thank you however.

GBrcka Loc: Albuquerque, NM

rgrenaderphoto wrote:

On a Nikon, adjust shutter speed past 30 sec until you see BULB. Then you need a remote release or an intervalometer for long exposures.

Thank you! I set it as you recommended and I will use my remote release tomorrow evening.

ELNikkor

I used my D5100 to do star trail photos at Bromo like this: Set the camera to bulb, put a rubber band on the shutter release button, wait 30 minutes, take off the rubber band. Got great shots!

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

ELNikkor wrote:

I used my D5100 to do star trail photos at Bromo like this: Set the camera to bulb, put a rubber band on the shutter release button, wait 30 minutes, take off the rubber band. Got great shots!

A shutter release with a lock will do this. I’m interested in long exposure photography, so I’d love to see a few....

Largobob

GBrcka wrote:

Hi all,

I need some help. I have been wanting to do some long exposure night photography. I just can't find out how to just open the shutter and close it after a prolonged period. 30 seconds is all I've been able to get with the long exposure setting enabled in my settings.

Thank you all in advance for the help.

As has been mentioned, use "B" (Bulb) setting, on a steady tripod, and with a remote or cable release. One press opens the shutter....the second press closes the shutter. This is how I take images of fireworks.

(Download)

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

GBrcka wrote:

Hi all,

I need some help. I have been wanting to do some long exposure night photography. I just can't find out how to just open the shutter and close it after a prolonged period. 30 seconds is all I've been able to get with the long exposure setting enabled in my settings.

Thank you all in advance for the help.

Just set it to Bulb, that allows you to leave the shutter open as long as you like. One push of the shutter opens it, then you need to push it again for closing it, unless you have a camera, that lets you set the time in bulb, then you just have to push the shutter once, it will close the shutter automatically, after that pre-set time is reached! The procedure is clearly explained in the manual!

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Largobob wrote:

As has been mentioned, use "B" (Bulb) setting, on a steady tripod, and with a remote or cable release. One press opens the shutter....the second press closes the shutter. This is how I take images of fireworks.

Be careful. Both remotes I have require you to hold the button, or lock in "on" to get long exposures. Not press twice.

augieg27 Loc: Central California

ELNikkor wrote:

I used my D5100 to do star trail photos at Bromo like this: Set the camera to bulb, put a rubber band on the shutter release button, wait 30 minutes, take off the rubber band. Got great shots!

I have a DX5500, you need to use Manual Exposure to get to the Bulb setting.

ggttc Loc: TN

rgrenaderphoto wrote:

On a Nikon, adjust shutter speed past 30 sec until you see BULB. Then you need a remote release or an intervalometer for long exposures.

What he said...you can get a fairly decent remote release with an intervalometer for under $30.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

ggttc wrote:

What he said...you can get a fairly decent remote release with an intervalometer for under $30.

The only one I recommend is the Vello ShutterBoss II which is $35 at B&H. Only the wired remote. I went on a star trails workshop with somebody who had the Vello WiFi remote, which only functioned as a remote trigger. They had to use the iPhone's timer to sound every 4 minutes (for 1½ hours) to get the image capture to work.

Pegasus Loc: Texas Gulf Coast

There are two settings for long exposures on the D5200.

Here is what the manual says:
Long Time-Exposures (M Mode Only)

Select the following shutter speeds for long time exposures of moving lights, the stars, night scenery, or fireworks.

• Bulb (bulb): The shutter remains open while the shutter-release button is held down. To prevent blur, use a tripod, optional WR-R10 and WR-T10 wireless remote controllers, or an optional MC-DC2 remote cord (p210). The shutter-release buttons on the WR-T10 and MC-DC2 perform the same role as the camera shutter-release button.

• Time (--): Requires an optional ML-L3 remote control (p210). Start the exposure by pressing the ML-L3 shutter-release button.
The shutter remains open for 30 minutes or until the button is pressed a second time.

I've use method 2 with the ML-L3. Press it once and the exposure starts. Press it again and it ends. Easy peasy.