Lightning Sensors: Over the years I've seen discussions regarding lightning sensors. I'm wondering what the recommendations are for the latest technology. I've checked B&H, and they...

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Lightning Sensors

Oct 14, 2014 08:01:09 #

haasrw1031 Loc: Gainesville - Originally Miami Florida

Over the years I've seen discussions regarding lightning sensors. I'm wondering what the recommendations are for the latest technology. I've checked B&H, and they look smaller/less expensive. They have movement, sound, light sensors as well. Any UHHers out there with feedback that will help me select a good unit?

Oct 14, 2014 08:05:47 #

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

I have the NERO version ($199) from B&H. Works great on sound but have not had the opportunity to try it on lightning. Comes with cabling to trigger your flash and also to trigger your camera.
I have used it to catch balloons bursting.

Oct 14, 2014 10:03:43 #

haasrw1031 Loc: Gainesville - Originally Miami Florida

I hadn't thought of that use with sound. Thanks tradio.

Oct 14, 2014 10:09:21 #

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

haasrw1031 wrote:

Seems I remember reading someplace that a wet kite string will sense lightning. Cheap, too.

Oct 14, 2014 10:12:52 #

Capture48 Loc: Arizona

Ubertronics makes a very good one, and different costs depending on what you want to do besides lightning. They can trigger off sound, or when a beam of light is broken, etc. http://www.ubertronix.com/

However lightning triggers are only necessary for daytime captures, they are NOT needed to capture lightning at night. It is easy to capture lightning at night without a trigger.

Oct 14, 2014 10:56:10 #

haasrw1031 Loc: Gainesville - Originally Miami Florida

Thanks Capture. What makes night easier than day?

Oct 14, 2014 11:00:00 #

Capture48 Loc: Arizona

haasrw1031 wrote:

Thanks Capture. What makes night easier than day?

Because at night you can set you exposure to longer say 30 seconds and with a intravolometer let it go. I will set up to take 100 30 second exposures and aim towards a storm and let it rip. So one 30 second exposure after another with 1 second in between, or the time it takes your camera to re-activate a shutter. The only thing that can go wrong if the lightning strikes when the shutter is in transition, (Not too likely).

During the day, you can't get 30 second exposures unless you add a 10 stop ND.

Oct 15, 2014 05:44:18 #

I saw the "Lightning Bug" sensor by MK controls at a photography expo once. They explained that it senses the infrared light that precedes visible light. This way it's able to trigger the camera's shutter in time to capture the lightning. Here is their website.
http://www.mkcontrols.com/lightningbug/

Oct 15, 2014 10:28:07 #

Mojaveflyer Loc: Denver, CO

I have the Lightning Trigger IV and have been very disappointed with it. It seems it will trigger the camera but too slow, I get lots of pictures of ugly skies but very few shots of lightning because it's too slow. I've talked to the owner of Stepping Stone Products but haven't come up with an answer. Time exposures at night are a piece of cake, easy to get good lightning shots doing that. ISO 100, f11 and I expose for 6 - 8 second intervals and then reset.

Oct 15, 2014 13:35:36 #

manofhg Loc: Knoxville, TN

I haven't tried this, but Magic Lantern is a FREE open source firmware that is available for many cameras. It allows many things including triggering on lightning (via motion detect). Here is the link: http://www.magiclantern.fm/

I'm sure many will discourage from trying it since it is a hack and it has disclaimers with it, but many have been happy with it. It runs off your memory card.

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