wkocken Loc: McGregor, MN

I love the fact that the camera has a built in intervalometer, but I have a problem trying to do long exposure sequences. I want to shoot 30 second exposures, for star trails, and I want as little delay between shots as possible. I set the camera up for 30 second exposures, and the interval between shots to 31 seconds. The camera takes one shot and quits. If increase the interval to 33 or so, it will take 2 or 3 photos and stop. I need to increase the interval to 36 seconds before it will keep on shooting. But that 6 second skip is too long. If I use an external timer, (an inexpensive Opteka) I can set the delay between shots to 1 second, so I know the camera can handle it.
Does anyone know how to get Canon's built-in intervalometer to let me shoot 30 second exposures, with just a very short short delay between shots?

Capn_Dave

I would suggest trying Canon customer service... They are very helpful and will walk you through just about any problem. Here is therir number. 1 (800) 652-2666 :) :)

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I've shot the night sky with 30-sec exposures and 3 seconds between them using a Nikon. I would guess there is another setting your camera that is interfering.

Canon interval links

http://support.usa.canon.com/kb/index?page=content&id=ART116397
http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/resources/articles/2015/eos7dmarkii_intervaltimer_timelapse.shtml
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_lcWg97nIg
http://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&rlz=1C1CHWA_enUS625US625&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=interval%20setting%20with%20canon%207d

Night sky photography links

http://www.popphoto.com/how-to/2013/06/how-to-shoot-epic-landscape-photos-night-sky
http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-tips/night-sky/?sf4138099=1
http://iso.500px.com/a-day-in-the-life-of-astrophotographer-aaron-groen/?utm_campaign=nov132014digest&utm_content=CTAbutton_aaronjgroen_500pxProfilepage&utm_medium=email&utm_source=500px
http://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/tips-for-post-processing-your-constellation-photos/
http://petapixel.com/2014/01/29/picking-great-lens-milky-way-photography/
http://www.borrowlenses.com/blog/2013/05/the-best-lenses-for-night-photography-a-case-for-rokinon-primes/
http://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/star-trail-photography-tips/
http://photography.tutsplus.com/tutorials/how-to-set-up-your-digital-slr-for-night-photography--cms-24099

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

You might try asking that question on the Astrological Forum:
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-109-1.html
I would think that someone there has the answer.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Do you have Long Exposure Noise Reduction enabled?

If so, that might be conflicting with your intervalometer setup.

When it's enabled, LENR will be applied to all shots 1 second or longer and it actually takes two shots of equal duration. The first is your "exposure". The second shot is a "blank" made with the shutter closed, that the camera uses to identify noise, which it then subtracts from the first image. If the second shot is cancelled or not possible, both shots are deleted.

So, if your first exposure is 30 seconds, the camera will need another 30 seconds to make the 2nd LENR blank shot... total of 60 seconds or a little more.

Now, I haven't tried it but suspect that if you've set too short intervals that don't allow time of LENR to do it's thing, you'll have a conflict that might do what you've described.

Even if there is enough time allowed between exposures for LENR to make the blank shot, there might be over-heating issues that cause the camera to shut down as a precaution, because you're basically running the sensor non-stop with little or no pause between shots for it to cool down.

Maybe a 31 second interval just isn't allowing enough time for the 2nd "blank" shot... A 33 second interval allows enough time, but the sensor is off such a short time in between that there's over-heating causing the camera to shut down after a couple shots (ambient temps might effect this, too)... And 36 seconds does allow enough time both for the 2nd blank shot and for adequate cooling between shots, so it works.

If it's enabled, try turning off LENR (use some other form of noise reduction) and see it that makes a difference.

EDIT: Another possibility is auto focus.... again, haven't tried it with the 7DII's built-in intervalometer, but the TC-80N3 used with other cameras can have a problem if AF is left on and the camera is unable to achieve focus (due to changes in light, etc.). That can stop it from making an exposure. If this is what's occurring, switching AF off and using manual focus instead should solve the problem.

billgdyoung Loc: Big Bear City, CA

Just a quick complement to Alan... very cool reply to the Ops question... concise, and directly to the point. Reference links are OK, but a good solid answer is worth it's weight in printer's ink... JMHO...

wkocken Loc: McGregor, MN

Thanks for the hints folks. The strange thing is that when I use my plug in intervalometer, an Opteka unit, I can shoot with just one second between shots. I have LENR turned off and I'm shooting RAW.

wkocken Loc: McGregor, MN

Thanks for the hints folks. The strange thing is that when I use my plug in intervalometer, an Opteka unit, I can shoot with just one second between shots. I have LENR turned off and I'm shooting RAW.