Oldjack

I am waiting for the launch of a rocket from the cape and trying to get set up with my new D3500. I really don't know how and looking for suggestions for next time. I have set focus to center point. size to medium, flash mode to off, and scene to sports. I won't know until I try. I am using zoom tele at 300 and a monopod, yes I know I should use a tripod.

Almostageezer Loc: USA

Hope it works out for you Jack!

bleirer

Dont know your camera. By size do you mean image size? Go large. Why throw away 10 million pixels? Choose fine for jpeg if not shooting raw. Or raw+JPEG in case you want to have raw later.

swartfort Loc: Evansville, IN

Not sure your distance, or time of day, but here is what I would try:

Manual with auto ISO

Shutter speed 1250 to catch the smoke and flamed crisply

Aperture probably 9 or 10, to get some depth of field

Auto ISO with Max set at 5000 or 6400
To catch proper exposure in RAPIDLY changing light

Center weighted meter

Single focus point

Burst mode with bbf continuous focus

And I would see the exposure Compensation to -.7 to try to minimize over exposure of the flames

That's a lot for a newbie, but that d3500 can do a ton more than most give it credit for

That's where I'd start

Bill P

I think you will be quite a way away from the launch. In the case you're not so close to get scorched, set you camera to manual focus and you lens to infinity.

Unclehoss

[quote=swartfort]Not sure your distance, or time of day, but here is what I would try:

Manual with auto ISO

Shutter speed 1250 to catch the smoke and flamed crisply

Aperture probably 9 or 10, to get some depth of field

I will preface by saying I am not trying to argue but I am curious; do you think you need to close the aperture down at all? The safety range for launches is measured in miles not feet so at 1 mile distant safety range my DoF calculator tells me at f9 the DoF begins more than 4,000 feet in front of the object that is focused on. At f2 the DoF begins just over 2,200 in front of the object. I release the OPs lens is probably not an F2 lens but my point being to open up the aperture so they can up the shutter speed to fight blur and lower the ISO to reduce noise.

jpgto Loc: North East Tennessee

Good luck.

Richard Engelmann Loc: Boulder, Colorado

Unless you are planning to be incinerated by rocket exhaust, lock that sucker in on infinite focus. On the other hand, foreground objects will make for a more interesting photo.