Need help in photographing Lightning Strikes
Jun 13, 2019 12:49:03 #
JohnnyRottenNJ
Loc: Northern New Jersey
I have been interested in photographing lightning strikes for some time, but have never been able to be in the right place at the right time. Recently, a buddy of mine said that he purchased a lightning strike trigger that he uses on his Canon DSLR. I have a Nikon D500 and would like some advice on a lightning trigger. I have been looking for any ratings for the different triggers, with no luck. Can someone either direct me to where I can find the triggers being rated, or can they give me some feedback on what to look for and or what triggers to stay away from. Thanks in advance for any help.
Jun 13, 2019 12:53:24 #
google is your friend. Enter
lighting triggers for nikon d500
You'll get a few pages.
--Bob
lighting triggers for nikon d500
You'll get a few pages.
--Bob
JohnnyRottenNJ wrote:
I have been interested in photographing lightning ... (show quote)
Jun 13, 2019 13:24:44 #
I have one that is called Lightening Trigger. It is expensive. It works great. I've used it at the Grand Canyon to photograph daytime lightening strikes. You set up your camera for the scene (everything I took said 1/4 second and f/13 and I do recall our guide telling us what to set the camera at), your trigger mounts on top and connects to the usb or 10-pin connection, depending on your camera. The guy asks you what camera you will be using it on. You monitor the scene throughout the event to ensure your composition is aligned with the lightening the way you want it to be. There are a few other things but I cannot recall them right now. Gary Hart leads a tour to the Grand Canyon and this was a piece of equipment he recommended.
Jun 13, 2019 14:11:31 #
JohnnyRottenNJ wrote:
I have been interested in photographing lightning ... (show quote)
Why buy a one-trick-pony when you can get one of these?
https://plutotrigger.com/products/pluto-trigger
Jun 13, 2019 19:28:06 #
Gene51 wrote:
Why buy a one-trick-pony when you can get one of these?
https://plutotrigger.com/products/pluto-trigger
https://plutotrigger.com/products/pluto-trigger
I really don't know if it is a "one-trick-pony" but I do know it worked very well and I got many nice shots of lighting strikes, which was my main goal. I suppose it all depends on what one wants and how much they are willing to spend to get it. If your out there trying to shoot lightening and the equipment you got does not work as well as you expected then you don't get the shot. The Lightening Trigger was very adept at picking up light in the sky a very long way away. In fact, in about 2/3 of the images the lightening was not apparent. But in that other 1/4 it was great.
Jun 13, 2019 20:37:37 #
Strodav
Loc: Houston, Tx
Gene51 wrote:
Why buy a one-trick-pony when you can get one of these?
https://plutotrigger.com/products/pluto-trigger
https://plutotrigger.com/products/pluto-trigger
Have a Pluto trigger. Really like it. You can use it as a remote trigger and take time lapse shots, HDR shots, star trails ... It can trigger your shutter when a laser beam is broken, trigger from sound, light, lightening, infrared (good for wildlife), and has an optional device to shoot liquid droplets. Can also use some triggers coming from a cell phone. Just download their app, put the trigger on your camera hot shoe and connect a shutter trigger cable and maybe a flash trigger cable, enable blue tooth and you are good to go.
Jun 13, 2019 21:00:31 #
via the lens wrote:
I really don't know if it is a "one-trick-pon... (show quote)
One trick pony meaning that it is a tool designed for one specific task. Look at the link for the Pluto trigger and see if your solution can do all that the Pluto can do. That's what I mean by a one trick pony.
Jun 13, 2019 21:06:15 #
larryepage
Loc: North Texas area
JohnnyRottenNJ wrote:
I have been interested in photographing lightning ... (show quote)
Mike Mezeul is an excellent photographer and teacher. He is also uses Nikon equipment. I participated in a night sky workshop with him last summer and was well pleased. To get started, you might take a look at the blog on hos website. He offers insights into both equipment and technique, and displays some photographic results as well. Here is the link, then you can click on the lightning discussion:
https://www.mikemezphotography.com/blog
Jun 13, 2019 21:25:50 #
Gene51 wrote:
One trick pony meaning that it is a tool designed for one specific task. Look at the link for the Pluto trigger and see if your solution can do all that the Pluto can do. That's what I mean by a one trick pony.
Yes, I obviously did not explain myself very well. I understood the concept. What I meant was that I have not tried it for any other reason than for lightening. It may do more, maybe even windows if I'm lucky!
Jun 14, 2019 00:13:26 #
JohnnyRottenNJ wrote:
I have been interested in photographing lightning ... (show quote)
I never used one, but heard they are quite good at it, sorry that's all I know about them, I never have any trouble shooting lighting without them!
Jun 14, 2019 06:49:51 #
Jun 14, 2019 07:48:00 #
Pluto trigger works great! I’ve had great success with the water droplets mode. I don’t get many lightning strikes were I am, but have heard great results.
https://plutotrigger.com/products/pluto-trigger
https://plutotrigger.com/products/pluto-trigger
Jun 14, 2019 09:44:27 #
Gene51 wrote:
Why buy a one-trick-pony when you can get one of these?
https://plutotrigger.com/products/pluto-trigger
https://plutotrigger.com/products/pluto-trigger
Wow....Gene .....that is impressive and very affordable. Thanks man !
Jimbo
Jun 14, 2019 10:13:40 #
peterg
Loc: Santa Rosa, CA
I use MIOPS, https://www.miops.com.
To compare MIOPS models, see https://www.miops.com/pages/comparison
To compare MIOPS models, see https://www.miops.com/pages/comparison
Jun 14, 2019 10:24:35 #
Before you invest in an expensive gadget, try this: all you need is a tripod, cable release and patience. Use a lens that will allow a wide angle of view. Set the mode to manual, shutter speed to bulb and manual focus. Use a low ISO (~200) and a small lens opening. Here's where "patience" comes in: open the shutter and wait for lightning - beyond a 30 second exposure, background light will tend to wash out the image - after a lighting strike, release the shutter and view the captured image. Remember, lightning is really bright (it is the original strobe) and very variable in intensity so keep looking at the images and make tweaks if need be. Oh yes, don't shelter under a tree and enjoy your results.
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