Shooting fireworks with X-Pro1

[loquax ludens]

I may be able to shoot some fireworks tonight, and I'd like to try my Xpro-1 along with my film camera. How should I set up the Xpro-1?

I assume fine+raw for the image quality setting. I have the size set to L 3:2.

With film, I shoot 50 or 100 ASA. On the Xpro-1, I'm unable, for some reason to set the ASA to anything lower than 200. There is a setting that says "L(100)" but it is greyed out.

What should white balance be set to? Is Auto OK?

How about Long Exposure NR? It is set to Yes right now.

I set AF Illuminator to Off. I'm not sure what that does, but I'll be shooting in manual mode so it probably doesn't matter.

Anyone else going to shoot fireworks with Xpro-1? What settings do you plan to use?

 

[jsrockit]

A setting I plan to use is manual focus. Outside of that, auto ISO, RAW, and be there. Don't care if I get any keepers, but will try anyway because I'm silly.

 

[Mudman]

Set to 200, set to infinity, lock it in at f11, put it on a tripod and expose for 15-20 seconds. The NR setting will kill your ability to shoot the next set of fireworks, and from my experience with the D300, doesn't really seem necessary on photos under a minute. YMMV with the xpro, so test it out first.

With my D300, 35mm f2 lens

 

[Don Parsons]

Try a 3 sec exposure-you get more opportunities that way. I'm going to try it with the LX5 tonite too.

 

[loquax ludens]

That's a nice shot Mudman!

Ok, so on a tripod, shoot fully manual, lock aperature at f/11, ISO 200, auto white balance, NR turned off, 3 to 5 second exposures, some longer ones.

 

[loquax ludens]

A setting I plan to use is manual focus. Outside of that, auto ISO, RAW, and be there.

I highlighted the hard part for me. "... and be there." I'm trying to mentally gear myself up for the combination of heat, humidity, and really bad traffic. Temps near 90 degrees, 45 to 50 percent humidity, and heavy traffic and heavy crowds.

On top of that, it's flat here. There are no elevated vantage points, and no bodies of water to make nice reflections. The big crowds make setting up tripods difficult.

So I may just end up saying to heck with it, and stay at home. 😱

 

[progie]

Set to 200, set to infinity, lock it in at f11, put it on a tripod and expose for 15-20 seconds. The NR setting will kill your ability to shoot the next set of fireworks, and from my experience with the D300, doesn't really seem necessary on photos under a minute. YMMV with the xpro, so test it out first.

With my D300, 35mm f2 lens

Great Shot,
I wish I would have had this info on Sunday(Canada day)

Thanks

 

[Arjay]

I would strongly advise against using Auto ISO. Since it is dark, the camera will always unnecessarily boost the ISO value because it will measure before you'll take the actual shot. Most likely, it will be dark at that moment, which means high ISO, low effective resolution and high image noise.

Rather, select ISO 200 and vary the aperture value depending on the brightness and color saturation of your post-shot image display.

 

[Aristophanes]

Must be July 4.

 

[Paul T.]

Enjoy the fireworks!

With my R-D1 I got good results by following the Kodak AC61 exposure guide, which recommends f/11 for 200ASA, and using "B" on the shutter to capture one or two flashes. Always seems to work for me.

 

[JohnTF]

Got my best results with film, ISO 200, f11, bulb, infinity, and covered the lens with a hat between bursts. Shots of the city at night were 30 seconds and perfect.

I tried long exposures on digital and it was a mess, what is the limit, 30 seconds?

Plus the M9 went in to processing mode after so no shots of the following bursts.

Eric, your shot is terrific, star filter as well?

Regards, John

 

[Johnhw]

Thanks for this thread...
i saw it before i went to shoot.

Used ISO 200, Bulb, f/11, etc. Started at 3 seconds as there was still a little light out when they began and moved to 6 or 7 as it darkened. Got some good stuff and glad this thread came up.