Fireworks with an 80-200L

[mybitoftheplanet]

Last night was the first time I have used my 20D to photograph fireworks so I thought I'd add to the firework pictures already posted.

For the last few weeks I've had a scaffold tower set up at the bottom of my garden so that I can photograph insect visitors to flowering Ivy that I trained to cover an old tree. Last night I decided to use it a a vantage point to photograph the 'high-rise' fireworks that were being set off in our local park.

I decided to use my 80-200 f4L, set to near the 80mm end and set to manual focus. The camera was set to bulb and f6.3 (it was going to be f8 but I must have changed it as I covered the camera with a polythene bag to protect it from drizzle that was falling). I used an extended cable release and triggered the camera (about 16ft up) from ground level, opening and closing the shutter as and when it seemed a good idea.

I was pleased with the performance of the lens, although the varying light levels during the display needed to be dealt with in PS.

http://www.mybitoftheplanet.com/2005/nov_files/0511firework8big.jpg

http://www.mybitoftheplanet.com/2005/nov_files/0511firework14big.jpg

You can see more firework pictures if you visit my garden diary entries for yesterday and today.

[ronosmena]

Is this lens the white lens? I have the 70-200 L I didnt know they had an 80-200 - Anyway i love the vibrant colors, anyway BULB settings in 20D is under "M" am I coorect? Just figuring, havent gone that far yet in exploring my 20D - Thanks

[BottomBracket]

I believe it's the black 'Magic Drainpipe'. Great lens, great pics David.

[mybitoftheplanet]

Is this lens the white lens? I have the 70-200 L I didnt know they had an 80-200 - Anyway i love the vibrant colors, anyway BULB settings in 20D is under "M" am I coorect? Just figuring, havent gone that far yet in exploring my 20D - Thanks

The lens is the 80-200 f2.8L. It is black, not USM, and went out of production quite a long time ago. It's an old, big, but brilliantly sharp lens. As Bottom Bracket has just said, it was called the 'Magic Drainpipe'.

You can see it at:

http://www.photozone.de/2Equipment/reviews/canon80200.htm

Yes, the BULB setting is under 'M' - just wind the main dial down beyond the slowest internally timed shutter speed of 30 secs. With things as unpredicable as fireworks, using 'bulb' gives you the freedom to watch the display and decide when its time to close the shutter.

[Tlee05]

Yeh , unless you dont have a controll like me and have to hold your finger on it all the time :(

im such a cheapo