Lightning Photography (300D)

[AirEOS]

G'day all.


I was just wondering if anyone can help me with the settings they use for lightning photography with the Canon 300D. I tried setting it to Manual but it was impossible to get a focused image on a pitch black night.

Focusing is my real problem? I hope someone can give me a few tips for lightning photos with Canon gear as i have only owned my 300D for about a month.

I took this image using a point and shot Pentax 2mp camera and it had no problems focusing the whole image.

Look forward to hearing your replies.


Regards AirEOS


http://images.fotopic.net/?iid=y5oyhj&outx=557&oq=0&original=1&noresize=1&nostamp=1

[RockOne]

Try manually focusing the lens to the hyperfocal distance , as any lightning closer than this would not be good for you :-). The hyperfocal distance gives the maximum depth of field for the lens at a given aperature, and can be calculated from this site

http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

[AirEOS]

Im not to sure what you mean here RockOne. To be honest im not up with the terms.

i have used that link you attached...I am using 300D, f/28, 18mm lens, and subject distance as 2000m....it gives a Hyperfocal distance of 0.62m..therefore does that mean i manually focus the lens to 0.62m and all should be fine for lightning in the distance?

if you could please explain or give a demo this would be appreciated.
Regards AirEOS

[Penguin_101_1]

G'day all.


I was just wondering if anyone can help me with the settings they use for lightning photography with the Canon 300D. I tried setting it to Manual but it was impossible to get a focused image on a pitch black night.

Focusing is my real problem? I hope someone can give me a few tips for lightning photos with Canon gear as i have only owned my 300D for about a month.

I took this image using a point and shot Pentax 2mp camera and it had no problems focusing the whole image.

Look forward to hearing your replies.


Regards AirEOS


http://images4.fotopic.net/?iid=y5oyhj&outx=557&oq=0&original=1&noresize=1&nostamp=1

When you get the fotopic error you do the following ;)
http://images4.fotopic.net/?iid=y5oyhj&outx=557&oq=0&original=1&noresize=1&nostamp=1
take out whatever number is after images
http://images.fotopic.net/?iid=y5oyhj&outx=557&oq=0&original=1&noresize=1&nostamp=1
http://images.fotopic.net/?iid=y5oyhj&outx=557&oq=0&original=1&noresize=1&nostamp=1

[RockOne]

Basically the hyperfocal distance is the distance which at any given aperature (f number) will provide a depth of field from infinity (say the horizon) to a distance halfway between the camera and the hyperfocal distance, So in the example above the actual depth of field at 18mm f28 will be from 0.31 metres to Infinity. You will find that the higher the f number the closer the distance and the larger the lens (say 300mm) the greater the distance. So a wide lens (such as 18mm) set to a small aperture (large f number) will provide the greatest depth of field. I hope I did a reasonble job of explaining that :-).

[AirEOS]

Thanks for that RockOne...Just on last question, what do i focus on manually during a pitch black night during a storm?. Do i focus on an object at 0.31m and then all the shot will be in focus if set to manual. Thats the only thing i don't understand.

Regards AirEOS

[RockOne]

Ok You need to focus at the distance of 0.62 metres. This then puts all in focus from 0.31 metres to infinity. Another method would be to try focus during daylight and then marking that setting on the lens so that you can then focus back to that point when its dark.

[AirEOS]

Cheers RockOne, your input is appreciated. I will let you know how i go another night. Tonight up here on the Sunny Coast/Brissy the lightning is more flashes then bolts but i look forward to trying it out during hte next storm.

Cheers

[RockOne]

No probs. Hope it goes OK. I don't get many attempts here, because there are too many ground obstanceles - not enough horizon.
Fantastic picture you have there too.I've seen that pic before somewhere too, maybe - looks familiar ??

[AirEOS]

Yes you may have seen the photo in Issue 15 of "Digital Photography Made Easy" Page 86. That shot was shot in my backyard where there was a lot of ground clutter, but i have found a new location for lightning photography just up the road.

Thanks Again:)

[RockOne]

Finally remembered where I'd seen it. Over at YSSY board. Don't buy too many mag's here - they just end up taking up space :-), but I'll have a look out for that one !

[AirEOS]

haha yes Steve, are you into Aviation?

Thats me Rhys D. www.rdudleysphotography.fotopic.net (http://www.rdudleysphotography.fotopic.net)

[RockOne]

G'Day
Some nice photos in that gallery. Love the pelican and the sunset over the a/c engine :-).
I guess you could say I'm into aviation, but don't get to take as many a/c pics as I'd like though !

http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?photographersearch=Steven%20Veigel&distinct_entry=true

[AirEOS]

http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?photographersearch=Rhys%20Dudley%20-%20TeamJetspotter&distinct_entry=true

Yeah that Sunrise Engine pic was rejected for bad motive (Blurred Window Frame). That shot is up there with my best aviation shots of all time.

Glad you enjoyed my site.

Cheers

[RockOne]

Great pics on airliners.net too. Have a long way to go. I get rejected a fair bit (mainly due to non-level, but they use fences as verticals, and the good old aussie fence post is very rarely that way :-) ).