Stop Motion Techniques - For Model Rockets?

Hi All,

I was wondering what techniques you guys use to for stop motion? Here's my situation: I will be taking pictures at a model rocket launch this weekend, outside in the late morning/early afternoon. (Yah, I know it's a bad time to take pictures, but that's when the event is being held.) I want to be able to capture the rocket as its just leaving the launch pad with its flame/smoke trail.

Last time I went, I had just brought along my P&S Canon G9 and experienced some shutter lag -- which is common with P&S from what I've read. This time, I'm going to bring my Canon 10D, so hopefully I'll be able to get some better shots. As for lens, I have a Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro and Sigma 50mm f/2.8 EX DG.

I know having a fast shutter speed is essential to capturing this, but I'm not sure about the other aspects, such as focusing, etc. I thought maybe having a high ISO would help, but then there's the issue of having a lot of noise.

Any tips/suggestions/exper​iences would be great! Thanks!
-Joyce

http://www.bobatkins.c​om …tal/casio_high_​speed.html

Shoot on full manual, including focus, so the cam doesn't have to 'think", & see how much lag you have then.

Yes, but you don't need any/much depth of field, so try some wide open to blur the background. A tripod would help a lot.

I don't expect that you'll need that. In sunlight, your exposure would be about 1/1600, f/2.8, ISO 100.

Welcome to POTN!

lilminijpc,
Ahh... model rockets, brings back old memories like Estes

Your 100mm f/2.8 should do well, and I agree with PhotosGuy suggestion of using full manual. Don't let the camera try to AF it will take too long. If you have an external flash, I suggest give it a try as it might help capture the rocket and not let the flame take all.

Good luck and welcome to the forum

Thanks PhotosGuy & John_B for your helpful tips! I'll post my results for you guys to C&C after this weekend.

John_B: You probably guessed it, rocketry is my other hobby (a lot less expensive one, I might say). I'll be launching my Aerotech Mirage at the event. This should be interesting because its about 2ft taller than I am.

lilminijpc wrote in post #5211644
John_B: You probably guessed it, rocketry is my other hobby (a lot less expensive one, I might say). I'll be launching my Aerotech Mirage at the event. This should be interesting because its about 2ft taller than I am.

lilminijpc,
Wow... its big
Have you ever tried those cameras they made to put on the nose and would take the shot when the parachute was ejected? I never did but always wanted too

Looking forward to see your photos

This is not as big as what you'll be shooting, but here's what I was able to get. Exif is intact.

Good catch! Those little ones move fast!

asysin2leads: that's pretty cool! when did you take that one?
how'd you keep the whole thing in such sharp focus?

i used manual focus on the rockets before they ignited, but some of my shots came out blurry when they were in mid-flight.
should i maybe use a larger f-stop?

You were already at f/2.8. The problem is ISO 200 from Exposure Mode = auto exposure (0)
Try manual in those tough conditions. First set the f-stop & shutter speed you need. Then adjust the ISO. Need an exposure crutch?

Hi All,

Here are some results from my attempt at taking pictures of rockets. I had a Circular Polarizing Filter on, hoping the colors would stand out more...

I definitely want a zoom lens... Unfortunately, I don't have any non-fuzzy pictures with me & my monster rocket (my friend didn't know how to use the manual focus after I handed him the camera...).
Here's the album where some of the shots have been posted, any tips on improvement would be great, thanks! (Link)

---------------
I was pretty happy with this shot:
Specs: EXP = 0.001sec, AP = f/2.8, Focal len = 100mm, ISO = 100

Looks like your efforts turned out really well.

But, FWIW, your original post was a bit misleading. You used the term "Stop Motion" which implies the need for a series of images showing the progression of something not simply one shot that freezes action.

That's why I offered the link for the Casio high-speed camera.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #5234940
Looks like your efforts turned out really well.

But, FWIW, your original post was a bit misleading. You used the term "Stop Motion" which implies the need for a series of images showing the progression of something not simply one shot that freezes action.

That's why I offered the link for the Casio high-speed camera.

It was not misleading. I was trying to stop motion. I just didn't post the series of shots on here, since we have a post limit. The rest are on a different site, which I am still in the process of updating.

lilminijpc wrote in post #5235297
It was not misleading. I was trying to stop motion. I just didn't post the series of shots on here, since we have a post limit. The rest are on a different site, which I am still in the process of updating.

Ok, my apologies...

So how many frames of each launch did ya get?

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #5235302
Ok, my apologies...

So how many frames of each launch did ya get?

From the initial firing to launch out of frame, about 5 shots: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
I didn't have a zoom lens so those are shot from behind the launch station. For the closer shots, I pretty much only got in about 2 because the smaller ones are fast little buggers!