Fireworks

Hi all, can anybody give me any tips on settings for my G6 for fireworks. I still want to maintain as much DOF and keep it at ISO-50. The 5th of November will soon be here and i want to see what else my little gem is capable of...thanks.

Use the AV mode and set a shutter speed of 5-10 seconds. Use a tripod of course.

Thanks, i'll practice with some cars at night time too.

If you set the exposure automatically you will have a bright background and blown out fireworks.

I use Manual mode with the shutter between 1 and 3 seconds. 3 seconds is easier to get the shot, but if there is any wind you will get "drift" or blooming. That's not always bad. 1 second requires better timing. When you hear the WHOOP, try to get a feel for when the explosion will happen. Of course it's different with different shells. Be advised that the longer the shutter speed, the longer the camera takes to process the shot afterwards. Not sure why. So a 3 second shot may mean 6 seconds between shots, while a 1 sec shot may mean 2 sec between shots. I love RAW but it does increase the interval between shots, so I shot JPEG.

Manual focus on infinity. Cuts down on shutter lag.

I stop down the aperture quite a bit. I want the background dark and the fireworks bright.

I set up on the tripod and don't try to aim at each shot. Takes too long. I go back and forth between zoomed out and zoomed in. A lot of this is luck. Be prepared to take shots as fast as you can and be prepared to have a bunch of "deletes". Try to use the "100 monkeys, 100 typewriters, and 100 years you will get the New Testament" theory.

4th of July I went with a buddy who has a dRebel. He was going crazy trying to look through his view finder. The swiveling LCD is a plus. I just set up and took as many shots as possible. I SMOKED him.

WOW thanks for all this info, i can't wait now for the 5th of November, (if theres no rain). But when you say manual focus set to infinity can you give more details. I currently use my cam in manual evrything during landscape but set my manual focus to 5-feet and that gives me full DOF at F8....??

lefturn99 wrote:
If you set the exposure automatically you will have a bright background and blown out fireworks.

I use Manual mode with the shutter between 1 and 3 seconds. 3 seconds is easier to get the shot, but if there is any wind you will get "drift" or blooming. That's not always bad. 1 second requires better timing. When you hear the WHOOP, try to get a feel for when the explosion will happen. Of course it's different with different shells. Be advised that the longer the shutter speed, the longer the camera takes to process the shot afterwards. Not sure why. So a 3 second shot may mean 6 seconds between shots, while a 1 sec shot may mean 2 sec between shots. I love RAW but it does increase the interval between shots, so I shot JPEG.

Manual focus on infinity. Cuts down on shutter lag.

I stop down the aperture quite a bit. I want the background dark and the fireworks bright.

I set up on the tripod and don't try to aim at each shot. Takes too long. I go back and forth between zoomed out and zoomed in. A lot of this is luck. Be prepared to take shots as fast as you can and be prepared to have a bunch of "deletes". Try to use the "100 monkeys, 100 typewriters, and 100 years you will get the New Testament" theory.

4th of July I went with a buddy who has a dRebel. He was going crazy trying to look through his view finder. The swiveling LCD is a plus. I just set up and took as many shots as possible. I SMOKED him.

Suedezu - If you set your camera in Av mode you can't set your shutterspeed manually if I'm not mistaken.

In Av mode you can set your aperture and the camera select an appropriet shutterspeed. Or is a G6 different?

For fireworks it's better to work in Manual mode like one other member alleady explained very clearly.

Good luck.

shots 1.3 seconds or longer is for the built in noise reduction...
if only you could turn it off like the dslrs canon makes...something i'd be happy to have

Just use ISO50, Tv or M mode 2-4 sec depending on the intensity, apperture - minimum or up to 4. Use manual focussing if necessary for better DOF. Raw is the best, however Jpeg is also possible (AWB or tungsten WB). Shoot as much as possible and change the zoom if necessary. In strong wind prepare well your tripod. Use remote control. My examples:
http://img364.imagesha​ck.us/img364/5000/crw8​1921cw.jpg
http://img363.imagesha​ck.us/img363/7776/crw8​1915sr.jpg
http://img363.imagesha​ck.us/img363/1878/crw8​1884dd.jpg
and one night shot:
http://img370.imagesha​ck.us/img370/4356/img2​1868oj.jpg
Greetings,
Roumen

P.S. My examples are from my G6 at International Fireworks Festival, Scheveningen, The Hague, The Netherlands, 12-08-2005
--
"A DSLR doesn't make you a good photographer." Phil Askey
http://forums.dpreview​.com …orum=1031&messa​ge=5976145

Roumen wrote:
Just use ISO50, Tv or M mode 2-4 sec depending on the intensity, apperture - minimum or up to 4. Use manual focussing if necessary for better DOF. Raw is the best, however Jpeg is also possible (AWB or tungsten WB). Shoot as much as possible and change the zoom if necessary. In strong wind prepare well your tripod. Use remote control. My examples:
http://img364.imagesha​ck.us/img364/5000/crw8​1921cw.jpg
http://img363.imagesha​ck.us/img363/7776/crw8​1915sr.jpg
http://img363.imagesha​ck.us/img363/1878/crw8​1884dd.jpg
and one night shot:
http://img370.imagesha​ck.us/img370/4356/img2​1868oj.jpg
Greetings, Roumen

Roumen - You have very nice pictures. liked alot.

......your pics are great, but what cam have you used for these wonderful images.....??

Roumen wrote:
Just use ISO50, Tv or M mode 2-4 sec depending on the intensity, apperture - minimum or up to 4. Use manual focussing if necessary for better DOF. Raw is the best, however Jpeg is also possible (AWB or tungsten WB). Shoot as much as possible and change the zoom if necessary. In strong wind prepare well your tripod. Use remote control. My examples:
http://img364.imagesha​ck.us/img364/5000/crw8​1921cw.jpg
http://img363.imagesha​ck.us/img363/7776/crw8​1915sr.jpg
http://img363.imagesha​ck.us/img363/1878/crw8​1884dd.jpg
and one night shot:
http://img370.imagesha​ck.us/img370/4356/img2​1868oj.jpg
Greetings,
Roumen

I tried slightly longer times (8 secs, f18, iso 100) for my Edinburgh Fireworks, and was quite happy with them until I saw Roumen's photos...

......i've posted a quistion in the G series section, why are people going on about DSLR's here, its as if the G cam is being b-littled and its very unfair. I can't go down to F18 as you've put it.

Your pics are very good and i'm sorry that you've got it the neck here but this happens a lot in this section.....we are talking G series cams not DSLR's.

No problem. I've no idea what the G-series camera "limitations" are.

I'm sure that this is probably why there are so many other "DSLR"-style answers simply because people are giving general photographic replies to a photographic question. These forums are pretty good on the whole, and I've certainly not came across anyone belittling anyone's kit as such.

.....thanks for your understanding, if i've offended you in any way it wasn't intentional, but sometimes there are people who give tips on certain items when questions have been asked for the G cams and when you look at the kit they have it makes you wonder if they are trying to say 'ha'. If people have had G cams and have moved up then fair enough because they know what they're talking about.............