Steve'sDigicams

ac.smith · Jul 9, 2008, 8:34 PM

There has been discussion in this forum on Kodak's Fireworks scene mode, some of it critical. The first rule of shooting aerial fireworks displays is to use a tripod although a beanbag or other steady rest could be used. No amount of OIS is sufficient for the shutter times involved. None of us can handhold 2-16 sec. exposures required to allow the display to mature (develop). Aperture should be in the f/5.6-F/8 range for ISO 64-80. It's not critical within that range.

My Z612 set the aperture tof/5.6 and the shutter to 2 sec. in the fireworks scene mode. Using the manual mode I set the aperture to f/8 and used various shutter speedsranging from 4 sec. to 16 sec. The focus must be set landscape or distance mode or manual mode at infinity. The 4 sec. shutter time seemed to work better with rhythm of this display. Ideally one would have a remote shutter release and a Bulb setting on the shutter but that's not available.

The EXIF data is intact on all photos.

This one is using the scene mode.

ac.smith · Jul 9, 2008, 8:35 PM

Another scene mode.

ac.smith · Jul 9, 2008, 8:36 PM

Manual exposure.

ac.smith · Jul 9, 2008, 8:37 PM

Another manual

ac.smith · Jul 9, 2008, 8:39 PM

Final shot. I shot a total of 73 photos and this is one of the fewevents that I used the LCD viewfinder exclusively.

dan279 · Jul 10, 2008, 11:37 AM

A nice comparison ...The scene mode worked well, although I like your longer exposures better, nice job! Many folks would be much happier with their photos if they used a tripod...without ISI can't shoot handheld under 1/20th

Dan

ac.smith · Jul 10, 2008, 1:26 PM

Dan,

Thanks for your comments. Four seconds seemed to work better with the rhythm of this show better than either longer or shorter times but I really didn't try intermediate times between 4 and 8 sec.

A number of people have criticized Kodak's fireworks mode because of the 2 second shutter time, complaining that they can't hand hold that shutter time (surprise!!) even though the instructions for that mode call for camera support.

My previous serious fireworks effort was in the days of film and I used Ektachrome 64, f/5.6, Bulb and of course a tripod.

A. C.

Alan T · Jul 11, 2008, 7:20 AM

There are some examples, with comments on 'fireworks' mode, with my Kodak Z712, around the shutter speeds 'a.c' suggests, at...

http://forums.steves-digicams.com/fo...mp;forum_id=18

Jul 9, 2008, 8:34 PM	#1
ac.smith Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Davenport, IA Posts: 2,093	There has been discussion in this forum on Kodak's Fireworks scene mode, some of it critical. The first rule of shooting aerial fireworks displays is to use a tripod although a beanbag or other steady rest could be used. No amount of OIS is sufficient for the shutter times involved. None of us can handhold 2-16 sec. exposures required to allow the display to mature (develop). Aperture should be in the f/5.6-F/8 range for ISO 64-80. It's not critical within that range. My Z612 set the aperture tof/5.6 and the shutter to 2 sec. in the fireworks scene mode. Using the manual mode I set the aperture to f/8 and used various shutter speedsranging from 4 sec. to 16 sec. The focus must be set landscape or distance mode or manual mode at infinity. The 4 sec. shutter time seemed to work better with rhythm of this display. Ideally one would have a remote shutter release and a Bulb setting on the shutter but that's not available. The EXIF data is intact on all photos. This one is using the scene mode. Attached Images

Jul 9, 2008, 8:35 PM	#2
ac.smith Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Davenport, IA Posts: 2,093	Another scene mode. Attached Images

Jul 9, 2008, 8:36 PM	#3
ac.smith Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Davenport, IA Posts: 2,093	Manual exposure. Attached Images

Jul 9, 2008, 8:37 PM	#4
ac.smith Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Davenport, IA Posts: 2,093	Another manual Attached Images

Jul 9, 2008, 8:39 PM	#5
ac.smith Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Davenport, IA Posts: 2,093	Final shot. I shot a total of 73 photos and this is one of the fewevents that I used the LCD viewfinder exclusively. Attached Images

Steve'sDigicams

Recent Camera Reviews

Most Active Forums

Most Popular Deals

Latest Feature Articles

Jul 10, 2008, 11:37 AM	#6
dan279 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 1,896	A nice comparison ...The scene mode worked well, although I like your longer exposures better, nice job! Many folks would be much happier with their photos if they used a tripod...without ISI can't shoot handheld under 1/20th Dan

Jul 10, 2008, 1:26 PM	#7
ac.smith Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Davenport, IA Posts: 2,093	Dan, Thanks for your comments. Four seconds seemed to work better with the rhythm of this show better than either longer or shorter times but I really didn't try intermediate times between 4 and 8 sec. A number of people have criticized Kodak's fireworks mode because of the 2 second shutter time, complaining that they can't hand hold that shutter time (surprise!!) even though the instructions for that mode call for camera support. My previous serious fireworks effort was in the days of film and I used Ektachrome 64, f/5.6, Bulb and of course a tripod. A. C.

Jul 11, 2008, 7:20 AM	#8
Alan T Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Chester, UK Posts: 2,980	There are some examples, with comments on 'fireworks' mode, with my Kodak Z712, around the shutter speeds 'a.c' suggests, at... http://forums.steves-digicams.com/fo...mp;forum_id=18

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search