Big Stopper Exposure question

Mystery57

Mystery57

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Andrew
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I have read several threads about exposures and calculating them for the Big Stopper Filters.

Hope this isnt a daft question - but if you shoot in Aperture mode do you really need to worry about the calculations, will the camera not do it automatically ?

What are the benefits of calculating it manually ?
 
When using a big stopper, you must focus and meter before fitting it. Otherwise your camera is receiving too little light for focus and metering to function.
 
Not sure about androids but if you use an iPhone there's also an app for calculating exposures for various ND filters
 
Martyn D said:
Not sure about androids but if you use an iPhone there's also an app for calculating exposures for various ND filters
Click to expand...

Good point. I forgot about this. The app I use for Android phones is "ND Filter Calculator".
 
Thanks guys, (i have that app now cheers) as an update since posting the question, I went and experimented with 5 different shots.

The base settings were F8 and ISO 400. Four of the shots ended up being taken at 30 seconds (which I guess is the max camera time other than bulb setting) one stopped at 20 seconds.

All of them were workable in PP mainly using clarity - I now understand the point I was questionning as all were initially too dark, and I needed to lighten the exposure.

Here is one of them which for a first attempt Im not too displeased with.

Thanks again

IMG_7593fb.jpg
 
Mystery57 said:
I have read several threads about exposures and calculating them for the Big Stopper Filters.

Hope this isnt a daft question - but if you shoot in Aperture mode do you really need to worry about the calculations, will the camera not do it automatically ?

What are the benefits of calculating it manually ?
Click to expand...

You don't have to worry about the calculations in AV/Aperture mode,just as long as you have sufficient enough light beforehand to enable a long enough exposure with the filter attached (Max. 30 seconds without remote as you've discovered).

Also if you're not already aware.
If your current exposure is going to be more than the standard 30 second maximum - the Aperture number inside the viewfinder will start flashing.
To which you then either invest in a remote or increase the ISO sensitivity. :)

The big stoppers are known (like mine) to be half a stop or so either side of the 10 from time to time.
But worry about things like that when/if you need to at a later date.
 
Hi James - I always use a trigger when camera is on the tripod as knowing my luck I would hit it over if I relied on the shutter release.

Thanks for the tip re ISO though as I have encountered that in other more normal photos.

I think the beauty with the big stopper, is you can do so much PP if you so choose - I didnt on this occasion.
 
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