Bulb setting? What is it?

L

lcolclough

Suspended / Banned
Messages
97
Name
Lianne
Edit My Images
Yes
Just reading through a photomag and was showing a great pic of lightning over a city which the guy said he took on bulb setting.

Had a quick search and although people refer to it, I can find how to set it, what it does, etc.

I bet there is going to be a very obvious answer but I gotta ask

:shrug:
 
It is a manual setting. You set the aperture then you hold the button down to determine the exposure length. When you press it opens the shutter, when you release it closes the shutter. great for night/low-light photography.

:thumbs:
 
Damn too slow :bonk:
 
On Bulb setting the shutter stays open as long as you keep the shutter depressed. It's usual to use a lockable cable release to keep the shutter open without touching the camera... just use the unlock device on the cable release to close the shutter at the end of the timed exposure.

The 'Bulb' bit comes from the early days of photography when cable releases were air operated by a large rubber bulb... a bit like an old car horn.
 
For those who are interested 'Bulb' as you may have gathered has nothing to do with what we know as a bulb ie light bulb.

It comes from the time when a photograher had to time his exposure by manually opening the shutter and recording the seconds passed.

This was achieved by using a watch or guessing the time lapsed whilst squeezing a rubber 'bulb' which opened the shutter by air pressure. Hence long exposures as referred to as 'Bulb' in todays 'Tog' language.

At least that what I've read and we all know we can believe everything that is in print. Can't we??

One more for the 'Trivia' file me thinks!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top