some tips needed please.

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Dal

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As fireworks night is fast approaching i really want to get some good photo's of some displays. so what i would like is some advice and tips on how to get the best pictures from my equipment.

i'll be using a Fuji S5600 and i have a tripod to use aswell.

thanks in advance everyone. :D
 
manual settings all the way, prefocus manualy (i think the fuji lets you do this) then use about f8-f16 and exposures of around 20-60seconds at iso 100. you'll have to experiment a bit as depending where you are the fireworks will be brighter/dimmer.

Oh, and make sure the tripod is set up where no one can kick it! Learnt this the hard way at the balloon fiesta night glow!
 
Gandhi said:
manual settings all the way, prefocus manualy (i think the fuji lets you do this) then use about f8-f16 and exposures of around 20-60seconds at iso 100. you'll have to experiment a bit as depending where you are the fireworks will be brighter/dimmer.

Oh, and make sure the tripod is set up where no one can kick it! Learnt this the hard way at the balloon fiesta night glow!
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Pretty sure the S5600 only allows between 15s and 1/2000s exposure? Even so you could probably still get away with it.

Manual focusing is a pain tho and I'm not sure what you mean by 'prefocus'. How's it possible to focus when looking at a dark sky and having no idea of the range you'll be shooting at?
 
I think what Spencer means is that rather than your auto focus b****r it up, set up your focus manually in advance to allow for sufficient DOF.

Captain Hyperfocal strikes again!
 
GfK said:
Pretty sure the S5600 only allows between 15s and 1/2000s exposure? Even so you could probably still get away with it.

Manual focusing is a pain tho and I'm not sure what you mean by 'prefocus'. How's it possible to focus when looking at a dark sky and having no idea of the range you'll be shooting at?
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as buzz lightyear would've said.........


"To infinity & Beyond!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

At least, that's where I'd be focusing!
 
I use the 5600 as my second cam and its pretty good for manual work like that.
Though focusing to infinity is quite difficult.

Set ISO to 64 though :)
 
With the fireworks shots I took earlier in the year I was using in the region of 6 - 8 second exposures - that was using the bulb setting on the 30D though and I'm guessing your Fuji may not have that facility? It really depends on how many fireworks are in the air at a time (too many and everything just looks messy - if they are too sporadic there's not enough colour though!). Also take note of the wind - if possible try to get so it's blowing directly away from you as that minimises the "wavy" effect of the light-streams blowing in the breeze.

Good luck! I shall be having a go at some more myself on Sunday evening!
 
Well there's a problem with Fuji's where they focus 'beyond infinity' on manual!!!?!?!? Maybe try to auto focus on the first burst of fireworks, then flip to manual and dont change it for the rest. If you stop down enough, you should be all right.
 
Mohain said:
Well there's a problem with Fuji's where they focus 'beyond infinity' on manual!!!?!?!? Maybe try to auto focus on the first burst of fireworks, then flip to manual and dont change it for the rest. If you stop down enough, you should be all right.
Click to expand...

Manual focus is fine but you cant just focus all the way to get infinity as the cam goes out of focus again. On mine, infinity is about 3 steps back from the end.
 
Just having a look at the Manual..... they're having a bit of a laugh aren't they? Manual focus is .... use AF, press MF to lock the previous AF setting - my interpretation anyway.

Quote

1 Unlock the Focus mode selector lock switch.

2 Press the Focus mode selector button to set the Focus mode to “S-AF”, focus on the subject and press the shutter button halfway. The camera is
then focused on the subject.

3 Press the Focus mode selector button to set the Focus mode to “MF”. The focusing position is locked on the subject (➡P.34).

You could always try "Landscape" mode which usually focusses on Infinity or an appropriate hyperfocal distance. Dunno whether you'll get the long exposures you'll need though. Experiment...... :shrug:

Download Handbook HERE!
 
manual focus and auto focus on the cam is easy to select. Much easier than my e500. Just a case of pressing one button :)
Manual focus does take its time in focusing though. But for fireworks its not something thats needed to change.
 
As above - manual focus and exposure settings - watch out for noise with long exposures - try and tie your shots for moments of peak 'activity' rather than just leaving the shiutter open for minutes on end.
It'll also mean your shots are less 'messy' - too many light trails will just look cr*p.
If there's a bonfire in the shot, it'll burn out (exposure-wise) with anything longer than a second, so think about combining images in photoshop later on.

Take lots of shots.
 
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