Basic questions about bracketing

[Jon_Are]

I'm practicing exposure bracketing images on my D80, but there are a few things I cannot figure out.

1. I have my bracketing EV set to 1/2 steps (rather than 1/3). So I can set my bracketing increments from 0.5 to 2.0 EV. Fair enough. But these numbers don't seem to correspond with my shutter speed choices.

In other words, the series of shutter speeds goes 8-10-15-20-30-45 (etc.). If I bracket at 1.0 EV and set the shutter speed manually to 30, I would expect to get exposures of 30, 20 & 45. Instead, I get 30,15, & 8. Does 1 EV = 2 shutter 'clicks'?

2. And this brings me to what really has me stumped. Using the same numbers as above, I would expect, metering to 30, that 30 would be my middle exposure, with one below and one above bracketed. As you can see from my example above, when I bracket based on 30, my other two exposures are both longer exposures than my starting point, not one longer and one shorter. Is there some setting that will change this?

Thanks,

Jon

 

[Josh66]

Instead, I get 30,15, & 8. Does 1 EV = 2 shutter 'clicks'?

Yes. It sounds like your shutter speed (and probably aperture too) are also set to adjust in 1/2 stop increments. So, 2 clicks = 1 stop.

2. And this brings me to what really has me stumped. Using the same numbers as above, I would expect, metering to 30, that 30 would be my middle exposure, with one below and one above bracketed. As you can see from my example above, when I bracket based on 30, my other two exposures are both longer exposures than my starting point, not one longer and one shorter. Is there some setting that will change this?

Thanks,

Jon

Not sure about your camera, but there's usually a custom function to change the order of the bracketed shots... Check if you have that custom function, then check what it's set to.

Usually there are 3 ordering options -

-, 0, +
0, -, +
0, +, -

Or something like that...

 

[Jon_Are]

Thanks, Josh.

There are only two 'order-of-bracket' settings on the D80:

The default, which is: 0, -, +

And this: -, 0, + (which is what I want).

However, when using this setting, I end up with 0, -, --

(if that makes sense).

Could someone with a Nikon check this out for me?

 

[NateS]

Thanks, Josh.

There are only two 'order-of-bracket' settings on the D80:

The default, which is: 0, -, +

And this: -, 0, + (which is what I want).

However, when using this setting, I end up with 0, -, --

(if that makes sense).

Could someone with a Nikon check this out for me?

It sounds to me like you've gotten off a shot in your bracketing (i.e. taken an extra shot)....

For example you fired the following shots....

- 0 +.........- 0 +.......- 0 + - ....... and now it's ready for the next one which is.....

0 + - ....because of the extra minus above.


Anyway, I've gotten mine off like that before. Snap a few shots until you are setup for the next shot to be - then delete the prior few shots....see if that gets it back on track.

Of course, if I remember correctly, exiting and re-entering bracketing mode fixed that issue as well....not positive on that though

 

[Jon_Are]

Thanks, Nate; I hope it's that simple.

I'll give it a try and post back.

Jon

 

[Garbz]

However, when using this setting, I end up with 0, -, --

(if that makes sense).

Could someone with a Nikon check this out for me?

Not sure about the D80 but the D200 gives and indication where it's going to bracket. For instance I have the following options:
- Number of bracket shots
- EV or separation
- Direction (up down or centered).
and my camera is set to 0, -, +

The direction option gives the following results then:
Centered: 10, 20, 5
Up, 10, 5, 2.5
Down, 10, 20, 40

Or roughly. Not all bracketing occurs around the centre of the starting point.

 

[Jon_Are]

It sounds to me like you've gotten off a shot in your bracketing (i.e. taken an extra shot).

This doesn't seem to be the answer. Nothing I've tried puts them back in the proper sequence.

As I mentioned, there are only two options in the bracket order:

The default, which is: 0, -, +

And this: -, 0, + (which is what I want).

Under my Custom Setting Menu, the Auto Bracket Order I have selected is:

"Under>MTR>over"

But what I get is MTR>Under>UnderUnder

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here is an example I just tried:

Shooting in manual.
Bracket Order set to "Under>MTR>over".
EV set at 1.0.
Aperture F6.7. Shutter speed 125.

The result? Three images, with shutter speeds 125, 60 & 30.

Here is the real weird part. When reading the data with each image, the 125 is shown as -1.0 EV. The 60 is shown as 0 EV. And the 30 shows +1.0 EV.

Remember, I set the shutter at 125 when I took the shot.

Now I'm really mixed up.

 

[C-Towner]

I cant speak to Nikon's specific exposure bracketing, and how to set them, but it looks to me like you camera is shooting in 0, +, ++. The longer exposures will be brighter:

1/125= EV+1
1/60= EV+2
1/30= EV+3

Does the bracketing happen the same way in A/S priority modes?

 

[Jon_Are]

it looks to me like you camera is shooting in 0, +, ++.

You're right. I had the wording wrong, sorry for the confusion.

Does the bracketing happen the same way in A/S priority modes?

I haven't tried it other than manual, but I will (although that won't solve my problem since I shoot in manual).

 

[Jon_Are]

I posted this problem elsewhere and this is part of a response I received:

My D80 does the same thing !!

Set speed: 1/125.
Set bracket order: under>MTR>over.
Set bracketing: 3F 1.0

Got a sequence of three frames on D80: 125/-1.0 > 60/0 > 30/+1.0.

When I performed the same experiment on the D3, I got instead:
250/-1.0 > 125/0 > 60/+1.0.
Which is what you would expect.

ADDED: If the D80 bracketing order is set to: MTR > Under > Over
then the D80 produces a correct set: 125/0 > 250/-1.0 > 60/+1.0.

So I guess there is a little glitch in the D80's bracketing algorithm ??

Anyone know if this is a "known" problem ??