Couple of ?s

[bronzeo]

Is there a serious difference between a B&W DSLR shot and a color shot that has been converted or desaturated?
Has anyone had an issue with shooting time exposures from a larger bridge (with vibrations) causing poor focus? It is ver heavy abandoned bridge with no traffic, and there was little wind. I had the AF off. Thanks.

 

[480sparky38 37]

A B&W conversion in-camera is usually a simple desaturated one. And typically a very poor conversion at that.

Doing a conversion on the computer gives you much more control. You can also emulate the use of colored filters to lighten and darken colors (for instance, a yellow filter to darken a blue sky).

As for your night shot, turn off the VR / IS / OS / VC. You don't need it when shooting on a tripod, and in some cases it can actually cause blurring. As for turning off AF, make sure you focus first!

 

[Ysarex84 78]

Can't help you with your bridge, but all DSLR sensors are color only. They physically can't take a B&W photo so when you get a B&W JPEG from the camera it's been converted and desaturated by the software in the camera. If you save the raw file you can do it yourself and do at least as well or better.

Joe

 

[tirediron]

What Joe said ^^ about the colour. As far as the bridge goes, what is causing the vibrations? Are you taking all of the necessary precautions? Weighting your tripod (Are your tripod and head actually suitable for the weight of the lens/body combination you're using?) to dampen it? Using mirror-lock-up? Using a remote releas? It's VERY easy to induce motion blur into images which have a comparitively long exposure time.

 

[bronzeo]

I did use a release, and had IS off..... Even though the bridge pilings are on bedrock, I assume there is a minimal amount of movement in a large bridge. I will say that is was a very opportune time to take the shot and it was a 12 second exposure... Maybe there will always be a little bit of focal fuzz in a long shot.... It was with an ND filter, cloudy day, using F9. Thanks for all the help.

 

[spacefuzz]

For your bridge, if it is traffic causing the issues you will have to #1: wait for a break in the cars long enough for your desired exposure. #2: increase the ISO to reduce exposure time.

 

[bronzeo]

Bridge is abandoned and it is a 2 minute exposure. Maybe I would be better off with the IS left on with this shot?

 

[bronzeo]

I think I have figured the issue out, and I have posted the photo under an editing question in landscapes and cityscapes. Most of the vegetation is blurry, but a few in different areas in the photo are in good focus, so apparently the rushing water in the stream was moving the grasses and plants at a level that I couldn't see from 35 meters. Thanks for all the thoughts on this

 

[480sparky38 37]

Bridge is abandoned and it is a 2 minute exposure. Maybe I would be better off with the IS left on with this shot?

NO.

When using a camera on a tripod, always turn the IS off.