HDR on a D3000

[robb01]

I've been wanting to try my hand at taking some HDR shots, but not exactly sure how to do that on my D3000. I know that I need several shots with different exposure levels. Should I shoot in 'A' mode and adjust the fstop? I know the D3000 does not offer bracketing. Thanks for any help

 

[Boomn4x4]

Should I shoot in 'A' mode and adjust the fstop?

Definalty NO. Adjusting the f stop will result in a different DOF for each shot... you NEED them to be exactly the same. Shooting in any of the priority modes will cause your camera to adujust the shutter speed and f stop to make a proper exposure. Every shot will have the same exposure... which does you no good. You want multiple exposures.

There are 2 ways you can do it with your 3000, take a shot. Then change your EV, take a shot, change your EV, take a shot...etc. Or put your camera in M set your aperture to what you would like it at, take a shot, then adjust your shutter speed and take a shot, adjust your shutter speed and take a shot, etc.

 

[mjhoward]

Just use Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB)... look up how to set it in your manual.

 

[Boomn4x4]

Just use Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB)... look up how to set it in your manual.

AEB isn't a feature on the D3000

 

[KmH]

You'll have to bracket manually by changing the shutter speed.

First you need to put the meter in spot mode. Meter the brightest part of the scene for a correct exposure. Then meter the darkest part of the scene for a correct exposure.

That tells you the dynamic range of the scene and from that you can determine how many exposures you need to make, and at what EV steps.

3 exposures is the minimum. More exposures will usually yield a more realistic final image.

 

[DerekSalem]

lol the D3000 doesn't do AEB? Pretty sure every DSLR made in the past 5 years has done AEB...

 

[Boomn4x4]

lol the D3000 doesn't do AEB? Pretty sure every DSLR made in the past 5 years has done AEB...

None of the entry level Nikons have it... Neither do the D40/D40x.

 

[Infidel]

You'll have to bracket manually by changing the shutter speed.

First you need to put the meter in spot mode. Meter the brightest part of the scene for a correct exposure. Then meter the darkest part of the scene for a correct exposure.

That tells you the dynamic range of the scene and from that you can determine how many exposures you need to make, and at what EV steps.

3 exposures is the minimum. More exposures will usually yield a more realistic final image.

Thanks KmH...I never knew to spot-meter as you've described, but it makes good sense! I will try this the next time I'm playing around with HDR. The few times I've tried HDR, I used matrix metering and covered a -2 to +2 range (5 exp @ 1 EV intervals).

 

[Sonoma]

Not to hijack the thread, but are there cameras that do bracketing with more than three steps(-2,0,+2)? The reason I ask is because a couple of weeks ago I ran into a gentleman taking pics with a Nikon and when he hit the shutter release the camera sounded like a machine gun. Real quick.....click, click, click, etc. So I asked if he was doing HDR's and he said yes, but not three images, seven images. Possible?

Just curious
Gary