I want to take a picture of a sword cutting stuff.

Nikon_Dude

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So like the title says, I want to get some shots of a sword cutting targets, such as water bottles, fruit, etc.

I plan on doing this outdoors on a day with adequate lighting, so that I can use a fast shutter speed.

My question deals with how to activate the shutter. I plan on putting the camera on a tripod, focusing in on the target, then making the cut. I've read of people using sound activated triggers for firing the flash for high speed photography, and I'm wondering if that could be used here to fire the shutter as soon as the sword hits the target. I don't know what type of device that would be, if it would even work.

Or am I just better off getting behind the camera to push the button and have someone else make the cut?
 
Would be cheaper to have someone else make the cut, but you'll have to rely on your timing/burst rate. You could also utilize your D5000's built in intervalometer and figure something out there.
 
The sound activated trigger works for the flash because there is no delay. The activation of the flash happens the instant the trigger tells it to fire. The shutter on the other hand is much different. Although the shutter speed may be a 1/1000 or 1/2000 of a second, a lot happens between the camera being told to activate the shutter and the image being captured. The mirror gets told to get out of the way, the mirror moves, the shutter opens... all of this takes about 1/3 second give or take. By the time the image is actuallycaptured, the two halves of the bottle or fruit are already out of frame.

Sound trigger, IMHO = wrong tool for the job.

I would try to time it with the beeps for the auto timer (this would take a lot of practice), or have a friend shoot in burst mode, or what I like to call "spray and pray mode". (this would take a little luck, and a lot of fruit.) Like Light Artisan stated previously.

Do get some pics though, I love watching fruit get destroyed. :thumbup:
 
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i'm pretty sure theres optical (laser) triggers... but that means your targets would have to be lined up w the sword... otherwise u better get yourself a couple of bushels of apples and a lot of patience...
 
Thanks for the input. I think I'll just dial in the settings and focus put it on a tripod and have someone shoot on burst mode. Hopefully once I go through a case or two of water bottles I'll have some usable shots.
 
I'd like to try this with movie mode, 720p 60fps and use something like twixtor to interpolate between actual frames to mimic high speed video, then slow it down... wonder if it would turn out alright.
 
I'd like to try this with movie mode, 720p 60fps and use something like twixtor to interpolate between actual frames to mimic high speed video, then slow it down... wonder if it would turn out alright.

I'd love to see your results if you try it, as my friend and I have been contemplating trying it with his t2i.
 
Burst mode will probably be your best option here, though it may be a bit tricky depending on how long a burst you can acheive. If I recall the d5000 shoots at something like 4 frames per second in burst mode, if you shoot in RAW from what I've read that should give you 11 frames before the buffer fills and the camera slows to allow it to write to the memory card. That gives you roughly a little over a 2 second window to get your shot.

You can increase your odds by switching to JPG mode rather than RAW, this will allow you a lot more frames before the buffer fills. You can also improve your chances by buying a memory card with a very fast write speed, this allows the buffer to clear quicker and as such it will extend your window a bit even shooting in raw. I'm a big fan of the Sandisk Extreme Pro with the 95 mbs write speed, I use them in my D7100 and they really do make a difference over the cards with the more standard 30-40 mbs write speeds.
 
No options at all for a sound activated trigger?
What sound, the birds, the sound of the sword as it flies toward the target a car passing by? Too many noises outside to set it off prematurely. This would require a laser or infra red beam trigger.
 
Normally these photos are done with a special high speed camera but you can set your Nikon on fast burst mode and lower the file size so it can go as fast as possible. You could hold the remote trigger in your hand as you swing the sword.
On my D5300 I'd go to 60fps video but I don't know if the D5000 will do video??
 
zombiethread1.webp
 

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