Super long exposures with D610

[Peeb]

Got a 10-stop ND filer, and I want to shoot some exposures that go over a minute. What I've initially concluded:

1) go to 'bulb' mode and manually hold the shutter open as long as you need; OR
2) buy a programmable remote shutter release.

Any way to force the CAMERA to automatically calculate the time needed and go over the preset 30 seconds?

 

[Braineack]

NO, because in a day and age when there are self-driving cars, we still hold on to the legacy "bulb" mode.

You should be freaking happy they don't actually require you to squeeze an actual freaking bulb--where the term comes from.

not being able to set a desired shutter time pisses me off beyond belief. The laurels that these camera makers rest on is just ridiculous. It's probably 2-3 lines of freaking code, but they had to remove it to make room for a new "color sketch" processing mode.

 

[astroNikon]

ummm ... yeah, what he said ^^^

If you use a corded remote release there is usually a lock (slide) on it. Then you can watch your watch/cell phone timer. Or get a remote with the timers and stuff on it.

There's also the "Time" mode where you press the shutter and it opens. then when you press it a second time it closes.

 

[Peeb]

NO, because in a day and age when there are self-driving cars, we still hold on to the legacy "bulb" mode.

You should be freaking happy they don't actually require you to squeeze an actual freaking bulb--where the term comes from.

not being able to set a desired shutter time pisses me off beyond belief. The laurels that these camera makers rest on is just ridiculous. It's probably 2-3 lines of freaking code, but they had to remove it to make room for a new "color sketch" processing mode.

Ha ha! Yeah, I got a 19.00 programmable shutter release off Amazon, but thought it was odd that it appeared necessary.

 

[astroNikon]

I use bulb mode a lot. And I can take shots from 30 seconds up to around 30 minutes. I should get one of those programmable ones but just time it myself.

 

[astroNikon]

And don't forget to cover your viewfinder so light doesn't sneak it's way onto the sensor. The d600 came with a viewfinder cap (you slide off the eyepiece and slide the cap on).

D7x00 also have this cap. I think the d5x00 and d3x00 do not come with the cap ... you have to buy it.

The d4, d5, d7x0, d8x0, d5x0, d3x0 have a switch which close the viewfinder.

 

[KmH]

Back in the day I used a 'cable release' when I wanted to use bulb mode.
The cable release had a thumbscrew on it so I could lock it in place with the shutter open.
I didn't have to stand there holding it.

The viewfinder cap is a Nikon DK-5.