p.4 #2 · Best way to do bracketing for HDR on 5D MK II?
jzucker wrote:
Hey guys, remember that not everyone has the same amount of experience. We're asking because we need the advice. Thanks again.
jack
I'm not dismissing anyone if you meant me, I just wouldn't dream of hacking a dslr like that.
What I would do is put the camera on a sturdy tripod, use the remote control to trigger three exposures in AEBracketing, then very carefully use the rear dial to swing the exposure and take another three, in liveview the AEB automatically takes three one after another
Not perfect, but I'm sure it would work fine, we used to have to re-cock view camera lenses while keeping things in register so gently touching the rear dial should be easy IMO
p.4 #3 · Best way to do bracketing for HDR on 5D MK II?
jzucker wrote:
Hey guys, remember that not everyone has the same amount of experience. We're asking because we need the advice. Thanks again.
jack
I'm not dismissing anyone either. I have given my step by step approach to this problem (on page 2) and it is identical to dhphoto's.
Your camera is a dense object, as is your tripod (assuming you bought a good one). Simply touching your rear wheel dial to change exposure compensation is not going to misalign your shot.
Honestly, go outside and try it before contemplating dropping $300 on a promote. You'll come back and thank us for saving you money.
Now if long exposure HDR is what you're after, then unfortunately you're going to need a remote one way or the other. My remote cost me $5 from the Apple Store, it's an App called DSLR.bot and it has all the functionality of the promote without the heft.
p.4 #4 · Best way to do bracketing for HDR on 5D MK II?
akin_t wrote:
I have given my step by step approach to this problem (on page 2) and it is identical to dhphoto's.
Not quite I don't think, you mention changing the amount of AEB during the capture (at least that's the way I read it) , I wouldn't do that, I'd probably just have AEB set one stop apart and move up or down as needed taking 3 in live view each time. Minimal camera touching
p.4 #5 · Best way to do bracketing for HDR on 5D MK II?
dhphoto wrote:
Not quite I don't think, you mention changing the amount of AEB during the capture (at least that's the way I read it) , I wouldn't do that, I'd probably just have AEB set one stop apart and move up or down as needed taking 3 in live view each time. Minimal camera touching
So you have AEB set for -1,0,+1, take one series, then rotate the exp comp to -1 and take another series?
p.4 #6 · Best way to do bracketing for HDR on 5D MK II?
Yes, you can start as light or as dark as you want and ensure they don't overlap, you can do half stops too just by turning the dial a half stop intead of a full stop, whatever you want. The fact the 5DII takes the cordless remote is great for this as is liveview because it takes the three automatically and is effectively in mirror lock up mode too
p.4 #8 · Best way to do bracketing for HDR on 5D MK II?
jzucker wrote:
So you have AEB set for -1,0,+1, take one series, then rotate the exp comp to -1 and take another series?
No I don't change the amount of AEB, the AEB amount is fixed at -2, 0, +2. I then move the exposure compensation dial up or down as needed. I choose -2, 0, +2, over -1, 0, +1 because I don't end up with duplicate 0 EV exposures. Another reason is so I can just leave the camera that way in case I only want to take one bracket (as -2, 0, +2 covers a greater dynamic range then -1, 0, +1)
Usually I end up bracketing about 0 EV and +1 EV so that I end up with -2, -1, 0, +1, +2, +3 ... I favor the higher exposures to help get rid of shadow noise in the tonemapping process. Besides, on a 7D, -2 EV is good enough to give you any highlight detail you might want.
p.4 #9 · Best way to do bracketing for HDR on 5D MK II?
jzucker wrote:
Thanks again. Dumb question but in live view I assume you don't have to worry about viewfinder stray light?
Technically you probably do, I just shield it with my hand, you could stick a bit of tape over it or use the thingy Canon give you. I've never bothered
p.4 #12 · Best way to do bracketing for HDR on 5D MK II?
Prior to owning the Promote I used the bracket 3 shots with a cable release, dial in additional exposure comp and bracket another 3 shots with cable release method (why Canon doesn't let us bracket moree frames is beyond me but that's a subject for another thread, I'm sure). I use both a heavy duty Gitzo pod with a BH-55 ballhead and a light weight Gitzo travel pod with small Markins head. It often worked just fine - but not always. Not having to touch the camera between 5, 7, 9, 11 or more bracketed frames (with mirror lock up) ensures the best shot at perfectly registered frames. Of course, with the heavy Gitzo and BH-55 locked down, touching the cam between sequences wasn't often a problem but sometimes it was (for whatever reason - probably failure to lock the head down tight enough or the L bracket was slightly loose, etc.). With the lightweight set up it was slightly more of a problem. Just saying that a full auto, no touch method alleviates any worry.
And yeah, I was wrong about ML Unified running off the CF, my bad. But it doesn't mess with the cam's ROM so I'm not sure really what kind of damage could be permanent. The ML Unified FAQ page has a lot of good info.
