Long Exposures - Bulb mode without holding down shutter button?

peanutismint · 24 Jul 2011 at 18:27

I'm trying to take some long exposures of stars with my Canon EOS 550D - I've managed to find and use the 'bulb mode' where the shutter stays open as long as you keep the button depressed, but obviously this introduces more movement to the camera and as such is not really the best method for long exposures.

I can of course buy a cheap remote shutter, but I'm just wondering if there's maybe a feature or setting I'm missing that turns the shutter release in bulb mode from 'momentary' to 'latch', that is to say instead of holding down the shutter release button for the duration of the shot, I'd be able to press it once at the start and then once at the end to close the shutter?

I guess I'd still be better off buying a cheap remote as pressing the button to close the shutter could still introduce some camera shake, but any ideas for now until i can get out to a camera shop??

Raymond Lin · 24 Jul 2011 at 18:29

You need a remote release.

PhillyDee · 24 Jul 2011 at 18:31

I bought one from china, which turns bulb mode (Max on my Sony A220 is 30 seconds) into "whatever length of time you fancy" Item number was 280517838175, they did do other camera models of it.

Also can be set to take as many photos of whatever time you like at whatever interval you fancy. I was impressed with it!

I know that doesn't help you right now, but its a solution!

Scam · 25 Jul 2011 at 08:02

Or for the time being you could use the inbuilt timer. Set it for 5secs and voila no shake

juno_first · 25 Jul 2011 at 09:57

Or do what they did 100 years ago and just cover up the lens with a cap or cloth, considering you're shooting in the dark there should be no other light leaking in, also remember put the eye cap on just in case.

peanutismint · 25 Jul 2011 at 13:54

Scam said:
Or for the time being you could use the inbuilt timer. Set it for 5secs and voila no shake

Sorry, could you explain a bit more about this method? If you're just meaning I could set the self-timer, I don't think it'd work in bulb mode, as you have to keep holding the shutter (that's the whole point of this) but I could be wrong... In any case, I'd still introduce shake on the 'way out', so to speak...

juno_first said:
Or do what they did 100 years ago and just cover up the lens with a cap or cloth, considering you're shooting in the dark there should be no other light leaking in, also remember put the eye cap on just in case.

That's not a bad idea - but again, without being able to manually 'latch-open' the shutter, I'm still gonna have to keep my finger on the button the whole time....

cokecan · 25 Jul 2011 at 14:35

I think if you're taking shots of stars then you could just take lots of 30second exposures and stack them in a program such as startrails

That way you could set the timer to take 10 x 30second exposures at a time

AHarvey · 25 Jul 2011 at 15:13

a common method is to use a rubber band around the button. Not used a canon myself so can't comment, but friends have used it.

put cloth over lens, use band to depress shutter, remove cloth....wait....put cloth back on and remove band.

peanutismint · 25 Jul 2011 at 16:15

Hahah that sounds like a good kludge - I'll try it! Although I'll hopefully be popping into town sometime today so I may just go buy a remote....

Thanks for all the suggestions guys!

andy_mk3 · 26 Jul 2011 at 10:11

I have a remote for my 450D, on bulb, I click the remote once and it opens, click again to close.

peanutismint · 27 Sep 2011 at 21:17

I finally managed to find a remote and it works like a charm - thanks for all the suggestions though!

Guitarman0 · 27 Sep 2011 at 21:57

I bought a cheapo wireless one for a couple of quid off the bay, worked a charm

Glad you found one.

neil_g · 27 Sep 2011 at 22:17

Wired remote for a fiver off the auction place, one with a sliding lock that holds the button down

Mp4 · 27 Sep 2011 at 22:47

Go and shoot some stars and do light painting!

it's addictive!