Tips on lens choice and setting for upcoming firework night

Soldato
Joined
12 Feb 2009
Posts
4,399
Location
London
Hi I'm basically after some advise on what I should take and what settings. Iv never taken any photos of fireworks before.

Shooting handheld would be ideal.

Kit I have.

400D + Grip.
18-55 IS kit
Or
50mm 1.4 canon

I'm guessing the 50mm is the way to go?

Any advise on what mode to shoot in and focusing etc would be a big help.

Cheers.
 
I'd take the 18-55, 50 won't be much cop really.
You're too far away from the fireworks for the focal length to provide any bokeh from the 50.
If you have a telephoto that would be usefull.

Tripod would make a big difference too if you have one, allows longer exposure shots, trails of fireworks etc.

As for settings, just have a play see what get results. Obv it's dark so you will need to have a wider aperture to pick up detail, too long an exposure will be hard to keep handheld, although there a cool effects you can try;

Focusing on a firework with zoom at 100% and twisting the zoom out to 0% will give an explosion of light as long as the exposure, smaller aperture allows you enough time to do this, it's been awhile since I tried this maybe a 1/250 sec? Experiment :p

Alternatively to freeze the action you're gonna need to have a higher shutter speed, wider aperture.

Manual focusing, most of the fireworks will be set off from the same sort of distance so once you capture one, you can fine tune your focus settings.
 
Thats annoying that the nifty (1.8) wouldnt be any good :( all i have is the Sigma 70-300mm & Tripod!
 
Thats annoying that the nifty (1.8) wouldnt be any good :( all i have is the Sigma 70-300mm & Tripod!

The fifty would be good for close-by shots of sparklers and reflections of 'splosions on peoples faces I guess, the wider aperture would be handy for the dark conditions too, but you're generally too far away from the action to use the 50, I'd say.
 
I'll have ago anyway! ....maybe just noticed its Friday :( bloody working till 8pm
 
Would 30" be a too long exposure?

depends how much fireworks you want to cover and how much is fired.

You want the scene.

You dont want a blown sky

You dont want a MESS of fireworks.

Personally, I would get a remote and put it into bulb mode. Free style on the timing of it, stop when I want.
 
Okiedokie! Trial & error really! Never taken fireworks before or if i did it was in Auto :o
 
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The last one was something like 15 seconds exposure...
 
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