BULB: Long (Bulb) Exposures

In this mode, the shutter stays open as long as you hold down the shutter button completely, and closes when you let go of the shutter button. Use bulb exposures for night scenes, fireworks, astrophotography, and other subjects requiring long exposures.

  1. Set the shooting mode to [Bulb].

    • Press the MODE button, then turn the Main dial dial to select [Bulb].

  2. Set the desired aperture value.

    • Turn the Main dial dial to set it.

  3. Take the picture.

    • The exposure will continue for as long as you keep the shutter button pressed completely.
    • Elapsed exposure time is displayed on the LCD panel.

Caution

  • Do not point the camera toward an intense light source, such as the sun or an intense artificial light source. Doing so may damage the image sensor or the camera's internal components.
  • Long bulb exposures produce more noise in the image than usual.
  • ISO 400 is used when the camera is set to ISO Auto.
  • When shooting bulb exposures with the self-timer instead of the bulb timer, keep pressing the shutter button completely (for the self-timer time and bulb exposure time).

Note

  • You can reduce the noise generated during long exposures by using [Shooting: Long exp. noise reduction] ().
  • Using a tripod and the bulb timer is recommended for bulb exposures.
  • You can also shoot bulb exposures with Remote Switch TC-80N3 (sold separately, ).
  • You can also use Remote Controller RC-6 or Wireless Remote Control BR-E1 (both sold separately) for bulb exposures. When you press the remote controller's release (transmit) button, the bulb exposure will start immediately or 2 sec. later. Press the button again to stop the bulb exposure.

Bulb Timer

You can set the exposure time for bulb exposures in advance. This feature eliminates the need to keep holding down the shutter button during bulb exposures, which can reduce camera shake.

Note that the bulb timer can only be set and will only take effect in [Bulb] (bulb exposure) mode.

  1. Select [Shooting: Bulb timer].

  2. Select [Enable].

    • Select [Enable], then press the INFO button.

  3. Set the exposure time.

    • Select an option (hours : minutes : seconds).
    • Press SET to display [Adjust].
    • Set a value, then press SET. (Returns to [Select].)

  4. Select [OK].

  5. Take the picture.

    • After you press the shutter button completely, the bulb exposure continues for your specified time.
    • [Bulb Timer] and the exposure time are displayed on the LCD panel during bulb timer shooting.
    • To clear the timer setting, select [Disable] in step 2.

Caution

  • Bulb exposure stops if you press the shutter button completely and release it during the timer.
  • Bulb exposure continues even after your specified exposure time if you keep pressing the shutter button completely (which overrides automatic stopping when your specified exposure time elapses).
  • The bulb timer is cleared (and reverts to [Disable]) when you switch shooting modes.