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 Mode dial to Manual exposure.

  2. Set the shutter speed to [BULB].

    • Turn the Main dial dial to the left to set [BULB].

  3. Take the picture.

    • The exposure will continue for as long as you keep the shutter button pressed completely.
    • The elapsed exposure time will be displayed on the screen.

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.
  • If ISO Auto is set, ISO 400 will be set ().
  • When shooting bulb exposures with both the self-timer and mirror lockup, keep pressing the shutter button completely until shooting is finished (when the self-timer and bulb exposure time have elapsed). No shot will be taken if you release the shutter button during self-timer countdown, although a shutter-release sound will be played.

Note

  • With [Shooting: Long exp. noise reduction], you can reduce the noise generated during long exposures ().
  • Using a tripod is recommended for bulb exposures. You can also use mirror lockup ().
  • You can shoot bulb exposures by using Remote Switch RS-60E3 (sold separately, ).
  • You can also shoot bulb exposures by using Wireless Remote Control BR-E1 (sold separately, ). 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.