IceBone
Blue Wheel Hipster
What he said.
A tripod or something that you could lean the camera on would have helped, also setting ISO to 100 and focusing it better. Nice experimentation with exposure times.
Well it was on a tripod. ISO was set to 400 IIRC (I've only got a minimum of 200 on my D40) and exposure time was 1 second. I tried to focus on the water, but it might have gone wrong there. And the ledge also looks blurred because of that...
And could it also have had something to do with the low light outside? I took the photo pretty much at sunset, in a site surrounded by buildings.
There's no need to use a high ISO if you're using a tripod. ISO is the "last resort" of exposure for digital when you don't have a tripod. Once you've got the correct exposure, it's just simple math: you could have used 2 seconds at ISO 200 (instead of 1 second at ISO 400). Your uploaded image file doesn't have EXIF, but I'm guessing you used the kit lens wide open at the long end (f/5.6, 55mm). Stop down the aperture to get a larger depth of field and have the ledge (more) in focus. Again, math:
- f/5.6, ISO 200, 2 seconds
- f/8, ISO 200, 4 seconds
- f/11, ISO 200, 8 seconds
See the pattern?
Also, it's ideal to use a remote for extended exposures. The ML-L3 IR remote for the D40 is only $15. A timer would work, too, as long as you're not doing bulb exposures (in the case of the D40, exposures longer than 30 seconds)
On this note, with my D60 I can set the timer down to 2s or 5s from the default 10s. I'm sure it's the same with the D40, just have to futz with the menus for a bit. It's nice to be able to use a timer to start the exposure, but not wait around 10s before the camera clicks.The built-in timer will work just fine for timed exposures.
The built-in timer will work just fine for timed exposures.
Yes, you can set up the timer with different times, and yes, it works well (I used it before I got myself a remote). Note however that on the D40, the timer is being switched off after every use. So if you want to make more timer shots, you have to get into the menu and put it on timer before every shot.On this note, with my D60 I can set the timer down to 2s or 5s from the default 10s. I'm sure it's the same with the D40, just have to futz with the menus for a bit. It's nice to be able to use a timer to start the exposure, but not wait around 10s before the camera clicks.
Does the D40 body have the Fn button under the flash button? Unless you've reprogrammed the button it will activate your timer for your next shot. That way your not using the menu system each time. Just set the default timer to 2s or 5s, and leave the Fn button on timer and you're golden!Yes, you can set up the timer with different times, and yes, it works well (I used it before I got myself a remote). Note however that on the D40, the timer is being switched off after every use. So if you want to make more timer shots, you have to get into the menu and put it on timer before every shot.
Yes it does, and you can do that. I didn't think of it since I use the Fn button for changing the ISO.Does the D40 body have the Fn button under the flash button? Unless you've reprogrammed the button it will activate your timer for your next shot. That way your not using the menu system each time. Just set the default timer to 2s or 5s, and leave the Fn button on timer and you're golden!