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Topics - tmcdanel

#1
General Help Q&A / mountains at night
September 08, 2016, 11:50:13 PM

To take a picture of a mountainside in the distance, with moonlight and without should i use M or P?
I get nothing on automatic.
What settings should i try to start with?
Do i change the ISO?
#2
Duplicate Questions / wildlife at night
September 08, 2016, 11:45:59 PM
Canon Rebel T5i
Magic Lantern

First question:
I have a bear and a fox, not necessarily related, honking around my cabin at night. I want to take wildlife photos at night. Hopefully a moon is not necessary. If i use Magic Lantern's intervalometer, is there a setting that i could use so it is not blurry?

I could use a motion trigger. I found this one.
Micnova LC03C Lightning & Motion Sensor Trigger $90
But the reviews are not good.
I know that Magic Lantern has a motion detector but even at the most senstive setting, i think #1, i cannot get it to trigger without wearing a headlight. Even though the bear seems quite friendly, he (she?) refuses to wear a headlight.
Are there better solutions?

I know this is probably a common question but searching night and wildlife i havent found any threads.

#3
So there is the Opteka LTX-80 
http://www.amazon.com/Opteka-Lightning-Fireworks-Security-Wildlife/dp/B00CS3PHZK/ref=pd_cart_wl_2_p?ie=UTF8&colid=3395NA902P2PT&coliid=I113UN2D7UMJ5L&refRID=1WVPANWNJ6BS5VYC2RD9

But as you can see from the customer reviews & stars, it is a fizzled firework of dissatisfaction. I would cringe at paying much more than maybe $200.

Is there anything that anyone has found satisfactory?
#4
Right now it is set for MVI so all file names look like this: MVI_0289.MOV

Can i change this?
to something like MVA to give MVA_0289.MOV

How about with jpegs?
Currently it is saving: IMG   So files are named IMG_0243.jpg
Can i change it to IMA to get  IMA_0243.jpg

How about on the T5i?

The reason i am asking is i use two cameras, a T3i and T5i, and i want to clearly distinguish the products of the two cameras.
#5
I have about $2000 left in a video/photography grant. The most exotic applications, nighttime time-lapse or at least an intervalometer and such. So i was planning on buying 2 T5i's. Some of the parameters sound better like the ISO range goes higher. But reading posts on T5i Magic Lantern and it looks it is still a work in progress, so i am concerned.  So two questions:

1.  Considering ML stability on T5i, should i consider T4i's?

2. Is there a more expensive, more advanced Canon DSLR model that i could buy only one, and get many benefits?

If you have thots or suggested pages or threads, i'd appreciate them.
#6
I have been doing time lapse night exposures of a mountain on moonless nights. I have been doing 30 second exposures at F3.5 aperture but the mountain is still dark. It seems like a longer exposure would bring out more stars and color.

Is it possible to use Magic Lantern to lengthen the exposure time.

Lens Canon EFS- 18-135mm
#7
I know there is a 30 minute limit on my T3i but for some reason it is sort of randomly breaking video into very short segments. Like 80 meg - 400 meg files. I attached a screen shot. I vaguely remember encountering this when i had a poorly mounted video card, and maybe a good cleaning would fix it, but i don't think thats the problem.
(Ok feeling stupid here because i don't know how to use [img] so here it is:

http://bayimg.com/cAFKDAAfH
#8
I am a teacher doing a grant project shooting skits and puppet shows with a Canon Rebel T3i. The other thing to keep in mind is that in a school, a good camera gets used for a wide variety of applications, including stage performances. Sound is always a problem. Maybe you could point me to some good threads or forums or answer three questions:

I guess i am going to get a shotgun mike. I have a grant for the project so i can re-allocate money how i need. I am looking at an AmoVee SG-108 or a TAKSTAR SGC-598. Both are under $50 and have good Amazon ratings. A Rode or high end Technica seem too much.
So on the low end is there a difference between AmoVee or Takstar? and will i be happy with these?
Or would it be better to add my own personal money and invest in a Rode?

Secondly should i consider a preamp. I have seen Youtube videos that advocate using a preamp like a Juicedlink rm202 as well because the camera's AGC (Automatic Gain Control) is poor but they are really expensive.
So the question here is which is a better bang for my buck, an expensive mike or a preamp?

Finally, maybe i would be better of with lapel mikes, perhaps wireless, in most uses. But i dont know where to begin with those and my impression is that most professionals dont use those. Beyond a what distance are wireless mikes better?
What would a professional do in a classroom?