How do i eliminate the Staccato Effect in Timelapse when using Auto-ETTR ?

Started by NitromanX, October 06, 2015, 12:45:47 AM

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NitromanX

Hi all ...

I'm exploring the incredibly clever Auto ETTR feature for day to night timelapse.

I understand the concept and have had some success, but my timelapses always start with fast shutter speeds of around 1/500 sec. This can drop to say 30 secs when the light levels drop too, but I'm left with the ugly staccato effect during the day.

Is there any way around this - via user settings ? Or alternatively, can i use a vari nd filter cranked up to max to start with (reducing exposure approx six stops) and then turn the filter as light levels drop to reduce the ND effect.

If i can play with a vari nd filter - how will this affect flicker and the consistency of Auto ETTR module ?

Your advice would be greatly assisted to help me improve my day to night timelapses.

Thanks in advance :)

garry23



ansius

from 1/500 to 30sec is roughly 14 stops, unless you are shooting directly in sun and then want stars, i do not see when you would need so drastic range.

Time lapses in general fallow the same cinematic 180deg angle rule, so your exposure should be 1/2 of the interval for best result, but you can live with 1/4 of that just fine.

I have tried some such transitions tough in area where I live the twilight is way to long for any interesting result unless some colors in sky, but in general I could achieve 1/10 to 20 sec, when letting some 2-3 stop iso change on my 7D.

Depends also on what camera and how high you are willing to let the ISO go, have you looked into also dual ISO?

Canon EOS 7D & 40D, EF-S 17-85mm IS USM, EF 28-300mm IS USM, Mir-20, Mir-1, Helios 44-5, Zenitar ME1, Industar 50-2, Industar 61L/Z-MC, Jupiter 37A, TAIR-3
http://www.ansius.lv http://ansius.500px.com

dmilligan

Quote from: ansius on October 07, 2015, 12:04:44 AM
unless you are shooting directly in sun and then want stars, i do not see when you would need so drastic range.
I think that is exactly the point:
Quote from: NitromanX on October 06, 2015, 12:45:47 AM
day to night timelapse

I have shot day to night timelapses where I was "shooting directly in sun and then want stars", and the exposure went from one extreme to the other: 1/4000 ISO 100 in the day => 32s ISO 3200 at night.

Personally, I just deal with the 'staccato effect', it doesn't really bother me and it's not really so bad if the motion in you daytime scene is not too fast. I've tried messing around with ND filters to try and achieve a more or less constant shutter angle and it's just not practical (maybe I'm just too lazy). I have a 10 stop ND that I can get reasonably long shutter speeds in daylight with, but the problem is matching the color. The ND has color cast, which I can make look okay, but it's almost impossible to match perfectly it to other weaker NDs or no ND at all. So I always ended up with weird color jumps. Perhaps a vari-ND would work better, but IDK if there are decent vari-NDs that are strong enough to go from full daylight to nighttime.

You can try ramping the aperture, either manually or with this module: http://www.magiclantern.fm/forum/index.php?topic=8431.0 but that will not get you all the way from 1/500 to 30.

NitromanX

Thanks to you all for your suggestions and info. Maybe the easy way is just to put up with the stacatto effect - i just assumed i needed to eliminate it for high quality timelapses.

Yes amsius, I'm looking in to dual iso too thanks. I've done hdr timelapses but dual iso has some advantages. I'm just struggling to Mac process / deflicker dual iso dngs, ramp them and make it all work - but i will persevere. Takes forever though. Tried usuing an Edelkrone Action module slider today too - but it all just got too complicated and i messed up ! :)

I'm hoping to try some sunset to stars timelapses ... I did play with David's clever deflicker Bridge script and to be honest, it was bloody amazing ... hardly any flicker at all even with significant exposure jumps. Early days let but a big thanks to you dmilligan. :)

I do have a great quality vari nd - genustech http://www.genustech.tv/collections/genus-eclipse-nd-fader they are very good but not at all cheap and i dropped one a few months ago - smash and ouch ! :( I was going to try tweaking the strength by 1/3 stop as the light dropped but don't know if it's worth the effort as i lose two stops minimum and so would have to then remove it on long 1/2 sec exposures or longer. Not ideal.

Maybe i'm being too fussy ... :) Perhaps I'll keep playing to perfect my technique before i worry about stacatto. 






NitromanX

Actually Genus Tech Vari ND seem to be on sale atm so may be worth a look http://www.genustech.tv/collections/genus-eclipse-nd-fader - direct purchase seems cheaper than Amazon etc.