Flicker Free ETTR Timelapse: - -Beginners Guide & Basic Post Processing --

[RenatoPhoto]

From the cam you get *.cr2 files and *.xmp files.  Make sure that the name of the files are the same, ie each raw file needs a corresponding xmp file.  If you open ten raw files in Adobe Camera Raw they open and show some value of exposure on the Exposure slider.  If it all of them read zero then it is not working for you.  If each image has an exposure then the xmp information is beeing read into the ACR and adjusting the exposure acordingly.  You may want to open one of the xmp files and find the exposure filed, it shuld read something like crs:Exposure2012=+1.22.  This would mead that post deflicker calculated that this image needed a 1.22 EV increase to bring it in line with the rest.

[blainesuque]

Perfect, thanks so much. At first i was trying to use the UFraw method, thats what i was asking about mostly, but i think ill be switching to XMP for my workflow. Is there any difference between the two?

[blainesuque]

What is the advantage of ETTR besides capturing more detail for the image? Also will Post Deflicker perform well without it? every time i use it with post deflicker its way overexposed, in camera raw its at +500. My settings are not drastic either, shooting inside house lighting out a window with medium sunlight brightness at 1/25 shutter, iso 100, f4.

[RenatoPhoto]

What is the advantage of ETTR besides capturing more detail for the image?

That is the advantage plus other things:  http://www.magiclantern.fm/forum/index.php?topic=5693.0

Also will Post Deflicker perform well without it?

It should, I have not tried it.

every time i use it with post deflicker its way overexposed, in camera raw its at +500. My settings are not drastic either, shooting inside house lighting out a window with medium sunlight brightness at 1/25 shutter, iso 100, f4.

Dont know what you mean by +500.
Try a lower snr 4/2 or shut it off.  Learn how to use it..

[gkw12345]

Hi, I'm sure that this question has been asked before, but I'm not too sure what search terms to use to find a thread with the answer, so I'll just ask the question here and hope someone can help me.
Using the .xmp workflow, this creates a 'custom' .xmp file per image. How can we then batch process the .cr2 images in ACR without first converting to jpg? Because now the .xmp files are no longer the same so you can't just duplicate the .xmp file, right?

Thanks,
gkw12345

[RenatoPhoto]

Using the .xmp workflow, this creates a 'custom' .xmp file per image. How can we then batch process the .cr2 images in ACR without first converting to jpg? Because now the .xmp files are no longer the same so you can't just duplicate the .xmp file, right?

To clarify this step I expanded the Opening Post as follows:

XMP WORKFLOW for PC

1: Make sure your camera time is not ahead of the computer time you will be using.

2: If the name of your CR2 file does not agree with the xmp, change the XMP always.  In this manner the xmp will be modified after the CR2.  If you do it the other way ACR will not read the files.  Always the CR2 Modified Time Stamp mus be before the xml Modified Time Stamp.

3. Once you have the cr2 and the xmp ready for processing you open all of the cr2 files with ACR.  If you have too many files for your pc capabilities then do them in groups.

4. In ACR click on Select All. Top left.

5. Once the cr2 files are loaded, make sure that the sliders are not modified in the Basic tab.  Do all the exposure adjustments in the Tone Curve tab.

6. Click on Save Images (Bottom Left) and choose your preferred type.  I use tiff for best results.

[agour]

I've been running some tests with ETTR and I'm really impressed with the results!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/lzqz11w7989tu7j/ETTR%20Test.mp4
Started at 1/15, iso 100, f9
Ended at 5 seconds, iso 400, f9.

That's a VERY challenging sequence to shoot, yet it came out beautifully. The stutter is caused by the long intervals between pics.

I've got a few questions that I hope one of the dev's can answer

Is it possible for the camera to deflicker the sequence after it has finished? This would cut down on the length of interval required (10 seconds is too long for most shots).

What's the minimum required time for ETTR to work? Could we shoot sequences with a very fast interval (1-4 seconds) without it breaking? I've yet to test it fully.

[Danne]

Why don,t you use dmilligans script? It,s for postproduction deflickering.

[Danne]

@renatophoto. Found exiftool plugin for lightroom. Might be handy for dngs and such ? http://www.robcole.com/Rob/ProductsAndServices/xEmPLrPlugin/

[gkw12345]

Ramping exposure for XMP for Adobe Bridge
...
On the drop down menu you can select any of the xmp settings, default "Exposure2012"
In Start enter the amount to adjust the first image
In End entered the amount to adjust the last image
Clicked additive (To add or subtract the exposure rather than to change it)
click ok

Hey bro,

Thanks for your speedy reply the previous time. May I know what this amount is?
It seems completely abstract to me.

Thanks!
gkw12345

[RenatoPhoto]

@renatophoto. Found exiftool plugin for lightroom. Might be handy for dngs and such ? http://www.robcole.com/Rob/ProductsAndServices/xEmPLrPlugin/

Have you tested?

[gerfried.guggi]

thanks for the tutorial on how to shoot ETTR timelpase!
I'm afraid I can't get it to work properly on my 5D Mk III - as soon as I start the intervalometer, the exposure get's locked! Despite it worked properly during standby in liveview, as soon as I start the intervalometer, the shutterspeed won't change anymore.
Any idea what I could be doing wrong?
thanks in advance!
Gerfried

[Danne]

Have you tested?

Yes, tested, working on my mac so means it will work for both mac and windows I suppose. Some messages about manually creating some step but fully working creating xmp:s from converted dual iso dng;s.I find it useful when wanting metadata-changes following into after effects. Doesn,t work without xmp sidecar-files.
Plan on doing a vid-tutorial on the dual-iso workflow, mac, lightroom, dmilligan script etc when I find some time...
//D

[roopepal]

Does this require manual white balance? I seem to get the ettr working for a few moments, after which it seems to keep the shutter at the same value for the rest of the time. Any ideas or common mistakes?

[Danne]

You should check this little script out http://www.magiclantern.fm/forum/index.php?topic=8850.0
This tool will give you full control over all raw settings in post production of your raws or dng:s, including deflickering

[itsskin]

Hi guys!
I've been playing with this amazing feature and ran into some troubles. I had 5d3/ML 2013-10-24 with recommended settings in first post. Manual 14mm lens. 15 sec interval, slowest shutter 32, highlight ignore 2%, Midtone SNR limit 5EV, Shadow SNR limit 2 EV. First part went very fine, but after the first half I had a small jump in exposure. Not a big problem. But look what started happening in the end... Any ideas what was the problem here? Thx!

[Danne]

Nice timelapse!
Why don,t you try deflicker with the above script?

[glubber]

My guess is that your shuttertime collided with the interval, so etttr-and deflicker-modules have no time to adjust exposure:

NOTE:  If you set your intervalometer at 30 seconds and your slowest shutter speed at 30 sec, you will have problems.  Set the intervalometer at least = Slowest Shutter speed plus the review image setting, in Canon Menu, plus 3 more seconds.

I guess your timelapse turns out brighter than the original exposure was due to the ML-deflicker.
So the shuttertime could be over the critical 10 seconds (with interval 15").

[itsskin]

My guess is that your shuttertime collided with the interval, so etttr-and deflicker-modules have no time to adjust exposure:

I guess your timelapse turns out brighter than the original exposure was due to the ML-deflicker.
So the shuttertime could be over the critical 10 seconds (with interval 15").

That's probably it. It did overlap. Will do another test today. Thx for the idea!

Now we need automatic interval ramping with settings like "ETTR exporure time" + user set X seconds. This will avoid such glitches and will run fully automatic.

[gerfried.guggi]

Does this require manual white balance? I seem to get the ettr working for a few moments, after which it seems to keep the shutter at the same value for the rest of the time. Any ideas or common mistakes?

I have the very same problem as stated 2 posts above yours ...
Any ideas? Would love to get ETTR + Intervalometer working!

[dmilligan]

@roopepal, @gerfried,

Check the min shutter speed setting for ETTR, it sounds like you are hitting this limit. ETTR wont set the shutter speed slower than this setting, instead it compensates with ISO. Once you hit min shutter setting and max ISO, it's not going to change the exposure any more (it can't go any further). Was the ISO changing? Was your scene lighting actually changing? You're using the 'Always On' mode not LV right? (step number 3 in the OP) and you have image review on? Do you hear the beeps? How many? (3 indicates expo limits reached, it should also say this on the screen)

Perhaps read the OP again, very carefully. I think you probably just need to make sure all your settings are correct.  http://xkcd.com/627/

[MedicineMan4040]

I'm so far behind.....when I go to the exposure tab in ML I do not see an Auto ETTR option...yes 2 min pic review is checked. Entered ML with 'M' on the dial, then dialed to Bulb....still no Auto ERRT option. Thoughts? (recent install on 6D)

[gerfried.guggi]

did you activate the ETTR in the module tab?

[gerfried.guggi]

@roopepal, @gerfried,

Check the min shutter speed setting for ETTR, it sounds like you are hitting this limit. ETTR wont set the shutter speed slower than this setting, instead it compensates with ISO. Once you hit min shutter setting and max ISO, it's not going to change the exposure any more (it can't go any further). Was the ISO changing? Was your scene lighting actually changing? You're using the 'Always On' mode not LV right? (step number 3 in the OP) and you have image review on? Do you hear the beeps? How many? (3 indicates expo limits reached, it should also say this on the screen)

Perhaps read the OP again, very carefully. I think you probably just need to make sure all your settings are correct.  http://xkcd.com/627/

I don't know what the problem was, but it has been solved using the latest November releases.

@dmilligan that's the flowchart I usually send out to people 2 persons have tried independently without success ... wether ISO nor shutter speed was changing, despite sun setting down in frame. Also I didn't hear any beep, which I get now with the latest nightly build (before I've tested Oct10th till October 28th). But thanks anyway!

[MedicineMan4040]

gerfried.guggi Thank you.