'bulb' setting on Canon DSLR

Oight.
So i want to create exposures of more than 30 seconds.
Do any of you chaps know what is needed?
I hear you should lock up the mirror and to get an even crisper shot use
the 'bowler hat' technique which I think is a great thing but.....
yeah..maybe in 1888.
Do I need a remote thingymebob?

Ah ! Nice one, film or digital camera Frank??

If it's film, set the camera to it's 'B' or bulb setting, you need what's called a cable release, and yes if there is not a delayed timer on the camera (like in a digital one) you can simply put a hat or anything tht will easily cover the lens to reduce vibrations when locking up the mirror, or essentially turning the camera 'on' and exposing the film.

Same for a digital, you can get a release cable, what camera is it?? You can set the camera so that once the cable is released, the timer will count down usually from 10 seconds, and then the mirror will lock up, exposing the ccd chip underneath to the heavens above

Just setthe digital on manual, and set at bulb
Keith..

Do any of you chaps know what is needed?

The shutter release cable. Then in manual mode set the exposure time to bulb

I hear you should lock up the mirror and to get an even crisper shot use
the 'bowler hat' technique which I think is a great thing but.....
yeah..maybe in 1888.
Do I need a remote thingymebob?

I've used the black cloth method, even the shutter can cause vibration unless you have a very solid setup.

The mirror lock up is in the custom functions of canon DSLR's, check the manual for the exact process to set it.

Cheers,
~Al

my investigation turned out to be that i needed (at least for the 300d) a modified firmware to have the mirror lock option on bulb settings. Havent uppgraded mine yet, have to borrow a flash reader/writer.

Frank, as alluded to above, the cable release is one option. Another option is to control your camera from a PC using software such as DSLR focus www.dslrfocus.com That website also has details on how to make a serial port to camera shutter release cable.

The modified firmware referred to is available at

satinfo.narod.ru/en/index.html

To install it you just copy the file to a blank compact flash card, insert it in your camera and turn it on the update is automatic. You do need to know that this invalidates your warranty. However, it does enable mirror lockup so you dont have to worry about bowler hats or any other type of headgear! It also enables ISO3200, (which can be useful for framing test shots).

As regards controlling the shutter on your 300D or 350D I have a device designed which allows you to control a DSLR and schedule a sequence of exposures without using a PC! I will be publishing plans for this very shortly into the public domain. I think many DSLR users are gonna like this little device!

Frank,
I've modified my 300D with the flash upgrade, it gives mirror lock which is important on smaller scopes, I've seen the etx70 suffer with vibration from the canon, so mirror lock is needed there, the 12" on the other hand is massive enough not to be affected by this.

As for 30+ second exposures, what you need is a cable release, this allows you to open and close the shutter as you please, and yours truely makes them for DSLRs :lol: shameless plug.
Usually, I sell them at the WSP but pretty much everyone who wantes one at this stage has got one, so I've saturated the market :lol: I think alot of people on these boards have one.
I can make one up for you, they cost 25E, if not you can go get one from Canon for quite alot more.