Camera Labs

I have a Lumix FZ35, and was looking for the best mode, and setting to capture lightning? So far I just tryed in P Mode, and Recording in AVCHD. I did manage to capture a couple good strikes. It would be near impossible to capture just snapping pictures. So I figure video is the only way.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

HI
Welcome to the CL forums!

What would you say with capture lighting? More light on the sensor? A bit overexposing your images?

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Ruben

Panasonic DMC-FZ18, Panasonic DMC-FZ28, Canon G5, Canon 350D, Canon 50D + BG-E2N
Tamron 17-50 2.8, Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM,
Canon 18-55 II plus lots of Minolta MD/M42 lenses and bodies

Hi,

I would not go into the technical aspects of capturing lightning. However, to capture lightning by chance, you have to be really very lucky. But, to your luck, there are automatic devices available. They will automatically take a photo when lightning is detected. However, they don't come cheap. But, if you are really interested in lightning, you may try to research more.

Hope this helps. My apologies if you knew any/all of this.

Jinay.

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A picture is worth a thousand words, but a photograph should make you say just one - "WOW!"

Canon EOS 550D + 18-55mm Kit Lens + Canon 75-300mm III USM + Filters.
Panasonic Lumix FZ35

My Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jdm_01/

... better in night when you can use
30seg. exp.
aim cam towards lightnings are,
shoot cam at 30 seg. in manual mode,
close diafr. 8 f.e. because lightning
emite too much light.

Anyone have any good tips on doing this in video mode? This is what I have been doing. Here is a couple videos I have made, and edited.

This one was in P mode, and manual focus, not any better, maybe worse.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=875JMbgo2BY

This one was shot in P mode, and recoreded in AVCHD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ic2ztg5Jruo

If I use manual video mode, which setting should I use?

Program AE?
Aperture Priority?
Shutter Priority?

And which zone mode? Spot? Center? Multi Zone?
I'm sure that the camera should be set to auto focus off, and use manaul focus set to infinity right?

Thanks
Manual Exposure

... sorry i was thinking in photo
no video

video = npi

Here is what I have made so far with my limited understanding of the settings.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ic2ztg5Jruo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=875JMbgo2BY

We had a nice lightning storm come through last week and I made some attempts at getting pics/video using my ZS7. Video mode was pretty sad as the camera's auto focus didn't really know what to do. it was nearly pitch black outside so it was constantly searching for the focus.

Pictures actually turned out ok given it's a point and shoot. I just set it at a low ISO, high aperture value and let it go for a 30 second exposure.







And (in comparison) another taken with my EOS XSi w/canon 18-200 mm IS lens





It would be near impossible to get something like that by simply trying to hit the shutter at just the right millisecond it strikes. They make light triggers that will snap when lightning flashes but IMO, personally I enjoy using a longer exposure the best as it can capture multiple strikes in a single shot.

All the action in those shots above were happening over the horizon so I would have had to tempt fate and climb on my roof to get a better shot.