Shooting Long Exposure Images (Bulb) and the Maximum Possible Bulb Time (EOS 7D Mark II)
16-Sep-2014
8202207400
Solution
In this mode, the shutter stays open as long as you hold down the shutter button completely, and closes when you let go of the shutter button. This is called bulb exposure. Use bulb exposures for night scenes, fireworks, the heavens, and other subjects requiring long exposures.
CAUTION
Do not point the camera toward an intense light source, such as the sun on a sunny day or an intense artificial light source. Doing so may damage the image sensor or the camera’s internal components.
IMPORTANT
For bulb exposures, set the IS switch to <OFF>. If <ON> is set, Image Stabilizer misoperation may occur.
The setting procedure is explained below.
1. Set the camera's power switch to <ON>.
2. Set the Mode Dial to <B>.
3. While looking at the LCD panel or viewfinder, turn the <
> or <
> dial.
> or <> dial.
4. Take the picture.
- The exposure will continue for as long as you keep the shutter button pressed completely.
- The elapsed exposure time (
) will be displayed on the LCD panel.
NOTE
- Long exposures produce more noise than usual.
- If Auto ISO is set, the ISO speed will be ISO 400.
- For a bulb exposure, if you use both the self-timer and mirror lockup instead of the bulb timer, keep pressing the shutter button completely (self-timer delay time + bulb exposure time). If you let go of the shutter button during the self-timer countdown, there will be a shutter-release sound, but no picture will be taken. If you use the bulb timer under the same shooting conditions, you need not hold down the shutter button completely.
REFERENCE
- With [
: Long exp. noise reduction], you can reduce the noise generated during long exposures - For bulb exposures, using a tripod and bulb timer is recommended. Using mirror lockup with bulb exposures is also possible.
- You can also shoot bulb exposures by using Remote Switch RS-80N3 or Timer Remote Controller TC-80N3 (both sold separately).
- You can also use Remote Controller RC-6 (sold separately) for bulb exposures. When you press the remote controller’s transmit button, the bulb exposure will start immediately or 2 sec. later. Press the button again to stop the bulb exposure.
You can preset the bulb exposure’s exposure time. With the bulb timer, you need not hold down the shutter button during the bulb exposure.
This reduces camera shake. The bulb timer can be set only in the <B> (Bulb) shooting mode. It cannot be set (or will not function) in any other shooting mode.
The setting procedure is explained below.
1. Set the Mode Dial to <B>.
2. Press the <MENU> button to display the menu screen.
3. Press the <
> button and select the [ 
] tab.
> button and select the [ ] tab.
4. Turn the <> dial to select the [ 
] tab.
> dial to select the [ ] tab. 
5. Turn the <> dial to select [Bulb timer], then press <
>.
> dial to select [Bulb timer], then press <>. 
6. Turn the <> dial to select [Enable], then press <INFO> button.
> dial to select [Enable], then press <INFO> button.
7. Set the desired exposure time
- Turn the <> dial to select hour, minute, or second.
- Press < > so [
] is displayed. - Turn the <> dial to select the desired number, then press <> (Returns to [
]).
8. Turn the <> dial to select [OK], then press <>.
> dial to select [OK], then press <>. 
- The set time will be displayed on the menu screen.
- [
] will be displayed on the LCD panel.
9. Take the picture.
- Press the shutter button completely, and the bulb exposure will start and continue until the set time elapses.
- To cancel the timer setting, set [Disable] in step 6.
: Elapsed exposure time 
: Bulb timerIMPORTANT
- If you press the shutter button completely while the bulb timer is operating, the bulb exposure will stop.
- Doing any of the following will cancel the bulb timer (reverts to [Disable]): Set the power switch to <OFF>, display the movie shooting screen, or change the shooting mode from <B>.
| Maximum Possible Bulb Time | |
|---|---|
| Bulb Shooting | Approx. 3 hr. (The figure above is based on a fully-charged Battery Pack LP-E6N) |
| Bulb Timer Shooting | 1 sec. – 99 hr. 59 min. 59 sec. (The time shown above only indicates the maximum possible setting time. When shooting, the battery level and/or other environmental conditions may prevent shooting for the maximum amount of time.) |