M9 Bracketing question

[Steve Fines]

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Hello,

 

I was setting up to do an HDR pano and found it challenging with the M9. Maybe I'm missing something here and someone can point it out.....

 

What I want to do is ( on a pano head) point the camera left and have it take 3 shots (0, -1ev, +1ev), then point it to the middle and take the SAME exposures, and then again to the right. I will then stitch these and hdr them later.

 

Here's the M9 issue:

 

The bracketing function only seems to work in A mode. This is fine for a single shot HDR.

 

However, when doing a pano I need the middle and right shots to be exactly the same exposures as the left shots.

 

If I leave the camera in A mode it likely will determine a different base exposure for the middle and right shots.

 

So, my question: is there a way on the M9 to bracket in manual mode - i.e. where I set the shutter speed?

 

 

The workaround is that I manually bracket the shots by turning the shutter speed dial. However, this takes time, introduces camera movement and is less sophisticated than my Panasonic P&S.

 

I like doing HDR panos, and was planning a large series soon - hopefully I'm just missing an easy setting here.

[jaapv]

If I get it right you want to do a pano and HDR? I don't think you can do that without working on a tripod for a static subject. In that case you do not need bracketing at all.Just go manual and take your time imo.

[Steve Fines]

Hello,

 

I do these a lot with Canon and Nikon systems. They, and my Pany LX3 have no problem bracketing while shooting in manual mode.

 

I'm using a tripod and a spherical pano head. I should have explained that.

 

Speed is important as one wants the scene to change as little as possible between the first and the last shot.

 

Doing it manually by turning the shutter speed knob is a workaround, but this introduces movement between frames, which is less than ideal.

[jaapv]

I understand. I guess it is the same kind of niggle as the auto-ISO screwing up manual exposure. Maybe it will change in firmware at some point of time, but I have my doubts...

[gravastar]

That does seem like an omission in the firmware. I can confirm what what you say appears to be correct and I can't find a simply way around the problem. HDR landscape panos are something I was hoping to use the camera for, but haven't had the opportunity yet.

 

The only kludge I can think of is to set the camera's exposure mode to auto and to use a tilted white card in front of the lens to give the same starting exposure for each sequence. You lock the exposure with a slight depress of the shutter release, remove the the card and then take the series before repositioning the camera and repeating.. It's a very cumbersome method and probably more trouble than just doing the series manually .

 

I hope this is resolved in a future firmware release.

 

Bob.

[Brian Bower]

One possibility that might be worth trying is to set a five shot bracket. This might give sufficient choice to enable a satisfactory progression of image density. Another thought is that if you know approximately what the variation is as you pan you could set some exposure compensation for the second and third shots. Otherwise your only option is, as you say, to do the whole thing manually with a good solid tripod and using a cable release.

 

Brian Bower