Bulb setting on M 262

[acmineiro]

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I am having trouble using the bulb setting on my 262. No matter how long I keep the shutter button pressed it will not allow me to take long (1minutes or more) exposures. After 8 seconds the camera starts to apply noise reduction to the image. No matter how long I hold the shutter button down it always takes a picture at the 8 second mark and applies noise reduction.

 

Has anyone had this problem using the bulb setting?

 

Thanks

ACM

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[a.noctilux]

As other Leica M  (as M240, M-P, M10), the limitation time in bulb mode is normal.

It depend on ISO setting also.

Hoping that the limitations (for M240/262/M-D) increase in time with new firmware, as M10's 4 minutes in last firmware.

 

I think that yours is 1000 ISO or more ?

 

See the same question in this link:

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/284349-shutter-speed-limitations-at-higher-iso/

 

 

TIP for free...

 

I discovered a tip in "B" mode for M(type 262) as it doesn't have the "focus button" of M240.

 

When set to "B", just turn the wheel "25" left or right, and the LCD shows up the possible setting for the ISO .

 

Turn the wheel to set at the number of seconds for "B" as 8 -12-16-24-32-45-60 for 200ISO

Edited July 25, 2018 by a.noctilux

[_Michael]

I am expecting delivery of a 262 soon, so I am unable to test. Are you guys saying the "B" mode allows only up to an 8 second exposure?  The shutter dialogues down to 8s so I assume I am just confused. (that happens easily sometimes  )

[a.noctilux]

Michael,

 

As said the possibility of long exposure in "B" mode depends on ISO setting.

 

For 200 ISO possible to set 60 seconds and the camera will take 60s more for noise reduction not cancelable.

[_Michael]

Michael,

 

As said the possibility of long exposure in "B" mode depends on ISO setting.

 

For 200 ISO possible to set 60 seconds and the camera will take 60s more for noise reduction not cancelable.

 

 

Thank you. I read the referenced link and understand it better now. The long exposure work I like to do is generally at lower ISO ratings, and generally 30-seconds or less. While my pending 262 will be the first step into the world of Leica, I am used to the noise reduction cycle with other bodies. Some you can cancel, some you cannot. 

 

Cheers

[ramarren]

hmm. I have the M-D typ 262, not the standard M typ 262. The shutter dial supports timed exposures up to 8s in length plus B. I set it to ISO 200 and B, and held the shutter open (with the lens cap on) for about 37 seconds without any difficulty. It then did a 37 second dark noise exposure and saved the raw file. So at least this model is capable of more than an 8 second exposure. 

 

I brought the DNG file into LR to see what if anything it showed. By racking the Exposure brightness up to +5 EV, I could see just a tiny little bit of noise data on the bottom end of the histogram. I then used the Tone Curve in Point Curve setting mode to slide the white point over to the blacks end of the scale, which expanded the noise there out over the full range ... yes, just a mostly pretty evenly distributed bit of unresolved noise developed in 37 seconds that eluded the black point subtraction. I then reset to normal, and pulled the black point over to the right by about 0.8%: all the noise was completely eliminated. 

 

With that as encouragement, I did another exposure to see how long the maximum this body would support might be. Turns out to be 1 minute at ISO 200, and subsequent processing in LR eliminates the residual noise when I pull the black point over by about the same 0.8% to 1.0%. I imagine this means that if I were to shoot interesting situation that requires a very long exposure time, I'll be able to get some decent results from it and can completely eliminate noise by cutting the DR by 1% at the bottom end. 

 

(This test inspired me to look at my new CL in the same way. It's a little sillier in that Leica provides timed exposures out to 30 seconds, and also provides a T setting. Well, the T setting nets no longer exposure time, 30 seconds is the limit. The black point noise disappears at about the same 0.8-1.0% adjustment too, so the sensor at ISO 100 seems to have a similar long exposure dynamic range to the M-D sensor at ISO 200. ... Useful info! ) 

Edited July 25, 2018 by ramarren

[acmineiro]

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I will set the iso to 200 and try it again.

 

Thanks to everyone.

ACM

[acmineiro]

The tip a.noctilux gave me works great! Thanks!