Can you use the AEB function on the mini 2 to take photos of a fast moving object like a train/car or would it not work due to the objects movement between each individual shot. It’s not something i ve tried. Only asking as I may have a chance to TRY to get some photos of the Flying Scotsman up here in Cumbria at the weekend. Sorry for showing my ignorance here!
This could be one of the shortest threads here if I have answered my own question . The Scotsman is traveling up the Settle to Carlisle line on Saturday and then over to Newcastle before heading down to Darlington.
You won’t be able to blend multiple exposures successfully if the subject is moving.
But you also only need to use AEB if you think the subject will have a high dynamic range.
Where AEB can be useful when shooting moving subjects is providing different exposures quickly so there’s more chance of one of the images being correctly exposed. Although if you’re shooting RAW there’s less benefit.
Tempted to try shooting in 4k video but not sure how close I would need to get as @milkmanchris mentioned. Also my tracking skills to follow a moving object are not that great yet! Would love to capture it over the Ribblehead viaduct though but thats a bit of a trek for me for a Saturday afternoon.
If the Scotsman is going over it, it will be rammed with train spotters and photographers, don’t be surprised to find some Karen & Kevin drone police folk, so be prepared for that, and i guess, just be at an position that isn’t going to spoil other people’s pictures from the land.
I have only been there once myself. If I wasn’t so far away I would be tempted too. Just check the timings, mate. I know it going to be in Carlisle from
2pm to 4pm before leaving for Newcastle.
Obviously, to merge the images for HDR, the extent of the problem depends on the linear speed of the train across the frame (in term of pixels) - the slower the better - and the time between the first and last pic.
the slower the train the better … obviously
closer = faster, further away = slower
That leaves the time between first and last pic, and this had me thinking … does shutter speed impact this?
Quick set up at home - one indoors one out - watch with a sweep second hand (1/5sec ticks) - and what I discovered is that this just doesn’t make a jot of difference. Both versions have about a 2 sec time difference between 1st and 5th. (Mavic Pro).
Bright - outdoors - base exposure - ISO:100 f/2.2 1/1400sec
Pic 1
Pic 5
Indoors - dim light - base exposure : ISO:160 f/2.2 1/13sec
Pic 1
Pic 5
The above timing was when capturing both jpeg and RAW. If I had the patience, I’d try again with just RAW … but whilst it may be quicker (I actually doubt it), I doubt it would be quick enough to get it below 1 sec.
The above were from RAW - no processing other than crop.
Interesting little experiment. I didn’t realise it took as long as 2 seconds for the 3/5 photos in AEB to be taken, irrelevant of the shutter speed. It doesn’t sound like much but i guess it would be enough to make merging the photos impossible on something like a fast moving steam train! I think I,ll play it safe and go for single shots in RAW (or possibly 4K video). Even then my photography skills are not the best but I,'ll give it go assuming I can get there!
I’m so lucky to only live 15mins away from Ribblehead viaduct and went up there the other week having had my mini for only a week. I managed to put this together from my visit.
I’m hoping to get across to my local heritage railway weather permitting during a couple days of annual leave this week to practise capturing some steam trains so fingers crossed I’ll have some lessons learned as I seriously doubt on my first attempt I’ll have much of any decent footage/photos but I may surprise myself.