Is Bulb mode or stacking shorter exposures more power-efficient for star trails?
Asked 7/17/2013
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For very long exposures like star trails, is it more battery-efficient to make one long Bulb exposure or shoot many shorter exposures that add up to the same total exposure time? Also, if I leave the shutter open in Bulb mode for something like an hour, will parts of the scene become overexposed?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
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Without actually testing, I am reluctant to say with absolute certainty, but I won't let that stop me -- I will just make a list of assumptions :-)
Assuming stacked exposures of the same total time as the single bulb exposure, that your are not using dark frame noise reduction, that sensor power efficiency does not get significantly worse as it heats up and that your camera does not violate the laws of physics, it is going to take (ever so slightly) more energy to perform multiple exposures, just because you have to move the mirror/shutter and the processor will have to work a little harder processing multiple images.
Of course there are plenty of other advantages to stacking, but I do not think power savings is one of them.
Originally by user20982. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user20982
13y ago
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If the total exposure time is the same, one long Bulb exposure is generally slightly more power-efficient than many shorter exposures. With multiple frames, the camera has to cycle the shutter (and mirror on a DSLR) repeatedly and process/save more individual files, which uses a bit more energy.
That said, the power difference is usually small, and stacking shorter exposures is often chosen for other reasons, not battery savings.
As for overexposure: yes, a single hour-long exposure can overexpose bright parts of the scene if the exposure settings and ambient light allow too much light to build up. Total exposure time still matters, so brighter elements in the composition can blow out during a very long Bulb exposure. Whether that happens depends on the scene brightness, aperture, ISO, and any changing light during the exposure.
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AI13y ago
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