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Post by 21146 on Mar 15, 2008 19:38:55 GMT
This may sound like a grossly ignorant question, but is it possible to take moving shots of trains in tunnel stations without flash using the advanced/manual features of cameras like the Canon 300D, 350D and 400D?
Although I've had many photos published these are always of stationary subjects when it comes to tunnel or sub-surface locations.
I'm thinking in particular of the Victoria Line where it's impossible to capture a 1967TS at a halt due to the tight platform berths meaning that some form of moving shot is the only option. LT of course were always able to cheat by stopping a train half way down the platform out-of-hours for publicity pix, complete with PRO staff posing as passengers and the inevitable uniformed official.
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Post by cetacean on Mar 15, 2008 20:01:14 GMT
Set the ISO to 1600 (which increases the amplification in the sensor) and go to Av mode and set the number as low as it will go (which opens the aperture fully). The combination of the two reduces the length of time the shutter needs to be open for, reducing motion blur.
You can also go up to Northumberland Park. The depot has its own bus stop in a prime position for taking pictures.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2008 23:00:11 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2008 10:50:24 GMT
But winding up the ISO increases the noise in the photo, so reducing the quality. Basically, you cannot take good quality photos in low light.
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Post by cetacean on Mar 16, 2008 14:53:20 GMT
My experience with the 300D and 400D is that they still take excellent pictures at ISO 1600. The added grain is barely perceptible. Putting it another way - if my camera somehow got stuck in ISO 1600 mode I'd be in no hurry to get it repaired.
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Post by Chris W on Mar 16, 2008 15:23:57 GMT
21146I have the Canon EOS 400D and invested in a Canon EF 50mm f1:1.8 MK2 lens last year after a recommendation from a friend. Its the aperture of the camera lens that is key... the lower the 'f' figure, the larger the lens that allows light into the camera and therefore the faster the shutter speed... that's the theory - at the end of the day, its a trade off between lens size & shutter speed. See my thread here when I first tested/use this lens last August - districtdave.proboards39.com/index.cgi?board=selfhelp&action=display&thread=1188244760Additional photos taken when LU trains (in tunnels/stations) were moving when using this lens can be seen here: Its not always perfect as you need to have the subject matter at the correct focus length, which is down to judgement when the train is travelling at speed. Also other objects in the near/far distance can be out of focus - having said this this lens is the best solution I've discovered to date  Also I'd suggest getting yourself a very large memory card (I've installed a 4GB stick) and take lots of shots (at least one will be spot on... hopefully :  . Another suggestion when using this lens is to focus on something at the approximate distance that you want the train to be at beforehand and press the shutter button at the appropriate time when the trains leaves the station platform... Regards ChrisW PS: also remember to have the camera mode set so that the flash is turned off - turn the mode wheel on top to the far right so that that zig-zag arrow with box surround is parallel to the marker '-' (perhaps you'd better check the pocket manual on p48) AdditionalWhen taking photos underground I also usually ask for permission from the Station Supervisor first (it might sound OTT, however you'd be surprised how many times LU SA's have told me to disappear as according to them ALL photography needs a license/permission from 55 Broadway even if it is for personal use) - its saved me a lot of aggro in the past when I've inform them that I'm signed in and the on duty supervisor is aware of my presence and I have permission
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Post by 21146 on Mar 16, 2008 23:19:44 GMT
I shall have an experiment tomorrow and post a report of results.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2008 21:38:32 GMT
I shall have an experiment tomorrow and post a report of results. Well? Did you get any good pictures? |
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Post by 21146 on Mar 17, 2008 21:40:02 GMT
I followed your advice Chris W and took a couple of very creditable photos of 1992TS entering Bethnal Green. This was at the end of a day covering the Epping branch from fields and footbridges for the most part and I didn't linger long at Bethnal as the peak had commenced, but I was certainly pleased with the results. Next stop the Victoria Line where lighting levels should be brighter.
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Post by Chris W on Mar 17, 2008 22:49:37 GMT
At least post it up (or alternatively insert a link) so I can see how good MY photo was   Ponders.... should I start charging for advice ;D ;D ;D Assuming you haven't raced out to buy this lens already (if you have I will have to say that I'm impressed), I thoroughly recommend that you invest in this cheap work-around - the f1:1.2 version being just a bit pricier at just under £1k |
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Post by 21146 on Mar 18, 2008 11:17:28 GMT
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Post by Chris W on Mar 18, 2008 12:32:14 GMT
Cool ;D ;D ;D Glad to have been of assistance  |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2008 0:42:30 GMT
A tip for photographing the front of Victoria line trains underground: Head to Green Park and change to the Northbound Victoria line (heading towards Walthamstow Central or Seven Sisters) there. If there is a train in the platform when you enter, it's my experience that they stop short of the tunnel. Here's a shot a got a while back. You have to be quick about it because it's a small entrance to the platform. If you went during a non-peak time you could probably afford a few more seconds to compose a shot. tinyurl.com/3bsrucAnyway, with my 400D I use the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II (the "Nifty Fifty" lens), set the camera to P (the flash will not pop up in this mode unless you want it to) and shoot at ISO 800-1600 (I try to keep it in 800. The noise is quite noticeable at 1600), leaving the aperture and exposure up to the camera. I have had very good results shooting moving trains in Tube stations with this method. tinyurl.com/2otjs9 is a shot of a 1967 stock arriving at Seven Sisters. Of course, I've had some awful shots on the Underground too. It's all about luck. I really do recommend the "Nifty Fifty" for LU photography though. The low aperture can rescue a lot of shots. Naturally there are faster, better lenses, but the "Nifty Fifty" is so cheap you can't really go wrong. That and I heard the f/1.2 version of the lens back-focuses. You could always grab a telephoto and trek over to Northumberland Park. I plan to do that when the weather warms up, provided that they haven't increased the fencing even more. EDIT: Me no grammar no good.  |
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Post by cetacean on Mar 19, 2008 1:32:49 GMT
set the camera to P (the flash will not pop up in this mode unless you want it to) and shoot at ISO 800-1600 (I try to keep it in 800. The noise is quite noticeable at 1600), leaving the aperture and exposure up to the camera. Worth noting that all of the modes round that side of the dial (P/Av/Tv/M/A-DEP) function as "no flash" modes unless you deliberately press the flash open button. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2008 8:53:33 GMT
Although it is subjective, most recent DSLRs are capable of good results at ISO800. Things often get notably noisier and less sharp at ISO1600 and above. (Most compacts are poor above IS200 due to the smaller sensors with unnecessarily high megapixel counts)
As well as very fast prime lenses as mentioned above, I would recommend the use of lenses with built in stabilisation (IS in Canon speak, VR in Nikon speak. These can give you about 2 more stops before your images get blurry, allowing you to use lower ISOs. It is also possible to get faster zoom lenses (f2.8) for less than some fast primes.
If you have the camera in continuous shutter mode, you can take a few shots in quick succession and then pick the sharpest image. Also, always allow enough time for the camera to focus, as many SLRs focus slowly for moving objects and in low light.
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Post by 21146 on Mar 19, 2008 11:23:58 GMT
Thanks for all the info posted so far. I really feel that a whole new arena has been opened (for me!) here. I'm sure many of us have mental list of favoured shooting locations on LUL, a list steadily diminishing as bridges are caged and over-length platforms barried-off to the exact berth of a train. Although C Stock can be captured well in tunnel areas where they run alongside A and D Stock this has up to now always had to be rear views as the front cab will always pull up to the OPO equipment. Now I'm planning a zone 1/2 tour to record trains in deep level stations and am thinking of the quieter sites (Regents Park, Waterloo W&C arrival, Holloway Road...). I'll try both 800 and 1600 settings in each case and see what works best.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2008 19:24:57 GMT
At the risk of making some people sick, I think I've found the ideal camera for taking pictures on the tube. The Nikon D3, which took these at 4000asa paulbigland.fotopic.net/c1484190.html |
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Post by Tom on Mar 30, 2008 21:49:35 GMT
4000 ASA? I'm starting to get jealous! What apeture and exposure length did you use?
Though I have to be honest, I'd never use a Nikon again, after some nightmares in the past. I'll stick to canon, even though you do have to spend out to get the decent cameras.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2008 19:24:01 GMT
4000 ASA? I'm starting to get jealous! What apeture and exposure length did you use? Though I have to be honest, I'd never use a Nikon again, after some nightmares in the past. I'll stick to canon, even though you do have to spend out to get the decent cameras. 1/160th at F4! The results with 6400asa are just as good. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2008 22:13:53 GMT
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Post by 21146 on Apr 15, 2008 11:02:23 GMT
I'm still experimenting with moving Underground (and underground) train shots. A few of the results here > www.flickr.com/photos/24772733@N05/(cut & paste whole link into address bar) |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2008 10:06:29 GMT
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Post by tubeprune on Apr 17, 2008 10:31:09 GMT
Really excellent photos, snapper. I particularly like the one at Edgware Road looking towards Praed Street Jc.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2008 22:57:23 GMT
Really excellent photos, snapper. I particularly like the one at Edgware Road looking towards Praed Street Jc. Thank you kind sir...  |
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