Sunsets from Boat

[brenda_carpenter2]

Hi, I am wanting to take some medium format photos of sunsets at a local lake.

At sunset the wind dies down and most other boaters have left and I think I can

hold the camera steady enough at 1/64 or 1/30. I have a Rolleiflex 3.5E and a

Minolta Autocord also with a 3.5 lens. I am reluctant to take either of these

out on the boat and I wonder if 3.5 will be fast enough. I could probably pick

up a Yashica D or Yashica Mat with a 2.8 Yashinon lens on ebay for a good

price, definitely for less than a Rollieflex 2.8 would cost. Would f2.8 with a

400 ASA film be adequate to give me good exposures at 1/30? I will appreciate

any advice you can give me.

[robert x]

Take the camera out on the boat. Do you normally capsize or fall in ? Unless it's a canoe I

don't see why you are worried... Just be careful and use the strap and don't let anyone push

you in. Use a fast film and you should be fine. Use a cable release or self timer.

USE IT.

 

R

[robert_potts1]

Sunset brightness covers a long range, but 3.5 at ASA 400 should be adequate most of the time. Some of the time you will find yourself at shutter speeds that are easily hand-held and significantly faster than 1/30.

[anupam]

I wouldn't buy a camera for a 2/3 stop difference. Besides with 400 speed film you can shoot at 7 to 8 stops below sunny 16 with your camera handheld - plenty for sunsets.

[jorge_jimenez1]

Use either 3.5 camera with a neck strap to hold it steady. With 400 speed film you should have no problem shooting a sunset. The Rollei would be my pick.

[rick_sikora]

I think you will be fine for what you have in mind.

In a pinch you can always shoot your 400 speed and push process a stop if need be but I don't think you will need to push process. I wouldn't buy a new (different) camera just for this shoot, what you have should be adequate.

 

Good light and great pics,

Rick

[pavelp]

If you are interested mostly in sky/sun, there's plenty light during sunset. The ground goes dark fast, but the sky remains bright (however the light intensity changes real fast so watch your meter carefully). <br /><br />

 

I believe <a href = "http://www.photo.net/photo/2143306">this shot</a> was taken at f/2.8;1/30 and the sun was down for quite a while already.

[machts gut]

Like the others: try it. But I have another point. Neither the Yashica D, nor the Yashicamat have a 2.8 lens. The taking lenses are 3.5 like yours.

 

Stefan

[david_henderson]

I have no idea whether 1/30 will be achievable because sunsets start out bright and end up dark. The thing I'd question though is whether you#ll get a sharp image at 1/30 anyway, since you have to take into account not only the ability to handhold successfully but also inevitably some movement from the boat itself. I wouldn't like to bank on that combination at 1/30 myself. Also if you're taking wide open you might have a depth of field issue, depending on your composition.

[mag_miksch]

and stop the engines^^

[brenda_carpenter2]

Well darn! You guys shot down a perfectly good excuse for buying another camera! But, you gave me some good advice. I'm going out to the lake in two weeks, and hopefully will come back with some breathtaking photos. Thanks a million.