Setting 6d to Continuously Shoot Every 5 Seconds
Maxdb • New Member • Posts: 5
Intervalometer issue on my 6DII
2
Hi everyone,
I've noticed a problem with the built-in intervalometer on my canon 6DII.
I'll start with an example: I was shooting milky way exposures for future stacking, so I wanted continuous shots of 15s exposure with 1 second delay between shots. I set it to take as many as possible: 99.
However, after 8 shots, I noticed that the camera had stopped taking shots. I retried, and it happened again after 8 shots. Then with another lens I took 8s exposures, and set the intervalometer again, with a 2 second delay this time. After about 14 shots, the camera again stopped taking pictures.
After more testing, it looks like the intervalometer stops working after about 1 minute and 40 seconds. This 1m40s doesn't vary when I change either the number of shots, the delay between shots, or the exposure settings (shutter speed, aperture or ISO). I really don't understand!
I know I could buy an external intervalometer, but I'd be curious as to how to fix this issue. Any clue?
Thanks in advance!!
Canon 6D Mark II Samyang 14mm F2.8 ED AS IF UMC Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art Canon EF 16-35mm F4L IS USM Canon EF 50mm F1.8 STM +1 more
Andy01 • Veteran Member • Posts: 5,033
Re: Intervalometer issue on my 6DII
2
Maxdb wrote:
Hi everyone,
I've noticed a problem with the built-in intervalometer on my canon 6DII.
I'll start with an example: I was shooting milky way exposures for future stacking, so I wanted continuous shots of 15s exposure with 1 second delay between shots. I set it to take as many as possible: 99.
However, after 8 shots, I noticed that the camera had stopped taking shots. I retried, and it happened again after 8 shots. Then with another lens I took 8s exposures, and set the intervalometer again, with a 2 second delay this time. After about 14 shots, the camera again stopped taking pictures.
After more testing, it looks like the intervalometer stops working after about 1 minute and 40 seconds. This 1m40s doesn't vary when I change either the number of shots, the delay between shots, or the exposure settings (shutter speed, aperture or ISO). I really don't understand!
I know I could buy an external intervalometer, but I'd be curious as to how to fix this issue. Any clue?
Thanks in advance!!
This has been discussed at length in various Canon forums, most recently the R forum (have a look there for the detail).
Short answer - the interval is NOT the time delay BETWEEN shots - it is the total time of the exposure, plus any delay between them, plus a couple of seconds for the camera to "do something".
So, for your 15s shutter speed, you need to set the interval at 18-19 seconds. What is happening (if I understood you correctly) is that you set the delay to 1 second and 99 shots, so the first shot is triggered, but the camera is still busy while it tries to trigger the next ±16 shots, so it skips them, and shoots shot 17 or 18, and skips the next ±16 shots etc, so you would only get around 7 or 8 shots out of the 99. Extending the interval to 2 seconds roughly doubles the number of shots (obviously).
As far as I remember most of this is discussed in the 6D ii manual except the bit about having to leave an extra few seconds between shots.
If you want 15s shutter speed, and choose a 15s interval you are likely to lose quite a few shots (obviously not as many as using a 1s interval though).
Colin
Canon EOS M5 Canon 6D Mark II Canon EF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM Canon EF 35mm F2 IS USM +5 more
selected answer This post was selected as the answer by the original poster.
OP Maxdb • New Member • Posts: 5
Re: Intervalometer issue on my 6DII
Hi Colin, thank you so much!
I actually did read that in the manual but it just wasn't clear for me, my bad for thinking it was a bug then. Thanks for making it crystal clear for me, it does help a lot.
Can't wait to pick up timelapse now 😄
Cheers!
Canon 6D Mark II Samyang 14mm F2.8 ED AS IF UMC Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art Canon EF 16-35mm F4L IS USM Canon EF 50mm F1.8 STM +1 more
Re: Intervalometer issue on my 6DII
1
Best explanation I have heard so far.
Manual might be better served saying interval between shutter releases and say it's not a gap between exposures
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Canon EF 24-70mm F4L IS USM Canon EF 16-35mm F4L IS USM Tamron SP 70-200 F2.8 G2 +2 more
Re: Intervalometer issue on my 6DII
This was poorly implemented. I usually just set it to unlimited with a short interval. If I really correctly it just keeps trying, forever, and when it I is ready to take a shot, it does. I then turn the camera off when I'm ready to stop.
Canon EOS 30D Canon EOS 50D Canon EOS 600D Canon EOS 7D Mark II Canon 6D Mark II +16 more
OP Maxdb • New Member • Posts: 5
Re: Intervalometer issue on my 6DII
That sure would work for a timelapse for example, when it's not the number of shots that matters. But if you're going to shoot milky way for stacking, and making a panorama, let's say you have four panels and take 20 exposures for each, then you want to have a precise number of shots for each picture.
Canon 6D Mark II Samyang 14mm F2.8 ED AS IF UMC Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art Canon EF 16-35mm F4L IS USM Canon EF 50mm F1.8 STM +1 more
Re: Intervalometer issue on my 6DII
Maxdb wrote:
That sure would work for a timelapse for example, when it's not the number of shots that matters. But if you're going to shoot milky way for stacking, and making a panorama, let's say you have four panels and take 20 exposures for each, then you want to have a precise number of shots for each picture.
True and I do mostly. So I just estimate how long it will take and stop when I think I have the desired number if shots + >= 1. I can always toss what I don't need but I don't want to come up short.
Again, Canon really implemented this poorly. The longer the exposure the longer the processing so the longer the total interval. BUT, how long the processing takes changes with exposure and other factors. Arghhhh!
Canon EOS 30D Canon EOS 50D Canon EOS 600D Canon EOS 7D Mark II Canon 6D Mark II +16 more
OP Maxdb • New Member • Posts: 5
Re: Intervalometer issue on my 6DII
I see your point, and again in my opinion it's very situational. In my case for a Milky Way panorama I'll want to optimize my number of shots to have as little of a shift in between the tiles of my panorama, because of star movement and how difficult it sometimes is to line it all up to stitch everything together, every shot counts, especially when it's 15 seconds exposures at least.
Also the processing is mostly due to automatic noise reduction, which can be disabled (must be disabled if you're looking to shoot a timelapse or startrails for example.)
Canon 6D Mark II Samyang 14mm F2.8 ED AS IF UMC Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art Canon EF 16-35mm F4L IS USM Canon EF 50mm F1.8 STM +1 more
Andy01 • Veteran Member • Posts: 5,033
Re: Intervalometer issue on my 6DII
None of what was mentioned above includes LENR ! That should be turned off. A 20 second shot with LENR turned on would require at least 20 + 20 + 2 + 3or4 seconds, perhaps more.
The variation in "processing time" or delay does not vary significantly. IMO use 3 seconds for a 15 second exposure (ie. 18 second interval), 4 seconds for a 20 or 25 second exposure (ie. 24 or 29 second interval),and 5 seconds for a 30 second exposure (ie. 35 second interval) - not that many untracked astro shots would be at 30 seconds. No need to over-think it
Colin
Canon EOS M5 Canon 6D Mark II Canon EF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM Canon EF 35mm F2 IS USM +5 more
Re: Intervalometer issue on my 6DII
Andy01 wrote:
None of what was mentioned above includes LENR ! -)
Colin
Ok, I'll make sure long exposure noise reduction is off next time. I can certainly apply it in post.
Canon EOS 30D Canon EOS 50D Canon EOS 600D Canon EOS 7D Mark II Canon 6D Mark II +16 more
OP Maxdb • New Member • Posts: 5
Re: Intervalometer issue on my 6DII
Oh right, I just don't feel like my 6DII takes that much time to process shots, but I'll pay more attention next time, because as you say Colin, it does make a difference if it's a few seconds.
As for LENR, in astrophotography you can also take darks to reduce noise, so LENR isn't really necessary
Canon 6D Mark II Samyang 14mm F2.8 ED AS IF UMC Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art Canon EF 16-35mm F4L IS USM Canon EF 50mm F1.8 STM +1 more
Andy01 • Veteran Member • Posts: 5,033
Re: Intervalometer issue on my 6DII
Maxdb wrote:
Oh right, I just don't feel like my 6DII takes that much time to process shots,
It is strange - I can shoot a single shot on my 6D ii, and press the shutter again immediately and it will shoot like all day - taking shots as fast as I can press the button, so seems like zero delay effectively.
But, when it comes to using the built-in intervalometer, I HAVE to allow it a few seconds between shots otherwise it skips. I have no idea why ??
but I'll pay more attention next time, because as you say Colin, it does make a difference if it's a few seconds.
As for LENR, in astrophotography you can also take darks to reduce noise, so LENR isn't really necessary
Even without darks, it isn't necessary. Have a look at clarkvision.com - Roger is a regular on the astro forum (ex-astrologist from memory) and quite cluey.
Colin
Canon EOS M5 Canon 6D Mark II Canon EF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM Canon EF 35mm F2 IS USM +5 more
Re: Intervalometer issue on my 6DII
PhotosFlight wrote:
Again, Canon really implemented this poorly.
On the contrary. If I set the camera to take a picture every 30 seconds, for example, for sure I want a picture every 30 seconds, regardless of whether the exposure time is 1/1000 s or 10 s.
Which is exactly what you get.
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Anders
Canon EOS 40D Canon EOS 400D Canon EOS 7D Canon EOS-1D X Canon EOS-1D X Mark II +26 more
Re: Intervalometer issue on my 6DII
1
apersson850 wrote:
PhotosFlight wrote:
Again, Canon really implemented this poorly.
On the contrary. If I set the camera to take a picture every 30 seconds, for example, for sure I want a picture every 30 seconds, regardless of whether the exposure time is 1/1000 s or 10 s.
Which is exactly what you get.
Have a look at how often people request help on this forum regarding this topic. It is evidence of how much it is not intuitive. Everyone expects that if you set it for a 30 second interval, 30 second exposure and 10 exposures you will get 10 exposures of 30 seconds...you won't. You'll get fewer shots. It doesn't account for the time required to process the shot.
Canon EOS 30D Canon EOS 50D Canon EOS 600D Canon EOS 7D Mark II Canon 6D Mark II +16 more
Andy01 • Veteran Member • Posts: 5,033
Re: Intervalometer issue on my 6DII
apersson850 wrote:
PhotosFlight wrote:
Again, Canon really implemented this poorly.
On the contrary. If I set the camera to take a picture every 30 seconds, for example, for sure I want a picture every 30 seconds, regardless of whether the exposure time is 1/1000 s or 10 s.
Which is exactly what you get.
No it isn't what you get.
If you set the intervalometer for 30 seconds and, say, 10 shots with a 30 second shutter speed, you will probably get about 6 shots before the process stops. Have you read the thread above ?
You need to allow a few seconds extra (longer than the chosen shutter speed) on your interval to get it to do what you want. Of course, once you know this, the process is pretty simple.
Colin
Canon EOS M5 Canon 6D Mark II Canon EF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM Canon EF 35mm F2 IS USM +5 more
Re: Intervalometer issue on my 6DII
PhotosFlight wrote:
apersson850 wrote:
PhotosFlight wrote:
Again, Canon really implemented this poorly.
On the contrary. If I set the camera to take a picture every 30 seconds, for example, for sure I want a picture every 30 seconds, regardless of whether the exposure time is 1/1000 s or 10 s.
Which is exactly what you get.
Have a look at how often people request help on this forum regarding this topic. It is evidence of how much it is not intuitive. Everyone expects that if you set it for a 30 second interval, 30 second exposure and 10 exposures you will get 10 exposures of 30 seconds...you won't. You'll get fewer shots. It doesn't account for the time required to process the shot.
Canon states this in the camera manual:
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John Hoffman
Conway, NH
Canon EOS-1D X Mark III Canon EF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8L IS II USM Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM +10 more
Re: Intervalometer issue on my 6DII
Andy01 wrote:
apersson850 wrote:
PhotosFlight wrote:
Again, Canon really implemented this poorly.
On the contrary. If I set the camera to take a picture every 30 seconds, for example, for sure I want a picture every 30 seconds, regardless of whether the exposure time is 1/1000 s or 10 s.
Which is exactly what you get.
No it isn't what you get.
If you set the intervalometer for 30 seconds and, say, 10 shots with a 30 second shutter speed, you will probably get about 6 shots before the process stops. Have you read the thread above ?
You need to allow a few seconds extra (longer than the chosen shutter speed) on your interval to get it to do what you want. Of course, once you know this, the process is pretty simple.
Colin
Yes I read it and I've used the feature many many many times. I just wish Canon would reengineer it and take the the guesswork out of it. They make great optics but horribly software.
Canon EOS 30D Canon EOS 50D Canon EOS 600D Canon EOS 7D Mark II Canon 6D Mark II +16 more
Re: Intervalometer issue on my 6DII
Andy01 wrote:
apersson850 wrote:
PhotosFlight wrote:
Again, Canon really implemented this poorly.
On the contrary. If I set the camera to take a picture every 30 seconds, for example, for sure I want a picture every 30 seconds, regardless of whether the exposure time is 1/1000 s or 10 s.
Which is exactly what you get.
No it isn't what you get.
Read once again what I wrote. It's exactly what you get.
That the user shouldn't be that daft that he can't comprehend that you can't take photos with two seconds interval if each photo takes ten seconds, that's something you should expect from people. Some basic mathematical skills must be assumed. And it probably exists.
Remember that those who don't have that, and post questions about it, are much fewer than those who do have it, and never posted any question about this, in spite of using the intervalometer all the way back to when it was integrated in the EOS 10 I once had.
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Anders
Canon EOS 40D Canon EOS 400D Canon EOS 7D Canon EOS-1D X Canon EOS-1D X Mark II +26 more
Source: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4621220
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