DP1, DP2 Merrills question

[Patricia Sheley]

Can anyone see a way to make an exposure longer than 30 sec with either of these bodies?
Thank you,  p.

[KirbyKrieger]

DP2M:  nope.  Searched the manual, searched the camera menus, searched the Web, found nothing.  Proves nothing, of course, but implies something.

[Patricia Sheley]

From what I can tell so far, going through the custom settings and menu via LCD the answer is no, and just as well, because the battery disappears FAST.  First thing I've done is order some extras, as they won't take up much space or add much weight in a backpack, and without them the point of being able to use this for quality on short trips and hikes is negated by empty batteries quickly...I'm guessing that the viewfinder would help slow the drain big time...now I need to go back and look at how people have handled this part of the equation.

I guess I should have been smart enough to know that no bulb capability signaled something. From what I can tell so far, manual is only able to be used as manual within a range of what the camera itself sees as 3+ to 3- exposures...can't find a way to set outside that range...I guess that is so that I am unable to defeat what the camera sees as properly exposed.

I've not ever been comfortable with modes as have always been a manual shooter. The manual on this camera seems to control some of what I think of as manual. This is by no means "writ" in stone...At this point it is just going to require a different mindset when shooting/a different way of shooting.

I did speak to someone at Sigma who tried to explain to me that in the drive modes it was possible, but as far as I can figure that would be just for the interval time elapsed BETWEEN shots on an interval series...

OK, so I will not be able to be doing what I thought I would with this (DP1M) but even as I post what I've found so far my mind is covering the additional possibilities for things I missed and was unhappy about missing when only a phone was with me...

I did try to see how to move this to the CAMERAS part of the forum where I should have posted, but that too illudes me. Apologies...

...and thanks to anyone and Kirby who did attempt to find the answer...

[KirbyKrieger]

You're welcome.  Fwiw, I came to the same conclusion: the only "longer than 30s" setting is the interval when using the built-in intervalometer.  The manual, iirc, highly recommends using the AC adapter when using the intervalometer.

Batteries -- completely unacceptable performance, but I am known to meow on occasion.  After getting much less than an hour, and fewer than 30 pictures per battery, I have reverted to all the "eco" settings.  I now get a little over an hour per battery, walking around taking pictures.  The battery gauge on the LCD is close to useless.  It shows the battery full for a while, then very quickly moves through 2/3rd, 1/3rd, 0/3rds, brick.  The camera should ship with six batteries, the strap should hold them all, and the the charger should charge them simultaneously.  Or, of course, the camera could include a battery selected to match the power requirements of the camera.

It's a remarkable engineering failure from a company that makes its living selling highly engineered products.

Eco settings:
 - Quick Preview:  2s
 - LCD OFF:  10s
 - Power Off: 5 min.

And I ordered this double-battery pack with car and wall charger.  NB: I don't have it and can't recommend it until I use it.