Bulb (photography)

The Bulb setting on a camera shutter, written as B, is a special way to take pictures. When a photographer uses the Bulb setting, the shutter stays open as long as they hold down the shutter button. This is different from the Time (T) setting, where the shutter opens when you first press the button and then closes when you press it again. The Bulb setting helps photographers take pictures that need very long exposure times, like capturing light trails or smooth water effects. It gives them more control over how light appears in the photograph.

History

Long ago, before flashbulbs were invented, some simple cameras had a special tool called a shutter release with a rubber bulb on the end. People called this tool the “Bulb” because of its shape. When you pressed this bulb, the camera’s shutter would stay open as long as you kept pressing it. This made it easy to take photos that needed only a few seconds of light.

In around 1894 in Germany, camera makers used the letter “B” to show this special setting on their cameras. They called it “Any time.” Later, companies like the Eastman Kodak Company used “B” too but called it “Brief Time” in their guides for easier cameras.

Use

The bulb setting on some cameras, like point-and-shoot cameras, lets you take pictures with very slow shutter speeds that are slower than what the camera normally offers.

Because the camera might move, it is usually placed on a tripod during these long pictures. You can use the camera’s own button, but many people use a special remote to avoid shaking the camera during long exposures. Some remotes have a lock to keep the shutter open without needing to hold the button.

The bulb setting is great for taking photos of things like:

• fireworks at night
• the night sky and celestial objects (see astrophotography)
• lightning
• streets at night with moving car lights
• light painting

On modern cameras

On some modern cameras, there is a special setting called "bulb mode" that you can find in the menu. This mode is often available in manual exposure mode or, less commonly, in shutter priority mode.

When you use bulb mode, the camera’s shutter stays open as long as you hold down the shutter button or a remote control. Some cameras, like the Olympus SP-560UZ, have a limited version of this mode that allows exposures up to 8 minutes at lower light sensitivity settings. In 2012, Olympus introduced new features in their Olympus OM-D E-M5 camera called "Live Bulb" and "Live Time," which let the camera screen update during long exposures so photographers can see how the picture is developing. Some special cameras also use other ways to start taking pictures.

LCD Digital SLR manual exposure shutter priority bridge cameras ISO setting Olympus OM-D E-M5 image triggers