[Leica] Re: Fireworks

[lrzeitlin at optonline.net (Lawrence Zeitlin)]

I had given up taking fireworks photos with my P&S digital cameras  
because of the long shutter lag. By the time the camera had focused,  
set the aperture, and snapped the picture, the fire had long turned  
to ash. One of my former clients invited my to view the Macy's 4th of  
July fireworks show aboard his 80 ft. yacht anchored in a choice  
location in the Hudson River. I've been a good union member for 30  
years but I have never been aboard an 80 ft. yacht so it was an  
opportunity I couldn't pass up. Swallowing my egalitarian pride I  
accepted his invitation. I hope they serve good caviar with the  
champagne as a compensation for my feelings of guilt.

I will be taking my Oly 500 DSLR. What lens openings and settings  
should I use? The Oly lag is pretty short but I'm afraid that the  
auto exposure settings will tend to over expose the fireworks in  
adjusting for the dark background. With Kodachrome in my M3, I simply  
set the lens at f4.0, the shutter at 1/50, and blasted away. Any  
advice on fireworks settings?

Larry Z