User Guide

Congratulations on purchasing a Strike Finder 2! We hope you enjoy using it as much as we do. We would love to hear from you and see the great pictures you take with it. Please tag us with @StrikeFinderPhoto.

Happy storm chasing!

To Start

Plug the cable all the way into the SF2 and the other end into your camera’s shutter release port.

Slide the SF2 onto your camera’s flash hot shoe.

Turn your camera on, turn off all your camera’s features that will slow down your cameras response time. For example, use manual focus instead auto focus, use manual exposure instead of Auto, turn off image stabilization, live view, noise reduction, GPS and WiFi.

Adjust your camera’s focus and exposure then turn the SF2 and you’re ready to shoot!! If you want to test the SF2 and are not able to call down a lightning strike on command, a TV remote will imitate the infrared pulse of a lighting strike.

Settings

Nighttime:

Shutter speed between 1/8 or longer. ISO: 100

Aperture wide open (low number) if the strikes are way off in the distance, and aperture closed down (large number) if the storm is scaring the bejeebers out of you. We start shooting with aperture of F8 and adjust the shutter speed until the lights or foreground are properly exposed normally around 5.6. If the bolts are so far away that they appear faint, we open the aperture and increase the shutter speed. If the bolts are too bright, close down the aperture and decrease the shutter speed.

Daytime:

Shutter between 1/40 -1/4 second, f/11, ISO 100.

Aperture at f8 if the strikes are off in the distance and closed down (large number) if the storm is on top of you. The clouds/sky has to be exposed so they are dark enough that the lighting can be seen. We start shooting with a shutter speed of 1/25 and aperture of f16 and adjust from there. Here’s an article on daytime shooting you may find helpful.

Tips

Many of your camera’s functions will not be available once the SF2 is plugged into your camera. Depending on your camera you may need to unplug the SF2 to see a preview of your last picture or change your settings. Some cameras will power down or hibernate if there is no camera activity after a few minutes. Turn this feature off or down so you won’t miss that first bolt after a long lull.

Sensitivity

The SF2 will very slowly increase its sensitivity if a storm is out of range. If a storm is close enough that every flicker is being detected, the SF2 will decrease its sensitivity.