Bulb and Time modes offer two different ways to approach long-exposure photography. One gives you full manual control of how long the shutter stays open, while the other simplifies the process with timed presses. Both can shape how you capture night scenes, motion, and low-light atmospheres.

Bulb (B) Mode

The shutter stays open as long as you hold the shutter button.
Release the button → shutter closes.
Best when you’re physically holding a cable release or remote and want total control over the exact duration.
Downside: If you press the shutter with your finger, you can shake the camera.

Use when:
You need a custom, unpredictable length — e.g., light painting, fireworks, lightning.

Time (T) Mode

First press → shutter opens.
Second press → shutter closes.
You don’t need to hold the button down.
Much steadier, no hand shake, ideal for long exposures where you know you want several seconds or minutes.

Use when:
You want exposures longer than 30 seconds without holding anything down — night scenes, architecture, star trails, long-exposure water shots.

In the above illustration the camera is on, Time (T) Mode, the shutter stays open after one press—this photo shows a long exposure still running, with the timer continuing hands-free until the second press stops it.

Quick Tip:

Bulb = hold it the whole time (manual control).
Time = press once to start, once to stop (hands-free long exposure).

Understanding the difference between B and T mode in your camera will help you choose the mode that feels most practical for the moment, allowing you to create long exposures with ease.

As always, best of luck!

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