Capture Lightning Photography the Easy Way! A Storm Before the Calm podcast extra

In this podcast episode, Lori Grace Bailey discusses her experience with lightning capturing devices for photographers. She talks about the frustration of trying to capture lightning with DSLR or mirrorless cameras and shares her verdict on three devices: the Lightning Trigger LT4, the Lightning Bug Plus from MK Controls, and the MIOPS device. She praises the Lightning Bug Plus for its reliability and success rate in capturing daytime lightning shots. She also mentions the responsiveness of the MK Controls company. Overall, she recommends the top choice for specific reasons outlined near the end!

[@KarenPittsWX]

Great podcast! I too have had frustration with trial & error with triggers, Miops being the worst in my opinion. I love my Lightning Bug Plus as it's the most consistent producer out of them all. keep the podcasts coming, I enjoy them very much :)

[@LoriGraceAz]

thank you Karen!

[@snaggershane]

awesome i broke 3 cables to LT4, no shoes yet, just got the lightning bug on your recommendation. i had an AEO trigger that was great but i fell and smashed it. and after covid i think that company never recovered. thanks for the advice.

[@LoriGraceAz]

Oh that's awesome! I'm glad to have helped. But once you get it out and put it to some good use, do come back and let me know how it's working for you. And if you have any technical issues don't hesitate to reach out to them via email. For me, a company that responds rapidly to customers is a top priority and I'm glad they usually do.

[@toddmoore5192]

The Lightning Bug Plus with the camera interface cable is $199.00 plus shipping.

[@VideobyJayW]

After my first Bug I never looked back. Think that was in 2010. Before that every product I bought didn't work at all. Finally bought the plus, and now I own five units. The four I already owned have worked flawlessly for years. Lost a battery door and when I asked to buy another, you sent me one for free. We spoke on the phone a few years back. Love your products, and I don't believe I will ever buy anything else. Can't wait to see what the bug plus does.

[@Davide-md9ju]

Hi Lori, I didn't know you until today. I'm writing to you from Italy, and I'm a lightning and storm enthusiast. I've always shot by holding the timer in my hand and then closing it as soon as I saw the lightning, or by doing a burst every 5-10 seconds, but as you say, it's a waste of shots for the shutter. You talk about time lapse for the night, do you think it's better? I now have a Fuji xt-5 and I wanted to try one of these triggers, I don't need the other functions. just make flashes, and that it's the best. I was thinking of trying the Bug, because it seems more robust and waterproof. Do you ever leave your reflex cameras in a storm? Or do you use a cover? I'm afraid that with a sheet over it, the Bug will be less sensitive or won't work. I don't know if you can leave it under water. Anyway, I'll watch your videos, because you're great! and you explain very well. Maybe, hold the objects a little more still, when you describe them, to better understand the details. Bye!

[@sarahterry2140]

Regardless of lightning device you use, do you find any lag with non-Sony lenses on your ARs? I went Sony mirrorless when first introduced and can’t imagine ever switching to something else. I’ve seen comments that using a lens adaptor with non-Sony lenses which I almost always do causes some shutter delay. At least using Lightning Trigger 4, I’ve never found this to be an issue, and possibly I only imagined it when shooting something outside my usual practice, like wildlife (or maybe I’m the laggy element in that genre 🥹)

[@paulpurdom1190]

I can make cables to convert back to normal for anyone who needs it. Its switching wires by 1.

[@leecmh]

Use gaffer tape instead of duct tape. the glue doesn't come off and make sticky and it is stronger.

[@paulpurdom1190]

I too, was touched by lightning. I had been 2 years recovery from back-2-back major concussions, when I was touched. Half way down the Grand Canyon on the Tanner Trail...Total shock and I wasn't sure except for the toasty bacon on my right ear where the last bead of sweat was. The Tonto layer gets hit so much and around the Tanner seems to get it a lot. Years later I was camping at Toroweap and bolts were blasting...I ran petrified to the car...later realizing my camera was in the car...30 sec exposures and I was hooked. I went years without getting a trigger and my first never got a shoot when I got daytime ones manually! Now I have way too big ofa collection of Lightning Bugs, Lightning Triggers and Miops firmware 3+

[@paulpurdom1190]

So the lightning added another 4 years of recovery...and some funny memory lost moments.

[@devinrussel9509]

Thanks for this, Lori! I love my LightningTriggers and like you, I've managed to invest quite a bit of money in that company thanks to the flimsy, crappy plastic hot shoe. I think I've replaced 4 of these devices over the years. But, I really can't complain about the devices ability to capture bolts. Heck, I even leave it connected after the sun goes down. I think, and this is based on your and Robert Gallucci's (I love that guy!) suggestion, I may just invest in a Lightning Bug this year. Fingers and toes crossed it does what it's supposed to do.

[@LoriGraceAz]

thanks for the comment, Devin! Agree on the LTIv's build quality issues. I'm happy to say that the Bug's performance is at least on the same level as the LT-IV. I would venture to guess it's using a similar technology to trigger each device as they seem nearly identifical in performance. I don't care who makes them, I just don't want to miss those epic shots! Hope to see you out there this year!

[@RayCleveland]

I swear by my miops smart as well, best battery situation of the bunch and love the extra options and use it as a timelapse trigger in the off-season. Caught more bolts than my LB+ last season pointing the same direction. I love having both though. It's great to have multiple triggers. I bought a pluto at one point but lost that tiny thing :(

[@LoriGraceAz]

Thanks for the input, Ray! I'm glad you got a great Miops unit! I've heard very few good things about Pluto but never bought one.

[@sarahterry2140]

Thank you, Lori.; Sony user here also (going back to the original AS1 in 2014!) My dream would be a melding of Lightning Trigger technology with a sturdier build. Having my LT- IV break early in 3 weeks of chasing last spring, then going lost in a duct-taped mess was incredibly frustrating. The salt in the wound was seeing a broken LT-IV show up on eBay shortly thereafter that looked exactly like mine (well, probably many others have a broken hot shoes so could have been anybody’s… but still…) I didn’t care for the MiOps which I tried in 2022.

[@sarahterry2140]

*a7si

[@LoriGraceAz]

I do know the frustration with the broken hot shoe mount. I'm really happy with the Lightning Bug Plus , especially the build quality. And it captures the same shots I was able to get with the LTIV.

[@WillardSharp]

Very nice reviews. I'm on team MIOPS because it blew the LT4 out of the water as far as getting the most day time bolts. And the proprietary cable I have a big problem with. Of course the proper camera settings are critically important I've come to learn over the years. I did have a lightning bug for a long time but it was the 1st version. Very temped to try the new one out this year.

[@LoriGraceAz]

Thanks, Willard! I'm really glad to hear that Team Miops does have folks out there who get great shots with it. Maybe you can share sometime how you fine tuned it to get the best bang for the buck.

[@WillardSharp]

@@LoriGraceAz Definitely will share.

[@RyanSeek]

I'm still capturing lightning the old fashioned way. I use either time lapse for video or my best results for still photos of after dark lightning is always the simplest (but most difficult) method using long exposure with specific settings based on the lighting conditions in that moment in time (and is usually constantly changing to some degree). I've never used a lightning trigger outside of my storm chasing buddy hooking me up with his a couple times briefly. I've never been able to justify the cost because I don't put that much importance in daytime lightning. It just doesn't hold the same impact as night shots do, and once it gets dark I don't see the point in using a trigger. I'd rather spend $400 on a new (used) lens (which I'm always in desperate need of) because I know that will get a lot of use and a great return on my investment. I did almost get an LT4 last year, but the long ship time ultimately scared me off from the investment and I'm not even considering it this year. If I did have one, I would definitely use it during the day since it's nigh on impossible to catch a bolt using my own built-in trigger and long exposure won't work either. But again, I'm not that high on daytime lightning shots to meet the $400+ price point to get one. Half that, maybe. It is nice to know there are other, faster shipped, options available though that work as well as the original LT.

[@LoriGraceAz]

Thanks for the comment, Ryan! Honestly I'm not a huge daytime bolts fan either. But there are times where there's ample cloud cover, or when I'm under a very dark cloud base and I'm able to capture that gorgeous purple hue from a bolt exiting the cloud that keeps me using these devices during the day. But you're right. The magic happens mostly around and past sunset for me.

[@RyanSeek]

I agree they do serve a purpose. That's why I stated that IF I had one, I would use it. I mean a bolt in the daylight is still better than none at all! :) Just isn't high enough priority for me to spend $400. That money would be better utilized as a head start on a new lens or drone acquisition, something I could get a lot more use out of. Especially these days with all the bloated price tags on everything under the sun, I must be very calculated in my purchases. Wish I had a money tree growing in my back yard, but those seeds are hard to come by!

[@LoriGraceAz]

i totally get it. I wish I hadn't wasted so much money on things I didn't need to chase. I would have been more efficient for sure. @@RyanSeek

[@richmilligan5881]

Ordered one today from B&H on Roberts advice. Looking forward to being able to capture some lightening shots this year.

[@richardwood1212]

Great comparison of these devices. I bought the original Lightning Bug from B and H in June 2018. I was fascinated with capturing daytime lightning. It took me a while using a trigger and yes a ND filter as I found success came from turning up the units sensitivity but also having a shutter speed of 1/15 s or longer. Then I discovered that MK controls had introduced the Lightning Bug Plus and I purchased one, again from B and H. The plus model can now accept firmware updates from MK Controls. They also offer to users of the original Lightning Bug, send it back to them and for half the cost of a new one, the will upgrade the old model to the new Plus model as the new housing is identical to the old one externally. Everything else is changed out. So now I have 2 of the Plus models. Works great. The only minor issue is for users to really ensure that the cover to the battery compartment is securely in place. Not a design flaw, more user error. I really like this product.

[@LoriGraceAz]

Glad to hear that! I love it when a company is so responsive to people! To me that's one of the top reasons I keep coming back!