Timelapse newbie question

[Yann Gourhant]

OK, I'm new to the dslr game...
I'd like to know how you would shoot a timelapse of a sunset? Without being overexposed when the sun shows and underexposed when the sun sets...
Do you need automatic settings, or is it possible to acheive this with all manual lenses?

 

[Digigenic]

OK, I'm new to the dslr game...
I'd like to know how you would shoot a timelapse of a sunset? Without being overexposed when the sun shows and underexposed when the sun sets...
Do you need automatic settings, or is it possible to acheive this with all manual lenses?

Well, assuming you've remained stationary for your timelapse you might want to consider a color gradient ND filter combo to allow the sunset above the horizon to remain properly exposed without overexposure while the ground below retains its natural exposure as the gradient ND filter dissolves away.

 

[Yann Gourhant]

I've thought about that, but darkening the sky, you wouldn't see the stars when the sun has set, I guess? I don't mind if the sun is overexposed...

I did that ckind of shot on a Sony EX1, once, letting the iris handle that on it's own. I could see the iris opening, very slolwly, from f8 to f1.9. And the result was gorgeous... But could you do that, or something similar, on a 5D?