Shutter speed question

[PhotoGirl]

Normally I use the automatic shutter speeds that my camera does to take pictures, but I'd like to use my Bulb Timer mode on my SLR to take scenery shots at night and I don't really understand what the numbers mean on my LCD Panel.

So, my manual (for my camera) says the timer goes from 45 sec. to 32 mins. When I dial through the numbers on the panel it has numbers like, 185, 125, 100, 90, 60, 45 etc. Then, 0"3, 0"5, 0"7, 1", 1"5, 2", 3"etc. Then, 1', 2', 3', 1'5, 8', 6', 8', 12' What do the little lines mean? Which are the minutes, which are the seconds?
I know this is probably a little confusing, so thanks for any help you can give me.

[Michael Fanelli]

Normally I use the automatic shutter speeds that my camera does to take pictures, but I'd like to use my Bulb Timer mode on my SLR to take scenery shots at night and I don't really understand what the numbers mean on my LCD Panel.

So, my manual (for my camera) says the timer goes from 45 sec. to 32 mins. When I dial through the numbers on the panel it has numbers like, 185, 125, 100, 90, 60, 45 etc. Then, 0"3, 0"5, 0"7, 1", 1"5, 2", 3"etc. Then, 1', 2', 3', 1'5, 8', 6', 8', 12' What do the little lines mean? Which are the minutes, which are the seconds?
I know this is probably a little confusing, so thanks for any help you can give me.

The first set of numbers with no quotes means "1/x". For example, 250 means "1/250 sec". As the times get longer, quotes are used. The double quote (") means seconds. So 1"5 is 1.5 seconds. The single quote (') means minutes. So 3' means three minutes. Yes, it is confusing the first time you look at these!

[PhotoGirl]

Thanks so much Michael.