Recommend a Digicam for taking night pictures

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FreshPrince

Diamond Member
Dec 6, 2001
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I find that most digicams suck at taking pictures at night either that or they require you hold the camera steady for a while to provide longer exposure time, which I suck at. So, recommend a digicam that takes great pics at night, but does not require steady hands. Thx :)
 
S

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
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not gonna happen. you HAVE to have the exposure set longer and need to steady the cam on a tripod or stable surface.
 
B

Bootprint

Diamond Member
Jan 11, 2002
9,847
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As you increase the speed, you increase the noticeable noise in the picture. Your better off using a tripod.


For anyone using a tripod, you can stack multiple pics together to try and clean up the images, ImageStacker.
 
E

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
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Cameras work by capturing light. If there isn't enough light, the shutter has to stay open longer. There is no way around this.

get a tripod.
 
F

FreshPrince

Diamond Member
Dec 6, 2001
8,361
1
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Originally posted by: Eli
Cameras work by capturing light. If there isn't enough light, the shutter has to stay open longer. There is no way around this.

get a tripod.
Click to expand...


many of you suggest a tripod, however this isn't a feasible solution for vacationeers :(
 
S

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
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Originally posted by: FreshPrince
Originally posted by: Eli
Cameras work by capturing light. If there isn't enough light, the shutter has to stay open longer. There is no way around this.

get a tripod.
Click to expand...


many of you suggest a tripod, however this isn't a feasible solution for vacationeers :(
Click to expand...

without a tripod:
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/spidey07/Vegas1.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/spidey07/Vegas2.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/spidey07/Vegas3.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/spidey07/Vegas4.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/spidey07/Vegas5.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/spidey07/Vegas6.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/spidey07/Vegas7.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/spidey07/Vegas8.jpg

just make sure the camera is absolutely still as in on a hard flat surface. Its almost impossible to take night shots with the cam in your hand.
 
F

FreshPrince

Diamond Member
Dec 6, 2001
8,361
1
0
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: FreshPrince
Originally posted by: Eli
Cameras work by capturing light. If there isn't enough light, the shutter has to stay open longer. There is no way around this.

get a tripod.
Click to expand...


many of you suggest a tripod, however this isn't a feasible solution for vacationeers :(
Click to expand...

without a tripod:
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/spidey07/Vegas1.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/spidey07/Vegas2.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/spidey07/Vegas3.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/spidey07/Vegas4.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/spidey07/Vegas5.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/spidey07/Vegas6.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/spidey07/Vegas7.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/spidey07/Vegas8.jpg

just make sure the camera is absolutely still as in on a hard flat surface. Its almost impossible to take night shots with the cam in your hand.
Click to expand...

those are some nice pics, most of mine from vegas didn't turn out as well :( btw, the 1st time in vegas and bellagio was blacked out! :| was looking forward to seeing the fountain, O show, and gardens there, oh well, maybe next time.

 
S

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
you need control over the exposure and apature. without this control it is VERY difficult to get it right.
 
O

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
You need a flash that can reach your subjects, but before that, you'll need the camera to focus on your subject. Only cameras I trust to handle that chore, have the Hologram Autofocus Assist:
  • ...the Matrix-effect laser that comes out is in fact an infrared hologram autofocus. This can determine the layout of the subject in complete darkness and shots can be framed in natural colours when the flash goes off.
Example

If you're shooting a landscape, you can set the camera on a chair, fencepost, or other stationary object, with the focus set to infinity, as well as the flash turned off.

Example

Example
 
K

Kenny

Platinum Member
Oct 12, 2002
2,567
0
76
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: FreshPrince
Originally posted by: Eli
Cameras work by capturing light. If there isn't enough light, the shutter has to stay open longer. There is no way around this.

get a tripod.
Click to expand...


many of you suggest a tripod, however this isn't a feasible solution for vacationeers :(
Click to expand...

without a tripod:
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/spidey07/Vegas1.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/spidey07/Vegas2.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/spidey07/Vegas3.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/spidey07/Vegas4.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/spidey07/Vegas5.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/spidey07/Vegas6.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/spidey07/Vegas7.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/spidey07/Vegas8.jpg

just make sure the camera is absolutely still as in on a hard flat surface. Its almost impossible to take night shots with the cam in your hand.
Click to expand...

Those are some awesome pictures.
 
L

LS20

Banned
Jan 22, 2002
5,858
0
0
the only differnece in equipment u can make is jumping to prosumer DSLR... they can capture stuff at high ISO as clear as consumer at low ISO...

other than that... buy a tripod and learn how to take photos
 
C

cerebusPu

Diamond Member
May 27, 2000
4,008
0
0
i got a cam with image stabilization. but pics still coming out fuzzy! gah...maybe i should switch to film for nightshots
 
Linux23

Linux23

Lifer
Apr 9, 2000
11,374
741
126
Originally posted by: Eli
Cameras work by capturing light. If there isn't enough light, the shutter has to stay open longer. There is no way around this.

get a tripod.
Click to expand...

 
F

FreshPrince

Diamond Member
Dec 6, 2001
8,361
1
0
Ok, with my DC480, I've conducted the following experiment

1. by hand
2. sitting on a table

yes, the second pic does look better, both with iso 100, F8. Now, how long did it take to take both pics? It took ~ 30 seconds each. Now if you're vacationing, who has the time to find something to sit the camera on, and wait 30 seconds to take a pic?

sigh, oh well, still waiting for an autofocusing camera that takes great pics at night just as easily as taking day pics :(
 
Anubis

Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
78,712
427
126
tbqhwy.com
Originally posted by: FreshPrince
Ok, with my DC480, I've conducted the following experiment

1. by hand
2. sitting on a table

yes, the second pic does look better, both with iso 100, F8. Now, how long did it take to take both pics? It took ~ 30 seconds each. Now if you're vacationing, who has the time to find something to sit the camera on, and wait 30 seconds to take a pic?

sigh, oh well, still waiting for an autofocusing camera that takes great pics at night just as easily as taking day pics :(
Click to expand...

a DSLR with a prime lens 50 or 85mm, just set it at infinity and go
 
S

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
Originally posted by: FreshPrince
Ok, with my DC480, I've conducted the following experiment

1. by hand
2. sitting on a table

yes, the second pic does look better, both with iso 100, F8. Now, how long did it take to take both pics? It took ~ 30 seconds each. Now if you're vacationing, who has the time to find something to sit the camera on, and wait 30 seconds to take a pic?

sigh, oh well, still waiting for an autofocusing camera that takes great pics at night just as easily as taking day pics :(
Click to expand...

there is like almost NO light in those photos. No matter what cam you have the shutter is going to be open a farily long time....greater than a second.
 
E

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
Originally posted by: FreshPrince
Ok, with my DC480, I've conducted the following experiment

1. by hand
2. sitting on a table

yes, the second pic does look better, both with iso 100, F8. Now, how long did it take to take both pics? It took ~ 30 seconds each. Now if you're vacationing, who has the time to find something to sit the camera on, and wait 30 seconds to take a pic?

sigh, oh well, still waiting for an autofocusing camera that takes great pics at night just as easily as taking day pics :(
Click to expand...
Why would you use f/8 on long exposure pics where depth of focus isn't an issue?

Crank it down to f/2.8(or whatever your camera's minimum is), then you won't have to use such insanely long shutter speeds.

Although, you'll still have to use a tripod to get non-blurry pics. But 30 seconds is nuts.

There is no such thing as an autofocus camera that takes pics at night just as easily as in the day, if your definition of "hard" is "waiting". :p
 
Anubis

Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
78,712
427
126
tbqhwy.com
T

TechnoKid

Diamond Member
Feb 12, 2001
5,575
0
0
I'd be more worried about cameras that have hot pixels because the sensor gets too hot on long exposures.
 
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