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General discussion

Taking night pictures

by snowdrif Mar 15, 2006 12:27AM PST

I have a Sony Cyber shot DSC-f717. I like everything about it except I am not sure how to take good night shots, which is important to me. I live on lake superior and when the moon is full or near full the moons rays over the water are breath taking. I just now learned, thanks to this site that I should bump up the ISO. What about sharpness? My camera gives me a choice of -2, -1 0, +1 and +2. I am not sure where I should have this set at and exactly what it does. If you have any suggestions or even could recommend a good digital camera for this purpose that is fairly easy to use please do. Thank you!! Is the camera I have suitable for what I am wanting to do??? Wayne

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8 Posts
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What you need
by mrobzo Mar 15, 2006 12:47AM PST

Is a tripod. The -2 to +2 is the sensitivity to light and how light or dark you want the picture.
Next you will need a very long exposure. Now you don't want to touch the tripod wheen the shutter fires. What you will need is a remote shutter so you don't jar the camera. This or you can use your cameras delayed timer option. Use you cameras longest shutter setting and you should get what you want.

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taking night pictures
by snowdrif Mar 15, 2006 6:27AM PST

I called Sony to see if my camera was capable of slowing the shutter speed down. The guy told me that digital cameras are basically point and shoot, and that he didn't know of any digital camera I could buy where you could take good night pictures with. Is this accurate?? Thanks Wayne

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Sony F717
by snapshot2 Forum moderator Mar 15, 2006 8:10AM PST

Whoever you talked to at Sony does not know anything about the F717 camera.

It is one of the choice cameras for this type of shooting. It takes excellent night shots.

It has a f2.0 lens, ISO 800 and a shutter speed as slow as 30 seconds.

............

You most certainly need a tripod for night shooting of the type you described.

You need to utilize the manual controls on the camera.
In any auto mode, the camera will react to the brightest light and the photo will be too dark.

You need a shot where the brightest light is overexposed. This lets you see the dimmer parts of the scene.

This type of shooting....is trial and error.


Using a tripod:
Start by putting the camera in "Manual" mode.
Set the shutter speed to 2 seconds
Set the aperture to f2.0
Set the ISO to 200.
Turn the flash off.

Take the photo and then examine the results.

If you need more light, use a slower shutter speed and try again.

If the results are too bright, change the aperture setting to a smaller opening (higher number, like f3.5), and try again.

Later, examine the photos on your computer monitor.
Choose the one you like best.
Examine the EXIF information that is embedded in the photo file and it will show you what camera settings were used for that photo.

You must use the "manual" mode because you are selecting settings that the camera would regard as wrong.
This is a case where you know more than the camera.
You are the photographer, the camera is a tool.

...
..
.

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Sony F717
by taboma Mar 15, 2006 12:12PM PST

Joe, Nice info for all users.

-Kevin

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My Nikon 4500 handles this automatically. In low light, it
by Kiddpeat Mar 15, 2006 9:33AM PST

will hold the shutter open long enough to get a decent exposure. You do need a tripod to hold it steady while the shutter is open. I used to move it too soon and blur the picture. I can't believe your newer Sony cannot do at least as well.

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Why would you use
by mrobzo Mar 15, 2006 11:53AM PST

Your Nikon 4500 if you have an automatic camera that will do a better job? Specifically your Canon 20D.
What benefits of your knowledge have you endowed the post with? How does this help a guy with a Sony F717 asking about night shots?

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(NT) (NT) If you can't figure that out, I guess you're out of luck.
by Kiddpeat Mar 15, 2006 2:26PM PST
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Taking night pictures
by snowdrif Mar 16, 2006 7:06AM PST

Snapshot, Thank you!! I read the manual after I read you response, and sure enough I can do exactly as you suggested. I should have read the book! I called Sony and talked to, he said a qualified expertise person on the Sony F717. It really drives two things home to me. 1. This forum and the rest on CNET, are better then calling a so called expert. I had a computer problem awhile back. I had an online chat with HP twice, and with microsoft once and they all three told me what to do, none were correct I finally decided to try the computer forum on CNET, after a few suggestions I corrected the problem. Thank You again snapshot, you not only saved me big bucks, if I would have went out and purchased another camera but also woke me up to READING the manual!! Wayne

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