Anyone willing to give me some advice?

[Emma1987]

Hi

I'm a Canon user. Granted, I've a very standard SLR. a 400d to be precise. I only use the 18-55 lens. I don't have the money to buy a more expensive lens, although I would eventually like a 70-300mm lens.

I want to be able to take nice shots when I go to Orlando this year. By "nice shots" I mean, bring out the colour in the skies and trees without too much editing, nice sharp images. I want them to be as natural as possible. I'd also like to be able to take really nice pictures at night without the flash and still have a sharp (ish) image.

How do I get these effects with the settings on the camera?

Probably too much to ask, but I'm hoping someone can help out!

Emma

 

[PrincessInOz]

Hi Emma. What mode do you normally use when taking pictures on your 400D? And am I right in thinking that the 400D allows you to shoot at ISO 1600 but the pictures are noisy at this end?

 

[Emma1987]

I always try to shoot in Manual and give the settings a go. Yeah it allows to shoot at 1600.

 

[PrincessInOz]

In October 2010, I was just moving out of using Program modes and starting to shoot in manual. I shoot with the 550D and during this trip I had the 18 - 55 mm kit lens as well as the 50 mm/f1.8. I bought the 50 mm because it was a reasonable lens for a reasonable price (it was around $130 in Australia and I think its around $100 in the US).

In bright daylight, most people say to shoot at f/8 - f/11. This was at f/9 and I either used the Aperture mode or used manual.

This one was definitely taken in Aperture mode. I can't work out why but the f-stop seems to have been set at 3.5.

These were taken at night with the nifty fifty, hand held. Seems like I shot in manual. f/1.8, ISO 800, 1/60 sec.

I used Aperture mode for this with the f/1.8.

Let me find some taken with the 50 mm in the rides. I will say that it is too tight for the rides...

 

[Emma1987]

I like the lighting in the last one. I suppose I'm more concerned about night shots turning out well. Like, if I want photos of my family taken in the parks, I don't want the flash to drown out the background colours. Do you get what I mean?

 

[PrincessInOz]

The 50mm f/1.8 is non IS. If you decide to buy it (and I'm not advocating it in any way whatsoever), you'll need a very steady hand. Also, as mentioned before, I found that it was too tight for the rides...didn't give me the width that I wanted.

I also went on the Oct trip having only ever used the 50 mm once before (I bought it to shoot a friend's wedding) and didn't really have the opportunity to try it out in the dark till I got to Disney. I definitely don't recommend this!

Great Movie Ride - has reasonable lighting conditions. Some of these have the ISO ranging from 1600 - 3200. aperture around f/1.8 and shutter speed of 1/60 sec.

I needed to take the ISO up to 3200 in Pirates.

Small World is bright enough. But I took my ISO to 3200 so that I could use a faster shutter speed.

This was the trip that I took my tripod to the World and it enjoyed the airconditioning of the room! Wish.I'd.taken.it.to.HalloWishes.


These are handheld using the 50 mm. I think you can see what I mean by not wide enough. ISO 800, f/1.8, 1/60 sec.

I'm sure someone else will come along and provide their input later. But I hope these help.

 

[BigTuna07]

In bright daylight, most people say to shoot at f/8 - f/11. This was at f/9 and I either used the Aperture mode or used manual.

I have seen photos from this view, but can't figure out where it is taken from. Could you tell me please?

Thanks!

 

[PrincessInOz]

I like the lighting in the last one. I suppose I'm more concerned about night shots turning out well. Like, if I want photos of my family taken in the parks, I don't want the flash to drown out the background colours. Do you get what I mean?

I didn't use the flash for night shots. If you're wanting to take pictures of your family at night with your current lenses, you might want a tripod....but they might need to keep really still.

 

[Emma1987]

I didn't use the flash for night shots. If you're wanting to take pictures of your family at night with your current lenses, you might want a tripod....but they might need to keep really still.

I love your firework shots with the 50mm. Thats what I'm looking for. I know I'm not going to get anything as fancy as I would with a 40d or 60d with an expensive lens, but I'm not that kind of photographer.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I have seen photos from this view, but can't figure out where it is taken from. Could you tell me please?

Thanks!

I'm only guessing here...because I really can't remember. But I think I took it on the bridge towards Frontierland from the Hub.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I love your firework shots with the 50mm. Thats what I'm looking for. I know I'm not going to get anything as fancy as I would with a 40d or 60d with an expensive lens, but I'm not that kind of photographer.

You might get bit by that fireworks bug!


With tripod and taken on NYE just gone...

f/8, ISO 100, 10 seconds.

And this was taken on Australia Day.

f/11, ISO 100, 5 secs.

 

[Emma1987]

WOW! those are amazing! Thats with the standard 50mm??

 

[PrincessInOz]

WOW! those are amazing! Thats with the standard 50mm??

You can get those shots with your 18 - 55. I do have the 17 - 55 f/2.8 and that's what I was using to shoot those pictures.

But with a tripod and particularly if you're using f/8 or f/11 with the ISO at 100, it really doesn't make that much of a difference (I'm pretty sure someone will come along and say that I'm wrong ).
Sure the 17 - 55 is a better lens...but you'll still be able to get a good fireworks shot; with practise.
I've been chasing fireworks for the better part of a year now. Must have gone to any occassion in Melbourne that promised fireworks. All in all, I think I went to at least 9 events...some in the winter to practise.

With fireworks, you probably want the wider lens rather than the 50 mm.

 

[Emma1987]

Cool. Thanks for all the help and advice! No doubt I'll be back to ask silly questions! lol

 

[BigTuna07]

Thanks!! Love the fireworks photos!!! My goal is to get a really good one this year! I got a practice in at a local fireworks and I wish I had more time because they didn't turn out very well.

 

[Emma1987]

I'm always trying....though the fireworks displays in Dublin don't be great! lol

 

[NLD]

Hi Emma,

For night shots of things that don't move, your best tools will be a tripod and a remote shutter release. Your current lens is perfectly capable of getting good shots with those two things.

If you don't have a big budget, that's okay. My first trip to Disney all I had was a Walmart tripod and the remote shutter release (grand total for both probably about $40.)

Here are shots taken with that set-up (with a Nikon D60--an entry level camera body--and a kit lens):


Splendor by nicole_lynn_, on Flickr


Technicolor Terror by nicole_lynn_, on Flickr


When you're using a tripod, you can use a low ISO, a small aperture, and just use really long shutter speeds to get the correct exposure. So your current lens is perfectly capable.


For low-light shots of objects that move (like people), or for shots on the dark rides (where you are moving), it's a whole different matter.

For pictures of people at night:

1. You can use flash to expose for (and freeze the movement of) your subject, but keep your camera settings to expose for the background. That will make sure you still get some ambient light in the photo, so you don't end up with a picture of JUST the person illuminated by the flash, surrounded by nothing but darkness.

Here are a couple of examples:


20120203-DSC_1067 by nicole_lynn_, on Flickr


20120201-DSC_0931 by nicole_lynn_, on Flickr


2. Or you can use a large aperture, high ISO, and the slowest shutter speed you can get away with (without introducing motion blur--either from you or your subject).

Here are a couple examples:


20120129-DSC_9203 by nicole_lynn_, on Flickr


20120130-DSC_9790 by nicole_lynn_, on Flickr


For dark rides, flash isn't allowed. (And it ruins the pictures anyway.) So for those, you HAVE to use method #2 (high ISO and large aperture).

Unfortunately, your 18-55 lens doesn't have a very large aperture.

I don't shoot Canon so don't know much about their lens lineup, but there should be some relatively less expensive "fast" lens options. (A "fast" lens meaning one with a large aperture.) As PrincessinOz pointed out, 50mm might NOT be the best focal length, but there is an inexpensive 50 f/1.8 available. If you can get a fairly inexpensive 30mm or 35mm f/1.8, that would be even better.


Does any of this help?

 

[NCtoFL]

NLD,

For #1, are you saying to use slow-sync mode in that example?

Thanks,

Kevin

 

[Emma1987]

Hi Emma,

For night shots of things that don't move, your best tools will be a tripod and a remote shutter release. Your current lens is perfectly capable of getting good shots with those two things.

If you don't have a big budget, that's okay. My first trip to Disney all I had was a Walmart tripod and the remote shutter release (grand total for both probably about $40.)

Here are shots taken with that set-up (with a Nikon D60--an entry level camera body--and a kit lens):


Splendor by nicole_lynn_, on Flickr


Technicolor Terror by nicole_lynn_, on Flickr


When you're using a tripod, you can use a low ISO, a small aperture, and just use really long shutter speeds to get the correct exposure. So your current lens is perfectly capable.


For low-light shots of objects that move (like people), or for shots on the dark rides (where you are moving), it's a whole different matter.

For pictures of people at night:

1. You can use flash to expose for (and freeze the movement of) your subject, but keep your camera settings to expose for the background. That will make sure you still get some ambient light in the photo, so you don't end up with a picture of JUST the person illuminated by the flash, surrounded by nothing but darkness.

Here are a couple of examples:


20120203-DSC_1067 by nicole_lynn_, on Flickr


20120201-DSC_0931 by nicole_lynn_, on Flickr


2. Or you can use a large aperture, high ISO, and the slowest shutter speed you can get away with (without introducing motion blur--either from you or your subject).

Here are a couple examples:


20120129-DSC_9203 by nicole_lynn_, on Flickr


20120130-DSC_9790 by nicole_lynn_, on Flickr


For dark rides, flash isn't allowed. (And it ruins the pictures anyway.) So for those, you HAVE to use method #2 (high ISO and large aperture).

Unfortunately, your 18-55 lens doesn't have a very large aperture.

I don't shoot Canon so don't know much about their lens lineup, but there should be some relatively less expensive "fast" lens options. (A "fast" lens meaning one with a large aperture.) As PrincessinOz pointed out, 50mm might be the best focal length, but there is an inexpensive 50 f/1.8 available. If you can get a fairly inexpensive 30mm or 35mm f/1.8, that would be even better.


Does any of this help?

Thank you so much for this extensive reply. You have been extremely helpful! I'm going to try a few night shots before I go, but I'm happy to hear that I don't have to break the bank to get nice night shots. I do have a shutter release remote, but I have yet to buy a tripod.

Do you have any recommendations for a tripod that is easy to carry around and not too bulky? Also needs to be relatively reasonable in getting delivered to Ireland.

Thanks once again!

 

[Porktitioner]

I like the lighting in the last one. I suppose I'm more concerned about night shots turning out well. Like, if I want photos of my family taken in the parks, I don't want the flash to drown out the background colours. Do you get what I mean?

Check out your flash modes "curtain sync" settings. Depending on the exact look you are going for, this can help with your background exposure using a flash. Basically, it will leave the shutter open a little longer after the flash to allow for better exposure for the background. It may take a little practice and can be tricky if you are planning on capturing people and fireworks.

On the other hand, it does not have to be all that complicated. The pictures below were taken hand-held with a Canon Powereshot s100.




White Burst by Porktitioner, on Flickr


Colorful Burst by Porktitioner, on Flickr