Camera tips??

[lilyfrog73]

What kinds of cameras do you use? I don't want to bring anything huge but I want to be able to get some great night shots, especially Wishes, Illumintaions and Fantasmic. I currently have a Kodak EasyShare C875. It takes great pictures normally but at night, not so good. Just curious what types others have and how well they work in dark lighting. TIA

 

[kellypooh]

What kinds of cameras do you use? I don't want to bring anything huge but I want to be able to get some great night shots, especially Wishes, Illumintaions and Fantasmic. I currently have a Kodak EasyShare C875. It takes great pictures normally but at night, not so good. Just curious what types others have and how well they work in dark lighting. TIA

Howdy neighbor! (I'm also a CNYer!)

I use a couple of different cameras on my trips -- my Kodak EasyShare digital (can't remember the number of the model I have) and a Nikon digital (can't remember the model of this one either!). My Kodak takes pretty good fireworks shots when I use the fireworks setting and a tripod. The Nikon is my rainy day camera (it's older and cheaper and been all over with me so I'm not so anal about it anymore! ).

 

[Cherbear013]

I have the Kodak EasyShare M1033. I get my fireworks shots or night shots of the castle by turning my flash off. They usually produce enough light that you don't need it. Just a suggestion.

 

[Shannystamper]

I have been told by many that whatever you do be careful purchasing an olympus brand camera. The battery connection has been found to be unreliable.

Costco has an amazing Kodak on sale this month.

 

[noahdove]

I have the same camera, and 95% of my night pictures didn't turn out even tho I had the smart scene set to the fireworks etc. setting...I was very disappointed...I hope someone can lead you to a good camera for night.

 

[patches07]

I have the same camera, and 95% of my night pictures didn't turn out even tho I had the smart scene set to the fireworks etc. setting...I was very disappointed...I hope someone can lead you to a good camera for night.

I bought this camera right before the 4th of July and it took great pictures of the fireworks, I bought it from QVC it's a Panasnoic DMCTZ5 9.1MP Digital Camera the item # is E192062. This is the best camera that I ever owned.
Just go to www.qvc.com and type in the item #.

 

[gonnago]

I had the Kodak c643 that I loved but my lcd display got ruined on one of dh 4 wheeler ridesit took AA batteries to which we could just use our rechargables.Can someone that has the Kodak 1033 please give some more info like battery type I am thinking of purchasing this camera before our upcoming trip. Thanks

 

[lirija]

My Canon Sureshot 7.1 takes awesome night, day and moving pictures. It is especially good indoors, where the light is low.

 

[Dewy]

I've got the same issue too. I have an older EasyShare 4MP (DX...something). It's always been a great outdoor camera but indoors and night time shots aren't that good.

Those of you that have a camera that takes decent night time shots, can you post some for us to see?
Thanks
Dewy

 

[seashoreCM]

Fireworks with showers and trails of fine sparks can be taken with a hand held camera provided that the lens is fast enough. The more you zoom, the slower the lens becomes.

Fireworks with isolated shooting stars are best taken with the camera on a tripod. A long exposure gives long trails; a short exposure gives short trails.

I haven't memorized the needed lens openings for manual cameras. Automatic cameras are tricky because they react to the amount of light in the scene particulary near the center. If there are lots of fireworks bursting, you may get a picture that is darker overall but often with better color.

A "fireworks" setting is not necessarily the best for other kinds of night photographs.

But usually you will want some kind of "night" setting for night shots. This also depends on whether you want to take ordinary pictures in low light (often needs a higher ISO) versus take pictures of nighttime scenes (this is what night mode is for).

If you don't have a night mode and your night shots are "too bright" and washed out, set the exposure compensation (intentional lightening or darkening) to minus two. Experiment with minus three (if the camera has that) or minus one if the picture got too dark.

For cameras with spot metering or center weighted metering and appropriate features, if you aim at a brighter part of the scene, press the button halfway, then frame your shot and shoot, you get a picture that is darker overall. Or brighten up the picture if you first aim at a darker part of the scene. You can either use this technique in lieu of exposure compensation or to obtain additional exposure compensation, or accidentally use this technique and get unpredictable results with or without exposure compensation.

Digital camera hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/digicam.htm

 

[lilyfrog73]

I have a night portrait, night landscape and a firework setting (among many others). I also have an ISO up to 800 (with manual settings). I am totally clueless what all these do and generally don't even touch manual because I don't know what everything means. I will not be bringing a tripod nor do I use/own one. My day shots and even inside shots come out great on the "smart scene" setting (if I, not my husband, take them-haha). I just really want to get good shots of the fireworks and night time parades so that when you look at them, you know what they are. Thanks for the tips so far.