How can I take a nightshot without an SLR?

[Nicole786]

I have a canon sd1000, and an upcoming trip to disney and MVMCP, i really want to take some good night shots, but with no tripod, and no SLR camera, are my options completely null?

 

[Master Mason]

You should get your self at least a tabletop tripod, you can then set it up on the top of one of the garbage cans around the park and take some shots.

I am not familiar with that particular camera, but you should have a night shot or something similar. You may have the ability to set some manual settings as well that will also help.

You should be able to get a decent long exposure shot with the tabletop tripod. But you will have a lot of difficulty with moving subjects like parades.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

An SLR is necessary if you want relatively high shutter speeds at night. If you want longer exposures (good for fireworks), an SLR isn't as important. The problem is that long exposures require something to stabilize the camera.

If you won't carry any type of tripod, your best bet is to take night shots by putting your camera on stable objects like trash cans, fences, benches, etc and use them for stability. It is also better, when doing that, to use your timer delay mode to take the shot. That way you aren't shaking the camera at the moment of the photo by pressing ths shutter button.

 

[Groucho]

Like Mark said. There are several options for a small stabilizing device - pocket tripod, Clamperpod, Gorillapod, a bean bag, etc. No matter which you choose, I would always use the 2-second delay to minimize shake from pressing the shutter button - otherwise you'll probably always get a little bit of blurriness from that.

The SD series are pretty light on options, but you'll want the lowest ISO possible and a long exposure. Night mode may do the trick, or if there's an aperture priority mode (I don't think there is), set it to around F8 or so.

 

[seashoreCM]

Experiment with minus values on the Exposure Compensation. This deliberately darkens the picture and gives the camera a chance to use a faster shutter speed.

Depending on the scene, you may find that minus 2 exposure compensation actually makes the picture look more like what you saw (night) as opposed to artificially and automatically trying to make the correct exposure based on daylight.

For Canon SD cameras, the highest shutter speed mode might be called "Kids and Pets". I'm not sure whether it is available in the M (quasi-manual) dial setting as well as the A (automatic) dial setting.

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

 

[AndrewWG]

I agree with all that has been said so far. I would only add that you should practice, practice, practice as much as you can before you leave. Also, don't expect that you will be coming home with masterpieces on your memory card. A point and shoot can take acceptable night shots, but they are not great like MarkBarbieri or MasterMason or many other great photographers on here take. If you expect that you are getting great shots and come home with not so great ones, it will put a damper on the memories. Just have fun and do the best that you can. Also remember that (unless it is just too blurry) software fixes can be done on alot of photos to make them look better than you get right from the camera.

Take it from me, I went and bought a DSLR a few months ago and I still don't think that I will get nearly as many SUPER pics like those people mentioned above would get on my Thanksgiving trip. I just hope to do well enough to manage a few "keeper" shots. It is a very tricky place to photograph at night even with the best equipment. I am planning on being out every night on my trip to take pics and learn a little more each night. Hopefully by day 5 I will be hitting more keepers than trash pics. We'll see about that.

 

[iggbees]

i got a gorillapod for my small little camera and i got fantastic night shots (better than i ever could have hoped for). i would recommend looking into getting that or something of the sort.

 

[Master Mason]

So here is an example, last week, I was standing in the middle of mainstreet with my camera on my tripod taking a shot of the castle. This guy with a tiny point and shoot comes up and goes 'hey this is a great place to take a pic isn't it".... he then shot off 10 or shots hand held. everyone was blurry. I took my camera off the tripod and ploped his on, told him to hit the button... he got a decent looking shot out of it, just by it being stablized.

 

[Nicole786]

Thanks everyone for the great responses, I guess I should get myself a tabletop tripod!

 

[deletedpenguin]

Let me just say this:

It takes practice, a good eye, and a stable surface (not necessarily a tripod) to take good shots. A DSLR helps, but isn't needed. I use one now myself, but for what it's worth, This was taken with a Canon A520 point and shoot, braced against a wall:

 

[Geoff_M]

Another thing to try is (assuming your camera has this option) is to use the manual exposure setting instead of using an auto mode. I like to take a "starting point" photo with auto mode, and then put the camera on manual and tweak the settings to make the night images more appealing.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

It can be done. Up until December 2005 I used a P&S for all our pictures since 2003. I found that you can take good night shots but agree you need to stabilize your camera be it a tripod, or even a garbage can. And, even so, you may find that your pictures will come out somewhat noisy (grainy).

This is an example of one I took with the P&S at last years HHN at Universal and one of CityWalk before running them through photo software to correct them.

Bonny

 

[Groucho]

If your PnS allows you to set ISO, make sure it's set to as low as possible. If there's just an "ISO/ISO high" option, don't select High. As long as your camera is stable, you'll get a better shot with much less noise to it, and no need to run it through a noise reduction program.

You may also want to try adjusting the white balance, if you're finding things with a somewhat brown tint to them. Tungsten may work better for you.

 

[klmall]

If anyone is thinking about buying a Gorillapod right now, the Joby site is currently offering free ground shipping. And if you search a little, there are several discount codes available saving another 15%. I just ordered one this morning for my December trip.