How to get clear Pictures of Osborne Lights?

[Poohbear123]

I have a Sony Digital Camera and a Minolta point and shoot 35MM camera--what settings do I use for the Digital, and what film speed for the Minolta? Thanks!

 

[lorileer]

Please note -- this is very AMATEUR advice! I get very good pictures, but I know very little about it technically. I just take a LOT of pictures. That said, what I've had luck with is taking the picture WITHOUT the flash and either propping the camera on something steady or REALLY CONCENTRATING on holding steady. (A tripod is the best way, but since that is always practical, just think steady and still.) I usually use 400 speed for night and lights; however, I really like the color in my 100 and 200 speed pictures better. You might still have good success with 200 speed. I believe it's the most versatile for indoor and outdoor shots.

 

[Maverick]

This may sound silly, but we bring a tripod with us each year to Disney. It folds up and fits nicely into a backpack and we bring it with us to the parks in the evenings. It guarantees the camera will be still for those night shots.

It certainly does not mean the pictures will be perfect, but they are better than they would be without it. This will be our first trip with the digital camera and I've played with all the settings and have a good understanding of what I should get with each one. Trial and error is a good feature of a digital camera!

I have a Sony Cybershot 5.0 megapixel and I use the mode with the flash OFF. There are lots of settings like a golfer setting (for shots with items moving quickly), a fireworks setting (this will be interesting to try) and a moon setting (for night shots).

I've found some interesting things playing with it in the evenings around the house. It's not always the best idea to use the moon setting as it seems to let in too much light. Play with your camera ahead of time using streetlights or car headlights (with the car moving) and use the different settings. By the time you go, you'll know which one to use or how to alter the setting for a different looking picture of the same shot.

The one thing I haven't figured out is how to keep people from walking in front of me when I've got everything set up for the perfect picture.

Mav

 

[MulanMom]

When I've taken photos of Spectromagic, I used 800 speed film which worked fine without the tripod. I also got the night time pictures developed at WDW. For some reason, nighttime pictures seem to develop better there.

 

[NHLFAN]

I have an older Sony digital camera and take my night photos "without" flash and use the "moonlight" mode.

Flash will just wash out the lights and make the night look brown...and the "moonlight" mode is best used with a VERY steady hand or a tripod.

 

[Poohbear123]

For the tips, but I don't think I canuse a tri-pod, to me it would take up space and I don't want to get in anyones way. I will try a Trash Can, maybe that will work.

 

[oogieboogie]

they have these small tabletop tripod. They fit in a fanny pack. That's what I use when I'm doing night shots. Yes, you'll still need a place to put it, but it's better than just putting it on a trash can, because sometimes the trashcan shows up on the bottom half of the picture.

 

[NancyIL]

I agree about turning off the flash. Two years ago I had a 35mm camera...this time I'll have a digital. It will be interesting to compare the pics.

 

[Ronda93]

For best results with no tripod... keep your elbows in against your body and take the picture on the exhale. I've used the table top tripods. I place them on trash cans and use the velcro strap to lash them to poles.

 

[seashoreCM]

You will get better pictures if the camera has manual exposure and you know how to use it that way.

One problem with automatic exposure for the Osborne lights is that, the lights will be dimmer in the picture the more of them are in view. The camera thinks there is more light coming into the lens overall and adjusts to make everything darker.

Fortunately with a digital camera you can see the picture moments after taking it and judge whether it came out OK.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm