Taking photos with digital cameras

[wisbucky]

I have a Sony Cybershot camera DSC-T1. During night hours at Disney I constantly have a problem with the camera taking to dark of photos. During the spectormagic parade the photos are either severly blurry or to dark if I dont use a flash. One specific shot that never turns out is the castle at night. I am so frustrated with this camera. I am wondering what cameras other use and if they get excellant night shots.

 

[markºoº]

The built in flash on most point and shoot digital (and film) cameras are good for only about 15 feet. For longer night shots, you will need to take an extended "exposure" to get a good picture. You will also need to use a tripod or use something else to put your camera on so it is rock solid.

The exposure will vary depending on what you want. Night shots of the castle could be anywhere between 15 seconds to a minute or more.

I don't know if you camera allows for this type of exposure. Furthermore, depending on the camera and its resolution, the pictures might turn out very grainy even if you can do this.

Read the owners manual and then experiment with different setting. That's what is great about digital - you can see the results and try something different right away.

 

[wisbucky]

Thanks Mark

I have read the owners manual and gone through the trouble solving areas. I have also called Sony. Sony was not much help. Finally I spoke with some camera experts who indicated this camera will not do what I want it to. Therefore I am hoping that others on this board can fill me in on what cameras they have had success with.

 

[sanilacjack]

The MODS might want to move this to the Photography board.
They are the photo experts!!!!
Kim

 

[wdwoldtimer]

Spectro pictures are generally tough to take in auto mode with a point and shoot. Using a flash illuminates the figure/float and it looks horrible. You have to change your ISO setting which essentially makes the camera work as if it had faster film. Depending on the lens, you might be able to improve your shots. You can't extend your exposure time because they will all come out blurry. You'll need to switch to completely manual mode or aperture priority and try to open up that lens.

Castle pictures can be tricky until you get used to adjusting the camera for that kind of shot. As Mark says.. you need a tripod, or something to steady the camera...like resting it on a wall or something. Since it's not moving, you're better off extending the exposure time. Try taking several shots at different exposures until you find one that works for you. Then remember what that is and base your future shots on that setting.

 

[wdwoldtimer]

Oh...just looked up your camera. You'll have a tough time taking those kinds of pictures with it. It's great for what its intended use is...basically shooting pics of people and daylight shots. But the lack of modes and the small lens is what's holding you back. There are a number of point and shoots that'll do what you're looking for....but they will be bigger than that compact Sony.

 

[timkin]

How much do you want to spend on a camera ? If youhave a price range I can guide you in the right direction. The Sony you have is not suited for this type of Photography. I use the same camera that the Disney photographers use, Nikon D70. This camera has detachable lenses that more often than not cost more than the camera themselves. However there are many, many cameras that can help you get good night photos.

 

[wisbucky]

I would like to keep the price under $500.00. But if need be in order to get those decent night shots I will go higher. I just dont want to spend $900.00 and the camera still does not give me the night shots I want. Someone mentioned the Nikon 8400. But I am not familiar with the camera at all.

 

[wdwoldtimer]

For $500 you can get a good camera that will do what you want. You don't have to go to the $1000 range. Having said that, I've been drooling over a Maxxum 5D for a while now.

 

[timkin]

Here are some options that you could try out. Canon S2, Olympus SP-500UZ. The 8400 is a very nice camera. However for the same price if you wanted to get into a DSLR you could look at the Nikon D50. I would recommend trying the cameras to see what you like. Good Luck. One more thing. Not only read the manual but buy a book on photography. A book that can explain light and the basic functions of photography will help you catch and compose photos you would never of thought you could get.

 

[bicker]

We've got a Canon and with it on the manual setting, we can take some really great night shots.

 

[monetnj]

Yes, these kinds of photos are really what separates the lower-cost point and shoots from the more advanced cameras. Tripods work for fixed subjects, like the castle, but the challenge here for your camera is to have high enough ISO speeds and fast enough lenses to "freeze" the action in low light situations. Otherwise, moving objects like the floats in Spectromagic will be blur. Of course, sometimes, artistically, you want that.

Like others have mentioned, the Nikon D50 and Nikon D70 are nice entry level digital SLRs that will get you what you want. My personal choice is the Canon Digital Rebel XT. The Canons are known for low noise levels with their CMOS chips. This is particularly important when shooting at ISO speeds like 800 or above. Of course, the Nikons have their advantages too. Especially when using fill-flash in sunlight. But I digress.

With my signature below I have posted a url of a bunch of night shots (including Spectromagic) and indoor attraction shots from our trip to Disney last July. They were taken with my Canon Digital Rebel XT with the kit lens at an ISO of 1600, aperture of 5.6 and shutter speed of 1/30. This was fast enough to freeze the action without a tripod or flash.

 

[Webbie]

I have a Sony(5mp) and found that I can get pretty good night pictures WITHOUT the flash. Set it to night time under "set up". Good luck. There is also a setting for taking a picture at night using a flash..gives a nice clear picture of an object with in the 10-15 foot range and kind of blurs the background.
Kathy

 

[kat3668]

I have an Olympus c-50 zoom and I find that using the portrai / landscape mode with no flash works best for me... just have to hole the camera extra steady

 

[Metallicat]

Yes, these kinds of photos are really what separates the lower-cost point and shoots from the more advanced cameras. Tripods work for fixed subjects, like the castle, but the challenge here for your camera is to have high enough ISO speeds and fast enough lenses to "freeze" the action in low light situations. Otherwise, moving objects like the floats in Spectromagic will be blur. Of course, sometimes, artistically, you want that.

Like others have mentioned, the Nikon D50 and Nikon D70 are nice entry level digital SLRs that will get you what you want. My personal choice is the Canon Digital Rebel XT. The Canon's are known for low noise levels with their CMOS chips. This is particularly important when shooting at ISO speeds like 800 or above. Of course, the Nikon's have their advantages too. Especially when using fill-flash in sunlight. But I digress.

With my signature below I have posted a url of a bunch of night shots (including Spectromagic) and indoor attraction shots from our trip to Disney last July. They were taken with my Canon Digital Rebel XT with the kit lens at an ISO of 1600, aperture of 5.6 and shutter speed of 1/30. This was fast enough to freeze the action without a tripod or flash.

I recieved a Canon Rebel XT for Christmas and I love it, but am still trying to figure this camera out. here is a picture taken with a 100 mm macro lens. it's a bit blurrier than I hoped, but I'm still learning. do you think it would be best to use a macro lens or Image stabilizer lens, or just the lens that came with the camera while at wdw? I want to take some really good pictures on my next trip.

 

[monetnj]

I recieved a Canon Rebel XT for Christmas and I love it, but am still trying to figure this camera out. here is a picture taken with a 100 mm macro lens. it's a bit blurrier than I hoped, but I'm still learning. do you think it would be best to use a macro lens or Image stabilizer lens, or just the lens that came with the camera while at wdw? I want to take some really good pictures on my next trip.

Well, different lenses for different purposes. I would need more info on the image stabilizer lens, but in general I would say bring it. Probably very handy indoors if you want to take pictures on rides without a flash. Would work well with outdoor shots at dusk/night too. If it is a decent zoom, I would also use that lens on the Safari. Now, the kit lens is an ok general purpose lens and especially good for wide angle shots. If I had to pick one lens to leave home, it would be the macro lens, unless you plan to take close-ups of the flora and such.

As for the blurry shot you attached, did you use the auto-focus? This could be the problem. You might try practicing with the manual focus or try switching the auto-focus point around to your subject.

 

[Metallicat]

Well, different lenses for different purposes. I would need more info on the image stabilizer lens, but in general I would say bring it. Probably very handy indoors if you want to take pictures on rides without a flash. Would work well with outdoor shots at dusk/night too. If it is a decent zoom, I would also use that lens on the Safari. Now, the kit lens is an ok general purpose lens and especially good for wide angle shots. If I had to pick one lens to leave home, it would be the macro lens, unless you plan to take close-ups of the flora and such.

As for the blurry shot you attached, did you use the auto-focus? This could be the problem. You might try practicing with the manual focus or try switching the auto-focus point around to your subject.

I used the auto focus. I've been playing around with the manual focus but they come out the same way. blurred. maybe I'ts in my settings.
I'll be leaving the macro lens at home. it's just to big and heavy to haul around WDW. thanks for your reply.

 

[monetnj]

I used the auto focus. I've been playing around with the manual focus but they come out the same way. blurred. maybe I'ts in my settings.
I'll be leaving the macro lens at home. it's just to big and heavy to haul around WDW. thanks for your reply.

It looks like the front of the flower is in focus and the back isn't. If you were to focus on the center of the flower, the front and back would be in better focus. However, another issue seems to be your depth of field is very short. Try closing down the aperture a bit (a higher aperture number). In general, the more wide open a lens, the shorter the depth of field. This is great for taking pictures of people or things and blurring out the background. Now, at higher apertures, the larger the depth of field. This is great for landscape type photos where you want everything in your frame to be in focus.

 

[wisbucky]

Can anyone recommend a camera that is not big and bulky but will take night shots without problems. Talk about being confused now

 

[wdwoldtimer]

You don't have to go with a DSLR to take the pictures you are looking for. Any of the suggestions that timkin gave earlier in the thread would work great and give you room to "grow" as you get more into photography. They are less bulky than a DSLR.

If those are still too big you can still go smaller with a mid-range point-n-shoot. Here's a good site that reviews cameras. http://www.steves-digicams.com/ Look at their "Best Cameras" list. They select their favorites for each category.

You are looking for a camera that has manual modes or at least different priority modes (speed, aperture etc) as opposed to just canned modes programmed by the manufacturer (i.e. sports, portrait, scenery). Generally speaking the ultra compact cameras like your Sony don't have the flexibility you need. Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax, Kodak etc....all have mid range point-n-shoots that'll work for you.