UPDATE-pics added...Cant get a good pic of my xmas tree, help

[miss missy]

What am I doing wrong? I want to get a pic at night with the light turned on. I cant get it to work. I tried all the options. I keep getting either no lights show because ofthe flash, or blur light if no flash or slow. I have a Fuji Finepix A350 digital camera. Any suggestions?

And what is manual for? If I choose manual, what else am I suppose to choose?

Please help!

 

[handicap18]

Do you have a tripod? Or something high enough that you can put the camera on so you don't have to hold it. If you use AUTO or any of the preset options most likely the flash will go off and you don't want that. You want a longer shutter which means you really can't hand hold the camera.

If possible use us aperture priority (A or Av option on your dial settings). Set it to the highest number (might be f/22, f/32 or possibly f/64, also it may or may not show the f/). Put your camera on the tripod or any other stable object like a small fold out try table ontop of some books until you get the hight you want. I would also use the self timer. Set it to like 10 seconds, this should give enough time for the camera to not shake at all after pressing the shutter button.

If you want to use Manual, then again set the aperture (f/stop) to the biggest number and then start with a shutter speed of 1/10th and go from there based on the results you get. Most P&S camera's should go to at least as long as 2 seconds for a shutter speed. Also for ISO set it no higher than 200, though you can probably use 100.

Give it a whirl and let us know the results.

 

[Groucho]

Like Handicap18 said... also you'll probably do well to use a delay, like a 2-second delay before it actually takes the picture.

Put the camera on something stable pointing at the tree, make sure the flash is turned off, make sure the delay is on, then hit the shutter. It'll probably beep until it fires the shutter, it will take a somewhat longer picture than usual, and hopefully you'll get pleasing results.

If not, go into manual mode (or shutter priority, if your camera has it) and try setting it for a longer exposure.

 

[miss missy]

ok I see these options:

EV ranges +1.6 to -2.1 (was on 0)
WB with a bunch of symbols and auto (was on auto)
Quality 5M-f,5M-n, 3:2 M, 3M, 2M, 03M - these are my megapixels right?

There is a slow option nut only with flash and this is what came out fuzzy.

The tree is 10+ feet so I am close to the ground to get it all in. I do have a tripod and will try it.

 

[Groucho]

None of the settings you listed (exposure, white balance, or quality) will affect the blurriness, and you are absolutely correct on what the quality setting means. (Best to keep it at the highest possible. The "F" probably stands for "fine" and the "N" probably stands for "normal".)

Slow shutter without flash is what you want. Give the tripod a try and you should have much better luck. Nobody uses tripods because they're fun, sometimes you just gotta have 'em.

 

[miss missy]

I have read the manual believe it or not, I just took it out again and it says I have a suppressed flash option and a slow synchro, slowest shutter speed is night up to 2 sec. I did try this I am sure, but I am gonna keep track of the the setting and show you the pics here!

Actually, the setting are right on the software on the puter for each pic. I will tell you what they are when I have a minute.

 

[mabas9395]

I just read your manual on-line. I think night mode with the flash off with the camera on a tripod will give you the best results your camera can do

 

[miss missy]

I just read your manual on-line. I think night mode with the flash off with the camera on a tripod will give you the best results your camera can do

Thanks! That is what everyone here is saying. I will try that tonight.

 

[miss missy]

Here is the pics I got. The night ones used tripod... had to tilt the camera bit to get the whole thing in, the drop in the ceiling to the kitchen (one big room)was stopping me from backing up more, this was the only way to get the whole thing in. And some are side views for the same reason. It 10 1/2 feet and fat as heck!


Up not trimmed yet:

day pics, just not capturing the true look at all:

nite with tripod:

 

[Groucho]

That's quite some tree. Do my eyes deceive me or do I see Santas climbing a ladder from the window to the tree?!?

It looks like you got fairly good results. Not quite as sharp as daytime but certainly not bad. The only other thing I'd suggest is see if you can set your white balance manually - the first of the night pictures is fairly yellow, which is a very common problem with digicams indoors. Try Tungsten or cool fluorescent and see if they give you more accurate colors.

 

[miss missy]

That's quite some tree. Do my eyes deceive me or do I see Santas climbing a ladder from the window to the tree?!?

It looks like you got fairly good results. Not quite as sharp as daytime but certainly not bad. The only other thing I'd suggest is see if you can set your white balance manually - the first of the night pictures is fairly yellow, which is a very common problem with digicams indoors. Try Tungsten or cool fluorescent and see if they give you more accurate colors.

Thanks! I did have to get down on the floor to fit it all in. And yep. that is my favorite decor, Santa and the elves climbing the latter! I got it years ago and haven;t seen one since. I love that lil thing!

I will try tonite again after Santa comes!