1st time DSLR Night Shot photographer please help!


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kyo86sg

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Sep 16, 2006
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Hiz, i loves taking night shots, streaks of light(by cars), and the night view of the CBD area. In the past i use the Fuji S9500 Prosumer camera and is able to capture this effect by settling the Shutter prioty setting and set the during and viola i am done.

But i just recently bought a D70 with the 18-55mm Lens, and to my horror i cant seems to get the effect or not even a decent night shot photo!
All i get is the whole black area with a few dots of light (I am by the road side, dots of light is the Those lampstand that lights the road up) Any one Plz advice!!!!! :dunno:
 

There's a night photography forum. Perhaps you will get better & faster assistance there.
 

Prosumer has a lot more presets modes like what you've used and they do a lot more compensation & less user control. Besides The Fuji S9500 has a faster apature of 2.8 to 11, whereas the 18-55mm has a slightly slower apature of 3.5~5.6 to 22(depending on focal length).
When using your D70, you might have set the lens to 55mm so your apature is now 5.6 (double that of your fuji); which means you need a much slower shutter speed. Another thing is, did you notice what you iso setting was for both cameras?
 

Using S Mode will still yield the same... (Suspected that you spot metering the light sources that confused the camera)

You can safely put slow shutter speed of less than 1sec with small aperature and the lowest possible ISO and still manage to get the effects you want... Mount on tripod of course! Try playing around using manual mode...

Aperature size and ISO here in night photography will have less impact on the overall effect... Shutter speed has the most significant impact. Try different shutter speeds for various effects.

In case you are wondering:
- Smaller aperature size will make small point of light sources looks like "star" due to diffraction blah blah blah....
- The higher the ISO, the more noise hence lower quality. Set to lowest when you have your camera on tripod...
 

Hiz, i loves taking night shots, streaks of light(by cars), and the night view of the CBD area. In the past i use the Fuji S9500 Prosumer camera and is able to capture this effect by settling the Shutter prioty setting and set the during and viola i am done.

But i just recently bought a D70 with the 18-55mm Lens, and to my horror i cant seems to get the effect or not even a decent night shot photo!
All i get is the whole black area with a few dots of light (I am by the road side, dots of light is the Those lampstand that lights the road up) Any one Plz advice!!!!! :dunno:
Learn the manual mode.

Long exposure, small aperture, is what I recommend most of the time. You probably want detail anyways.

Night photography isn't that hard to do at least for the exposure aspect, it's just hard to master properly. =D
 

Something like this:




Noob here so it aint that good. My settings were F11 and 4 s. Play a bit more with the M mode and you shall reap rewards. :)
 

Prosumer has a lot more presets modes like what you've used and they do a lot more compensation & less user control. Besides The Fuji S9500 has a faster apature of 2.8 to 11, whereas the 18-55mm has a slightly slower apature of 3.5~5.6 to 22(depending on focal length).
When using your D70, you might have set the lens to 55mm so your apature is now 5.6 (double that of your fuji); which means you need a much slower shutter speed. Another thing is, did you notice what you iso setting was for both cameras?
eh, i think you got it wrong... he is trying to get streaks of light done by long exposure, so a f3.5(even wide open @ 18mm) will gives you slower shutter than the s9500 f2.8(wide open @ widest)

anyway, to TS. you might want to try shutter priority mode like you have done using ur s9500. setting it to 4s+/- depending on you and shoot with a tripod.
or use aperture mode and set small aperture like f11-22. and also lowest ISO, in this case ISO200
 

Something like this:




Noob here so it aint that good. My settings were F11 and 4 s. Play a bit more with the M mode and you shall reap rewards. :)

Wah.......that the photo i wanna take using my D70!!!!!!!!!!

i shoot using wide angle (24mm-18mm) range, can i still use ur setting of F11 and 4s?
 

eh, i think you got it wrong... he is trying to get streaks of light done by long exposure, so a f3.5(even wide open @ 18mm) will gives you slower shutter than the s9500 f2.8(wide open @ widest)

anyway, to TS. you might want to try shutter priority mode like you have done using ur s9500. setting it to 4s+/- depending on you and shoot with a tripod.
or use aperture mode and set small aperture like f11-22. and also lowest ISO, in this case ISO200

Yup.......tml going to city hall or along the durian to take the cbd and car streaks. got to try all the settling u guys suggested.....= )

My 2nd day using DSLR~ still not as easy
 

Yup.......tml going to city hall or along the durian to take the cbd and car streaks. got to try all the settling u guys suggested.....= )

My 2nd day using DSLR~ still not as easy
no worry, its very easy... just leave it to the camera to do all the job, and you just set long exposure like 4s thereabout and ISO200 in Shutter priority.
 

no worry, its very easy... just leave it to the camera to do all the job, and you just set long exposure like 4s thereabout and ISO200 in Shutter priority.

thanks thanks
 

Wah.......that the photo i wanna take using my D70!!!!!!!!!!

i shoot using wide angle (24mm-18mm) range, can i still use ur setting of F11 and 4s?
Yes you can... Play with Manual mode... :)
 

Focal length is not important in shooting light trails like that;

Not sure how DSLR works, but in short, what someone advised you in the other thread you started regarding this method is the best advice - learn what exposure is, and you won't have any problem figuring out what to do. A little reading up on the subject BEFORE you do the shot is also advisable regarding points to note, etc.

Here's one of those light trail shots I did a long time ago, the settings are 15 seconds, F/8, should be ISO 80 if I'm not wrong. Usually in Singapore when you have light trails you have lampposts, so the small aperture will give you a starburst effect. If you want to make it more pronounced can also get star filter, hehehe.

294463047_8990fc7d75.jpg
 

eh, i think you got it wrong... he is trying to get streaks of light done by long exposure, so a f3.5(even wide open @ 18mm) will gives you slower shutter than the s9500 f2.8(wide open @ widest)

I was just generalizing why it is easier to use a prosumer compared to a dslr; Without looking/knowing his settings, I thought he was holding onto his fuji when he took the shot; which meant he couldn't have used more than 1/4 of a sec at most (at this point I totally forgot about him mentioning of streaking lights).
Anyway, the settings for the shot he took

File name: dscf0626se2.jpg
File size: 718526 bytes (3488x2616, 0.6bpp, 38x)
EXIF Summary: 4s f/5.6 ISO200 10.8mm

Camera-Specific Properties:

Equipment Make: FUJIFILM
Camera Model: FinePix S9500
Camera Software: Digital Camera FinePix S9500 Ver1.01
Maximum Lens Aperture: f/2.8
Sensing Method: One-Chip Color Area
Maker Note Version: 0130

Image-Specific Properties:

Image Orientation: Top, Left-Hand
Horizontal Resolution: 72 dpi
Vertical Resolution: 72 dpi
Image Created: 2006:10:09 08:05:12
Rendering: Normal
Exposure Mode: Auto
White Balance: Auto
Scene Capture Type: Standard
Contrast: Normal
Saturation: Normal
Sharpness: Hard
Subject Distance Range: Unknown
Exposure Time: 4 sec
F-Number: f/5.6
Exposure Program: Shutter Priority
ISO Speed Rating: 200
Lens Aperture: f/5.7
Brightness: -3.1 EV
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Metering Mode: Pattern
Light Source: Unknown
Flash: No Flash, Compulsory
Focal Length: 10.80 mm
Color Space Information: sRGB
Image Width: 3488
Image Height: 2616
Sharpness: Hard
White Balance: Auto
Chroma Saturation: Normal
Flash Mode: Off
Macro Mode: Off
Focus Mode: Auto
Slow Synchro Mode: Off
Picture Mode: Shutter Prior AE
Continuous/Bracketing Mode: Off
Blur Status: Blur Warning
Focus Status: Out of Focus
Auto Exposure Status: OK

Other Properties:

Resolution Unit: i
Chrominance Comp Positioning: Co-Sited
Exif IFD Pointer: 390
Compression Scheme: JPEG Compression (Thumbnail)
Image Orientation: Top, Left-Hand
Horizontal Resolution: 72 dpi
Vertical Resolution: 72 dpi
Resolution Unit: i
Offset to JPEG SOI: 1300
Bytes of JPEG Data: 8600
Chrominance Comp Positioning: Co-Sited
Exif Version: 2.20
Image Generated: 2006:10:09 08:05:12
Image Digitized: 2006:10:09 08:05:12
Meaning of Each Comp: Unknown
Image Compression Mode: 4
Shutter Speed: 1/0 sec
Focal Plane Horiz Resolution: 4482 dpcm
Focal Plane Vert Resolution: 4482 dpcm
Focal Plane Res Unit: cm
File Source: Digital Still Camera
Scene Type: Directly Photographed

Can someone explain to me about the 1/0 sec Shutter SPeed found in Other Properties (highlighted blue)?
 

I was just generalizing why it is easier to use a prosumer compared to a dslr; Without looking/knowing his settings, I thought he was holding onto his fuji when he took the shot; which meant he couldn't have used more than 1/4 of a sec at most (at this point I totally forgot about him mentioning of streaking lights).
Anyway, the settings for the shot he took

File name: dscf0626se2.jpg
File size: 718526 bytes (3488x2616, 0.6bpp, 38x)
EXIF Summary: 4s f/5.6 ISO200 10.8mm

Camera-Specific Properties:

Equipment Make: FUJIFILM
Camera Model: FinePix S9500
Camera Software: Digital Camera FinePix S9500 Ver1.01
Maximum Lens Aperture: f/2.8
Sensing Method: One-Chip Color Area
Maker Note Version: 0130

Image-Specific Properties:

Image Orientation: Top, Left-Hand
Horizontal Resolution: 72 dpi
Vertical Resolution: 72 dpi
Image Created: 2006:10:09 08:05:12
Rendering: Normal
Exposure Mode: Auto
White Balance: Auto
Scene Capture Type: Standard
Contrast: Normal
Saturation: Normal
Sharpness: Hard
Subject Distance Range: Unknown
Exposure Time: 4 sec
F-Number: f/5.6
Exposure Program: Shutter Priority
ISO Speed Rating: 200
Lens Aperture: f/5.7
Brightness: -3.1 EV
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Metering Mode: Pattern
Light Source: Unknown
Flash: No Flash, Compulsory
Focal Length: 10.80 mm
Color Space Information: sRGB
Image Width: 3488
Image Height: 2616
Sharpness: Hard
White Balance: Auto
Chroma Saturation: Normal
Flash Mode: Off
Macro Mode: Off
Focus Mode: Auto
Slow Synchro Mode: Off
Picture Mode: Shutter Prior AE
Continuous/Bracketing Mode: Off
Blur Status: Blur Warning
Focus Status: Out of Focus
Auto Exposure Status: OK

Other Properties:

Resolution Unit: i
Chrominance Comp Positioning: Co-Sited
Exif IFD Pointer: 390
Compression Scheme: JPEG Compression (Thumbnail)
Image Orientation: Top, Left-Hand
Horizontal Resolution: 72 dpi
Vertical Resolution: 72 dpi
Resolution Unit: i
Offset to JPEG SOI: 1300
Bytes of JPEG Data: 8600
Chrominance Comp Positioning: Co-Sited
Exif Version: 2.20
Image Generated: 2006:10:09 08:05:12
Image Digitized: 2006:10:09 08:05:12
Meaning of Each Comp: Unknown
Image Compression Mode: 4
Shutter Speed: 1/0 sec
Focal Plane Horiz Resolution: 4482 dpcm
Focal Plane Vert Resolution: 4482 dpcm
Focal Plane Res Unit: cm
File Source: Digital Still Camera
Scene Type: Directly Photographed

Can someone explain to me about the 1/0 sec Shutter SPeed found in Other Properties (highlighted blue)?

wah.....so chim.......i also not sure...... easier to do streaks on Prosumer....DSLR is hmmm challenging~
 

wah.....so chim.......i also not sure...... easier to do streaks on Prosumer....DSLR is hmmm challenging~
Actually why don't you show us your FAILED images.

That would help more to see what you're doing wrong, instead of a success image to show us that you know how to do it right with prosumer. =/

If you've deleted away, then what did you do with your DSLR exactly? I notice you haven't mentioned it yet! =D
 

wah.....so chim.......i also not sure...... easier to do streaks on Prosumer....DSLR is hmmm challenging~

Actually its not 'chim'. That long list is the settings of the camera at the point of time you took the shot. The only thing you need to take note of are

Exposure Time: 4 sec
F-Number: f/5.6
ISO Speed Rating: 200
Lens Aperture: f/5.7
Brightness: -3.1 EV

If you had both the nikon & the fuji around the same spot at the same time and applied the same settings to the D70, you should be able to get a very close result as what the fuji gave you.
 

Hiz, i loves taking night shots, streaks of light(by cars), and the night view of the CBD area. In the past i use the Fuji S9500 Prosumer camera and is able to capture this effect by settling the Shutter prioty setting and set the during and viola i am done.

But i just recently bought a D70 with the 18-55mm Lens, and to my horror i cant seems to get the effect or not even a decent night shot photo!
All i get is the whole black area with a few dots of light (I am by the road side, dots of light is the Those lampstand that lights the road up) Any one Plz advice!!!!! :dunno:

You may want to check out the Night Photography forum. Just to share some of the threads regarding Light Trails. http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?t=215584
 

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