Best setting for HK night street shot without Tripod

[Alan2701]

Is it possible to get a good shot without tripod?
What setting should I use? Tv or Av or just the P?
I couldn't bring along a tripod and set in the middle of the crowded street and shoot. ;p
Also very tiring to setup and carry a heavy tripod and at the same time to looking after 2 young kids (age 4 and 7)... :what:
Should I use Flash?

Thanks for the advice.
Alan

 

[theRenaissance]

Is it possible to get a good shot without tripod?
What setting should I use? Tv or Av or just the P?
I couldn't bring along a tripod and set in the middle of the crowded street and shoot. ;p
Also very tiring to setup and carry a heavy tripod and at the same time to looking after 2 young kids (age 4 and 7)... :what:
Should I use Flash?

Thanks for the advice.
Alan

Is it possible to get a good shot without tripod?

totally yes, what model are you using? try using a prime lens + higher ISO.
I usually use my prime stopped down to 2.8 and ISO1600, more than sufficient to get most shots

What setting should I use? Tv or Av or just the P?
It depends on how familiar you are, but I usually use Av

Should I use flash?
Use provided you are confident that you wont get scolded or get negative remarks. Personally i'd go with available light.

 

[Alan2701]

Is it possible to get a good shot without tripod?

totally yes, what model are you using? try using a prime lens + higher ISO.
I usually use my prime stopped down to 2.8 and ISO1600, more than sufficient to get most shots

What setting should I use? Tv or Av or just the P?
It depends on how familiar you are, but I usually use Av

Should I use flash?
Use provided you are confident that you wont get scolded or get negative remarks. Personally i'd go with available light.

Thanks buddy!
I'm using a EOS60D.
Now learning very hard to familiarize the setting before my trip to HK this March.

Welcome more suggestions.

Alan

 

[GRbenji]

The 3 main settings, ie Aperture, Shutter and ISO, you'll want them to allow max light for night scene to capture background.

Without tripod, try as follow:
1. Aperture - Use the widest the lens allows, so that you can have higher shutter or lower ISO. Best is use a fast lens.
2. ISO - next use the highest acceptable ISO before noise becomes an issue.
3. Shutter - using Av mode, see that the shutter speed is acceptable for handheld. If still too slow, only option is raise ISO, better noisy than blurr image.
4. Flash - optional. If have subject in foreground, can use flash as fill-light.

 

[sinned79]

These days i use AV mode most of the time.

Shoot this last year during my HK trip in Sept:
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=761730

For night shoots i shoot using f2.8-f4 , always kept my ISO not higher then 800.



try use a prime lens if u have one. It will be very useful.

 

[Kermitfm]

With a 60D, you should not have a problem setting the ISO to 1600 and still get good images. Try to use as big an aperture as you can get away with. You can experiment shooting street scenes in Singapore as the lighting condition is quite similar.

Forget about flash unless you want to specifically light up one subject. And flashing in the night a public street is not 'nice'.

 

[YiyUuuu]

Bro, your camera is more than adequate to bump up the iso. As what ren has said, the 60D is capable of handling iso 1600. Try renting a faster lens if you haven got one. Typically F2.8 or better. A 35/50mm prime will serve you very well.

Anyways, the streets of hong kong is pretty well lit. So not much to worry about =)

Happy shooting.

 

[sinned79]

Forget about flash unless you want to specifically light up one subject. And flashing in the night a public street is not 'nice'.

yes, u will scare your subjects away. And probably a policeman will come find you :bsmilie:

 

[Alan2701]

I'm just a starter and throw a big sum of $$$ to buy 60D with 18-135mm kit lens. No money for other gd lens atm. Is my current kit lens gd enough?

Thanks.

 

[sinned79]

I'm just a starter and throw a big sum of $$$ to buy 60D with 18-135mm kit lens. No money for other gd lens atm. Is my current kit lens gd enough?

Thanks.

you may want to get a cheap $100 odd 50mm f1.8 if u are on tight budget.

else u can use your existing lens but bump up your ISO higher (800).

 

[Rashkae]

Why not practice in Singapore? doesn't matter if it's HK or SG, the basic principles are the same. Open the aperture, high ISO.

 

[Override2Zion]

Why not practice in Singapore? doesn't matter if it's HK or SG, the basic principles are the same. Open the aperture, high ISO.

:thumbsup: Thats very good advice. It gives you the practical feel, rather than just figures on paper. I think this would help most.

 

[edutilos-]

Is it possible to get a good shot without tripod?
What setting should I use? Tv or Av or just the P?
I couldn't bring along a tripod and set in the middle of the crowded street and shoot. ;p
Also very tiring to setup and carry a heavy tripod and at the same time to looking after 2 young kids (age 4 and 7)... :what:
Should I use Flash?

Thanks for the advice.
Alan

Suggest you read up more:

Basics of camera operation:
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=309544
http://www.ehow.com/how_2217908_operate-digital-camera.html
http://www.ehow.com/videos-on_4423_use-digital-camera.html
http://gizmodo.com/5116662/how-to-use-your-new-digital-camera

Composition
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composition_(visual_arts)
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/composition.htm
http://www.photographytips.com/page.cfm/6
http://www.amateursnapper.com/photography/10-top-photography-composition-rules
http://www.digital-photography-school.com/digital-photography-composition-tips
http://www.digital-photography-school.com/10-more-quick-composition-tips-illustrated

Flash photography
http://www.gentleye.com/photo/photoart/advflash/index.html
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=171657
http://www.all-things-photography.com/flash-photography.html
http://www.scantips.com/lights/flashbasics.html

More topics covered here:
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials.htm

Newbie guide to Filters
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=803029
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photographic_filter
http://photo.net/equipment/filters/

Singapore Camera equipment price guides:
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=124

 

[JweiH]

I read in a magazine that you can control the shutter speed for different feel. Really need to understand what you are trying to achieve.

Perhaps for shooting the busy street life of HK, use the Tv mode, you can set the shutter speed to let's say, 0.5 sec for show a hint of movement in the street, while maintaining sharpness in the architect around the places. More importantly is the way of handling your equipment, to prevent unwanted motion blur.

If you want everything 'freezed', then increase the shutter speed.

Also try out fun stuffs like panning HK signature transports like the taxis, mini buses and electric bus.

All in all, composition is very important. So go out and shoot shoot shoot before you leave for HK.

I'm using a 550D and noise handling at 1600 ISO ain't a problem, so i guess your 60D should be more than capable.


PS: I just came back from HK. Beautiful place!

 

[Alan2701]

You guys are terrific and helpful!!!
What a wonderful forum to stay with.
Many stuffs to learn from u guys.
Cheers!

 

[Kiwira]

1/4 3.5 1.6k

dont worry kit lens enough already, hands just need steady abit

 

[cowmera]

Suggest you read up more:

Basics of camera operation:
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=309544
http://www.ehow.com/how_2217908_operate-digital-camera.html
http://www.ehow.com/videos-on_4423_use-digital-camera.html
http://gizmodo.com/5116662/how-to-use-your-new-digital-camera

Composition
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composition_%28visual_arts%29
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/composition.htm
http://www.photographytips.com/page.cfm/6
http://www.amateursnapper.com/photography/10-top-photography-composition-rules
http://www.digital-photography-school.com/digital-photography-composition-tips
http://www.digital-photography-school.com/10-more-quick-composition-tips-illustrated

Flash photography
http://www.gentleye.com/photo/photoart/advflash/index.html
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=171657
http://www.all-things-photography.com/flash-photography.html
http://www.scantips.com/lights/flashbasics.html

More topics covered here:
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials.htm

Newbie guide to Filters
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=803029
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photographic_filter
http://photo.net/equipment/filters/

Singapore Camera equipment price guides:
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=124

Yeah, there are some great cs masters who learn from those links when they were still newbies.

 

[Alan2701]

1/4 3.5 1.6k

dont worry kit lens enough already, hands just need steady abit

Wow! This is what I want to achieve!!!
How did you do it? Tv or Av? Self Timer or Tripod or Handheld or Remote Shutter? Bulb mode?
:thumbsup:

 

[intrance]

Wow! This is what I want to achieve!!!
How did you do it? Tv or Av? Self Timer or Tripod or Handheld or Remote Shutter? Bulb mode?
:thumbsup:

i believe.. 1/4s, f3.5, iso 1600 handheld..

 

[Kiwira]

manual handheld brudda, the settings as above, ya can try it out before ya trip

another alternative is that ya can use a monopod to aid in the steadiness, not as bulky as a tripod