Extended exposure on a digital camera?

Question

A question I have long asked friends, but a definite answer still eludes me. I'm looking for a digital camera for a photography class. I would really like one that would allow me to take extended exposure shots. I have heard that this may only be possible with film, but again, I was hoping for a more final answer. So... Can digital cameras leave their lenses open for long intervals, thus resulting in extended exposure shots, and if so, what might be a good affordable camera with this ability?

Answer 1

How many seconds of exposure do you need? My canon A640 has a maximum of 15 seconds of exposure. It has tons of manual controls, a flip-out screen, and 10.0 mps. It costs about 280 right now, and I think it's a good choice for an amateur photographer on a tight budget. There's a new A650 IS and the only significance it has over the A640 is image stabilization. It comes out in October and costs 499. I think 15 seconds is enough for good night scenes with a tripod. I'm sure there are other digital cameras with similar or longer exposures.

Go to dpreview.com and click on the buying guide and then features search. Go down to min shutter and click on 15 seconds or longer then click compare. The 30 seconds or longer option only resulted in dslr cameras which I do not think you can afford. You should also choose a few more specs because too many results came up if you just use shutter speed as a factor.

Answer 2

many digital cameras with manual options can do this. A Canon Powershot A560 - which is relatively basic (you can have this for under $150) can do a 15 second exposure, and so does Powershot G7 (advanced point and shoot, about $500).

Of course if you want more power with your camera you might want to invest in a DSLR camera which can do just about everything. A Nikon D40 can be a good start - or a Canon D350/D400/Digital Rebel XT/XTi. They are more expensive than a regular camera and more complex - but it will gives you a lot of options so you can go wild and be creative with yourself.

Answer 3

Well the good people in here have pretty much answered your shutter question.

For night photography you will need a tripod.

Here are some exposure guides from my trusty FotoSharp (fotosharp.com) "Day & Night Exposure Guide" :

City skyline in distance

ISO 400, f8 @ 8 seconds
ISO 400, f5.6 @ 4 seconds
ISO 400, f4.0 @ 2 seconds

ISO 200, f8 @ 15 seconds
ISO 200, f5.6 @ 8 seconds
ISO 200, f4.0 @ 4 seconds

ISO 100, f8 @ 30 seconds
ISO 100, f5.6 @ 15 seconds
ISO 100, f4.0 @ 8 seconds

Answer 4

You want a pro camera - they are called DSLR cameras-

You can find them for 500-4000 bucks- so shop around and get in touch with your local photo shop and get an idea what would be best