Is there a digital camera out there that takes good low light (no flash) pictures w/out a using a tripod?

Question

I have a Nikon CoolPix S5 right now, and it takes really blurry night pictures. Since it's impractical to carry a tripod around with me all the time, does anyone out there know of a good quality and AFFORDABLE digital camera that takes good night pictures?

Answer 1

Get a Fujifilm Finepix F series (F10, F20, F30). They go up to really high ISO. I have the F10, which goes up to ISO 1600. Yours only goes up to ISO 400. Since the F10 is so old, you should be able to get it for under $150. The F50 is the ideal. It goes up to ISO 6400. It's 12 MP. It's got CCD shift image stabilization. It's about $300.

Answer 2

Correct exposure is a product of the available light, ISO, aperture (f-stop) and shutter speed. The most expensive, technologically advanced camera with the fastest (f1.2, f1.4) lens will not take "good night pictures" unless the photographer knows what to do and how to do it. If your subject includes movement then the problem is exacerbated.

Read and study the Owner's Manual for your Nikon Coolpix S5. Then read and study it again.

To achieve your goals of "good night pictures" you're going to need a lens with a minimum f-stop of at least f2 and preferably f1.4 and plan to use an ISO of at least 400.

Looking at my FotoSharp (fotosharp.com) "Day & Night Exposure Guide" lets choose Scene # 8: Scene 45 minutes after sunset/Indoor sports, circus - floodlit/Brightly lit street corners. ISO 400:

At f1.4, 1/250 sec.
At f2, 1/125 sec.
At f2.8, 1/60 sec.
At f4, 1/30 sec.

At ISO 800:

At f1.4, 1/500
At f2, 1/250 sec
At f2.8, 1/125 sec.
At f4, 1/60 sec.

As you can easily see, at f2.8 with ISO 400 you'll be using a slow shutter speed. ISO 800 helps but at a loss of image quality due to "digital noise". If your camera has Noise Reduction it will help.