Night Shots?

Question

I have a Fuji Film Finpix s5200 how do i take night shots

Answer 1

First, you must be able to use full manual control on your camera. You must be able to set the f-stop manually. Your shutter speed setting must have either a "T" or "B" setting for time exposures or be capable of at least a fifteen second exposure. Your camera also has to accept a mechanical cable release*.

Second, you need a tripod and a mechanical cable release.

Find a nice view of a city skyline in the distance. If its across a lake or river all the better. Looking down from above is also a good view point. Try to avoid extraneous lights. If there are streetlights behind you, you should cover the viewfinder with a piece of dark cloth.

Mount your camera on the tripod and attach the cable release. Make sure the camera is level.

Set your ISO to 200 and your f-stop to f8. Make a 15 second exposure. You will have an excellent photo.

If you'd prefer to use ISO 100, make the exposure for 30 seconds at f8.

If you decide to use f11, your exposures will be 30 seconds and 60 seconds respectively.

Just count 1001, 1002, 1003, etc. or you can use the second hand on your watch or buy a timer.

If you can find a vantage point overlooking a busy highway with the city in the background you can create "light trails" from the moving vehicles. Headlights will be white streaks, taillights red streaks. Looks pretty cool with the city skyline in the background.

If you're using a zoom lens, compose at the lowest focal length (perhaps 50mm) and then slowly and carefully zoom in to the longest focal length (perhaps 150). Be very smooth so as to not move the camera.

If you'd like to see examples email me with your email addy and I'll send you a couple.

* Some cameras offer an "electrical" cable release. It will work IF you can set the shutter for 15 seconds. If you have to use "T" or "B" the "electrical" release will NOT hold the shutter open. As soon as contact is made the shutter fires. Thjerefore a mechanical one is needed.

Answer 2

On your control dial, there should be a symbol that looks like a building with a crescent moon by it. Turn the dial to that setting. Then, make sure you use a tripod or secure the camera in some way, because the camera will use a slow shutter speed.

As long as you use a tripod, it's not so critical to pump the ISO up as others have suggested. However, if you choose to handhold, then you want to pump up the ISO to try to get a handholdable shutter speed. The thing is, you'll get more noise in your image if you pump up the ISO.

Anyway, in nightshot mode (the crescent moon setting), your flash may go off. That's fine if there's people there; they will be properly exposed while the background will look good (again, use a tripod!). If it's a cityscape, your flash won't affect objects in the distance, so again no problem. If however, you don't want nearby objects lit up, you'll have to surpress the flash.

Answer 3

Depends on what you are taking photos of. If you take a photo of the moon that would be a vast difference than say a shot of a building. If you could tell what you will be photographing I can provide a better plan.

First thing is to adjust your ISO to the max. 1600 is the max and the higher this setting the lower the quality. It will create "noise" in the image. Use a tripod and use manual settings is you are familiar with this feature. If not, play with it. In order to obtain depth of field in the photo

I would suggest keeping the aperature at 5.6 or higher. If you are shooting off a tripod the shutter speed can be slowed way down to long times. 1 second, 5 second etc.

If you elect to use your flash it will have a limited coverage area as well as drain your batteries because of it "dumping" a full flash every time.

Answer 4

Best to use tripod and manual exposure settings if you have them. If camera has self-timer to activate shutter release, it is better. Keep checking results after each shot and experiment!! Enjoy.

Answer 5

read the manual. there should be a setting for night shots.

also remember to take a tripod whenever possible.

Answer 6

You need a tripod.

Answer 7

the manual will tell you step by step

Answer 8

take a picture of me