pls help me give advice on using settings to make the best low noise while taking pictures in the dark. my T100 has ISO 3200, but it's no use. any help will be appreciated. Thanks in advance!
2007-09-20 00:34:08 · 10 answers · asked by Billy A 4 in Consumer Electronics ➔ Cameras
HEY GUYS, WHAT ARE YOU? TRYING TO TEASE ME?
2007-09-20 00:48:20 · update #1
dfirefox, i am talking about the night pictures, and they have all these red and blue dots forming, which is annoying. of course, in the day, there no noise, duh!urgh! but please help me, any frame setting or aperture settings?
2007-09-20 00:50:15 · update #2
WOW guys you have so many great answers, and i don't know whose will be the best. maybe i'll send it to voting. THX for all you very excellent answers so far!!!
2007-09-22 14:41:09 · update #3
The higher you set the ISO sensitivity, the more noise you are going to get in your photos.
Since I don't know that much about the T100, I don't know what kind of manual controls you have, but if you can, try shooting at a lower ISO sensitivity and increasing your exposure, either with a wider aperture or a slower shutter speed.
If you don't have any manual controls, then you will either have to put up with the noise or get a camera you can use for your night shots.
EDIT
I just took a look at Sony's web page for your camera, it look like you don't really have any manual controls. What I would suggest is that you set you ISO sensitivity to 800 and your exposure compensation to EV+2. That's essentially the same exposure value as EV 0 at ISO 3200. Hopefully that will reduce the digital noise.
2007-09-20 01:09:20 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Well you've certainly gotten some smart a-- answers. I'm guessing you want to take photos of street scenes or the city skyline at night. If you're shooting action that's a whole different thing. To take successful night photos your camera must allow you full Manual Mode control; it has to have a tripod socket and it must accept a mechanical cable release. The shutter speed selector must have either "T" or "B" settings or allow at least a 15 second exposure.
As always, my FotoSharp (fotosharp.com) "Day & Night Exposure Guide" is close at hand. Lets look at Scene # 14, 'City skyline in distance'
At ISO 100
f2 @ 2 sec.
f2.8 @ 4 sec.
f4 @ 8 sec.
f5.6 @ 15 sec.
f8 @ 30 sec.
f11 @ 60 sec.
At ISO 200
f2 @ 1 sec.
f2.8 @ 2 sec.
f4 @ 4 sec.
f5.6 @ 8 sec.
f8 @ 15 sec.
f11 @ 30 sec.
At ISO 400
f2 @ 1/2 sec.
f2.8 @ 1 sec.
f4 @ 2 sec.
f5.6 @ 4 sec.
f8 @ 8 sec.
f11 @ 15 sec.
Since you're using a tripod ISO 100 will give the best results. If you want to use ISO 50 just double the exposure times shown for ISO 100.
Now if you're shooting sports we'll look at Scene # 7, 'Sports with stadium lights' . Again, have the camera in full Manual Mode.
At ISO 400
f2 @ 1/250 sec.
f2.8 @ 1/125 sec.
f4 @ 1/60 sec.
f5.6 @ 1/30 sec.
At ISO 800
f2 @ 1/500 sec.
f2.8 @ 1/250 sec.
f4 @ 1/125 sec.
f5.6 @ 1/60 sec.
At ISO 1600
f2 @ 1/1000 sec.
f2.8 @ 1/500 sec.
f4 @ 1/250 sec.
f5.6 @ 1/125 sec.
f8 @ 1/60 sec.
Use your camera's Noise Reduction setting if it has one. If it doesn't, there are numerous editing programs that will help reduce the "digital noise" at high ISO values.
Anyone reading this and paying attention should quickly figure out the relationship between ISO, aperture and shutter speed.
2007-09-20 01:06:03 · answer #2 · answered by EDWIN 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
That's actually a good question. Too bad about those first few answers you got. Here's a better one:
1. Hold your camera very still. Preferably with a tripod. If you don't have a tripod, put your camera on a counter or a handrail. Holding it very still by hand is your last resort.
2. Try using the flash. At ISO 3200 you should be able to use the flash for quite a distance.
3. If you're using a tripod, try taking the same picture several times then use software to average them together.
4. If you're using a tripod or otherwise holding it exactly in one spot, use a much lower ISO setting.
5. Your camera only takes pictures up to 2 seconds. My Fujifilm Finepix F10 goes up to 15 seconds. Believe me, it helps.
2007-09-20 18:47:40 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can use noise reduction software after you've taken the photo to reduce the image noise. Examples include:
Noise Ninja: http://www.picturecode.com/
Neat Image: http://www.neatimage.com/
It really works, although it reduces resolution somewhat.
Noise in low light and high ISO is pretty common, due to underexposure and noise in the electronics picked up at high ISOs. Besides noise reduction software, the other obvious solutions are:
1) shoot at a lower ISO. Problem: lower ISO means slower shutter speed, which means blur. Using a tripod would help but may not be practical/possible, and it doesn't eliminate subject movement.
2) shoot with a slower shutter speed to eliminate underexposure. Problem: blur again. Using a tripod would help but may not be practical/possible, and it doesn't eliminate subject movement.
3) increase ambient lighting or use a flash. Problem: not always possible.
4) use a camera designed for high ISO shooting. Problem: you'd need a second camera.
So, above are the options and the drawbacks to your situation. I would suggest trying the software to see if that works for you, since I suspect you can't really control the lighting and don't want blurry shots.
2007-09-20 02:05:34 · answer #4 · answered by anthony h 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Read Yosemite's answer but also be aware that digital cameras exhibit more noise at higher ISO settings. Just something that is. High speed film is the same way only it is called "graininess."
I suppose you could try a film camera, use high speed film and then have the negs or slides scanned when the film is processed. But you will still have grainy pics.
Try using a tripod and shooting at a lower ISO setting. Unless you have to stop motion, this could be the answer.
2007-09-20 02:09:52 · answer #5 · answered by harryniantic 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I know this situation very well. I'm a lighting designer in theatre and I too have a need to take low light but low noise images.
Take a look a some of my shots in theatre: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sam_js/collections/72157600899225933/
Almost all of these are taken under demanding lighting. Dance is the hardest, they move around so fast you can't do a long exposure. I have applied basic Photo Shop tweaks to most of these, so you know...
Looking at your camera model, you are setting a very hard task.
But here's what I do: I take at ISO 800-1600. I use a tripod whenever I can. I go for shots where the subjects are still. I use to a minimum of 1/13th shutter speed.
Unlike traditional cameras, digital have a much better tolerance on long exposures when it comes to shake. I used to be able to only go as slow as 1/60th on my 35mm but can got to 1/13th on my Canon 20D. This is a huge help in your situation.
Also, if you can, try to get you white balance right. This will help avoid all that nasty reddish noise you get with digital. Check your manual to see if that model can adapt its WB
If I need to get lighter, the 'exposure' feature on Photo Shop CS2 gives some latitude to lighten up without adding noise. This is like the old days where one would shoot using 800 film but set the camera to 1600 and ask for the negs to be exposed at 1600. This is called 'pushing' a film. It keeps the exposure of 1600 but the grain of 800 [well nearly]
Levels in PS can sometimes help too. The 'reduce noise' filter is more than disappointing in my view, however...
In all honesty that camera just may not be up to it. Point and shoots are great for a whole host of things and take reliable and well balanced shots, when the conditions are right. Where they struggle is in situations like yours. But good photography is supposed to be challenging, so get to grips with the camera in Manual mode. Read up on exposure, aperture, shutter speeds, ISO and DoF, if you're new to all this.
The book 'How to Do Everything with Your Digital Camera' is great and I would recommend it very highly. Its available through Amazon, naturally.
Happy snappin'
2007-09-20 00:55:34 · answer #6 · answered by Yosemite Sam 2 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Hey Billy. Good question! I give you a star, a thumbs down to the weirdos, and thumbs up to the ones that have great answers, they have it right.
Good luck, and practice, trial and error is key to great pics.
2007-09-20 01:25:42 · answer #7 · answered by smittybo20 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you are recording video,use a plug on your extension audio to edit the audio later,if you are talking about mechanical noise that the camera makes,then I suggest using a digital with a timer or an extension shutter button,or even a remote one,or to drown out the noise,use other external noise such as music.
2007-09-20 00:41:18 · answer #8 · answered by Dfirefox 6 · 1⤊ 7⤋
No he is a perv trying to take covert nude pictures of women....or men.
Dude Im not gunna help with that.
2007-09-20 00:39:16 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 9⤋
why not take pictures in the light? are you racist?
2007-09-20 00:36:01 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 9⤋