How do I take better photos at night? (Nikon D50)?

Question

I have a Nikon D50 and for some reason when I take photos in low light enviornment its like the camera tries to compensate and the shutter speed is extremely slow. Also when it takes the photo it looks nothing like what I intended. How do I capture a shot at night just like how it looks?

Answer 1

First, you need a tripod.

Second, your camera must be in Manual Mode so you can set shutter speed and f-stop.

Third, you'll need a cable release for exposures longer than 30 seconds. For long exposures your shutter setting will be on "B" which allows you to keep the shutter open as long as you want.

Suppose you want to photograph a city skyline in the distance after dark. Using my trusty FotoSharp (fotosharp.com) Day & Night Exposure Guide, Scene # 14, we find:

ISO 100

f5.6 @ 15 seconds
f8 @ 30 seconds
f11 @ 60 seconds

ISO 200

f5.6 @ 8 seconds
f8 @ 15 seconds
f11 @ 30 seconds

ISO 400

f5.6 @ 4 seconds
f8 @ 8 seconds
f11 @ 15 seconds

Your best quality will be at ISO 100 @ f8 or f11 since lenses are optimized at between f5.6 and f11.

Experiment with the settings listed BUT change only ONE variable at a time. That avoids confusion.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Nikon D50 Photos

Answer 4

Both answer are correct :-) but I'd like to show you these.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c317/wtin/0c9c2751.jpg

Griffith Park Observatory, November 2006, freezing cold at night. :-(

Canon 5D, Canon 16-35 mm f 2.8 L and Canon 100 mm f 2.8 Macro.

The camera set the speed shutter at 10 seconds. It was waaaay overexposed. So I vetoed it, and put it in manual mode, and set it at 1.5 second instead, and I thought it looked better.

Absolutely you need a tripod. I forgot my cable release--so I put it on a self timer. Other people standing near me were taking photos with flash (which didn't work really).

Hope this gives you some idea.

ISO was at 500.

Answer 5

They are both entry level DSLRs, but the distinction of the D50 is that it was the only Nikon entry level DSLR to have an internal focus motor (so it can autofocus AF lenses). However, the D5000, being a newer camera takes advantage of newer technology, as long as you don't need to autofocus AF lenses.

Answer 6

Using "Bulb (B)" shutter speed,with tripod and get longer times like 30 seconds or 45 seconds or 60 seconds to capture images at night .You must try several shots for night photos.

Answer 7

You need to understand what the camera is doing and why.

The camera wants to compose an average scene with average lighting.

If you want something else, then you'll need to get out of the AUTO and green modes and start shooting manually.

You'll also want to use tripod.

Answer 8

You can spend a few thousand more on a camera with advanced long-exposure noise reduction, low noise high ISO, image stabilization, and a built-in intergalactic gargoblaster.

Or 50 bucks for a tripod.

Up 2 U.

Answer 9

2

Answer 10

learn manual exposure and manual focus, use 5600k white balance

i use film for night shots, if you work around 100iso F8-11 4-15seconds should nail most exposures

heres some film night shots: (transparencies)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/martini2005/2065858332/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/martini2005/2052509260/

oh yeah, tripod and cable release are important

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