I was browsing the web earlier for advice on taking night shots & thought it may be useful if we had an advice thread on this & other photo taking tips.

Mainly buildings with street lighting .. I'll be using a Nikon Coolpix 3200 (has night landscape preset but I haven't tried it yet)

Any advice or links welcome.

I'm looking for advice too, but for exterior night shot of buildings lit interiors. Cannon S60.

1. use tripod
2. use long exposure (manual settings overriding auto mode if possible) 2s-90s
3. don't zoom in if not needed (the quantity of light coming in the lens gets weaker if you zoom in, so try to shoot with no zoom)
4. switch to min 400ISO (if you can, go for 800-3200 ISO, depends on camera)
5. don't use flash (unless needed)
6. use a BIG camera (bigger lens = more light = less noise)
7. use a GOOD camera (not a nokia cellphone's 2Mpx camera :D )

PS I don't know Nikon Coolpix 3200's potential; tell us more :cheers:

Don't know the potential of 3200 myself yet haven't had it long & I bought for quick point & shoot

Just taken a couple outside my studio (No Street Light / No Moon / Hand held about 4 secs on auto night setting)
Apparently this has ISO 3200 but I don't know how to adjust
also reduced Jpeg 75% to save on file size

But it looks promising with tripod though

frankly, i wouldn't boost the ISO as it tends to get a whole lot more grainy.
i would just increase the exposure time on a low ISO setting, probably at least F8 aperture.

Red,

I have a coolpix 3200 as well... see attached pic... I haven't taken many night shots that have come out too well... I don't have a tripod and I know that is what I need to make the shots not come out blurry on me... I would love to see what other pics you come up with at night... I am planning on taking more soon... anyhow, here is my flickr link to this image and others I have taken while clubbing...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/84279479@N00/sets/1251050/

cheers,

My compliments Scott it would be good to compare notes

Have you put some of those Flickr photos on PPB2? If not I think you should.

frankly, i wouldn't boost the ISO as it tends to get a whole lot more grainy.
i would just increase the exposure time on a low ISO setting, probably at least F8 aperture.

yes, the only time that you would boost iso is when shooting handheld and trying to increase shutter speed. sometimes grain is desired because it give a certain 'feel' to a picture, however with architectural photography my understanding is that the photos should be as smooth and grain-free as possible.

yes, the only time that you would boost iso is when shooting handheld and trying to increase shutter speed. sometimes grain is desired because it give a certain 'feel' to a picture, however with architectural photography my understanding is that the photos should be as smooth and grain-free as possible.
of course, the ISO/noise ratio depends a lot on the hardware and you must try & check how the noise increases/appears with ISO settings. On certain cameras, you can go up to ISO1600 and still be quasi-noisefree (or at least be manageable with softs like neatimage without getting blurry)... :D
Nice shot, Kevin, by the way... still your S30? :wondering

Nice shot, Kevin, by the way... still your S30? :wondering

Thanks, yes, Canon Powershot S30... the subject there was the Dutch Embassy in Berlin by OMA/Koolhaas

the subject there was the Dutch Embassy in Berlin by OMA/Koolhaas
yes, I think no OMA fan can miss that :D

Hi RED from your pictures information i noticed there is a firmware upgrade available it may help and i suppose you should keep it up to date i know i do for my D70.


http://support.nikontech.com/cgi-bin/nikonusa.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php?p_sid=6VHssGYh&p_lva=&p_li=&p_page=1&p_cv=1.186&p_pv=2.108&p_prods=1%2C108&p_cats=186&p_hidden_prods=&prod_lvl1=1&prod_lvl2=108&cat_lvl1=186&p_search_text=&p_new_search=1&p_search_type=answers.search_nl

with the D70, go for 200ISO and 30s-60s F8 for night shots :D

with the D70, go for 200ISO and 30s-60s F8 for night shots :D
thanks for the tip ill test it out soon , i have a feeling a tripod is essential with this shot the camera was supported on a sill.

thanks for the tip ill test it out soon , i have a feeling a tripod is essential with this shot the camera was supported on a sill.

Chedda likely was just a little judder when you pressed the button - On my old film cameras I used a cable plunger to avoid that ..but I notice that method is not available these days on Digital Cameras & the D70 ..
Tip ... good wedge of Blue Tack is sometimes useful

Thanks for the firmware update BTW .. but it seems very minor for the 3200 but I'll keep checking on this ..Ta

Chedda likely was just a little judder when you pressed the button - On my old film cameras I used a cable plunger to avoid that ..but I notice that method is not available these days on Digital Cameras & the D70 ..
Tip ... good wedge of Blue Tack is sometimes useful

Thanks for the firmware update BTW .. but it seems very minor for the 3200 but I'll keep checking on this ..Ta

Yes your right hopefully any movement will be eliminated now i have a remote control which is handy for self portraits and long exposures a little gem !

I have a tripod but its heavy and cumbersome does anyone have any experience in using a monopod ? i guess it would help but wouldn't compare to a tripod ? Ive seen them they double up as walking sticks or are telescopic
still hassle factor though !

Yes your right hopefully any movement will be eliminated now i have a remote control which is handy for self portraits and long exposures a little gem !

a cheaper and built in method is to use the self timer function, click the button, then walk away and it will take the picture for you in whatever setting you have set it to.

a cheaper and built in method is to use the self timer function, click the button, then walk away and it will take the picture for you in whatever setting you have set it to.

I really miss the functionality of my old 35mm .. (everything manual & analogue seemed a lot simpler) ...self timer was a simple turn button on the camera body ... Now, on my digital, I will have to scroll through & select a number of options all a bit more complex & requires working knowledge of the camera .. I can see me now taking night shots .. tripping over the tripod.. thumbing through the instruction book whilst holding a torch in my mouth & reading the stupid 8/10 point small print through a magnifying glass ..
... meanwhile the moon has shifted behind the building.

Any recommendations for Tripods ?
I'm thinking cheap here max £35 & very occasional use
most likely use will be for panoramas & maybe macro / with infrequent night shot

My compliments Scott it would be good to compare notes

Have you put some of those Flickr photos on PPB2? If not I think you should.

Sorry for the delayed reply... anyhow, which Flickr images are you referring to? I have posted some on Disney hall & the Hayden track (Eric Owen MOss)... & the Hunter Museum by Randal Stout... links as follows...

http://www.pushpullbar.com/forums/showthread.php?p=15088#post15088

http://www.pushpullbar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1165

http://www.pushpullbar.com/forums/showthread.php?p=15032#post15032

Unfortunetly I didn't start using sketchup until after I had finished with school so my work from then I haven't bothered posting... I am trying to get it all up on my Flickr page though...

As far as collaborating on info for the camera... you are probably a lot more knowledgable about it than me... I bought mine for more casual use, and have never been into any serious photography... but I have found that it is a useful camera and has a lot of capability considering its price/class of camera...

The night shot I posted on this thread I just turned off the flash, placed the camera on a table, & opened the exposure to about +7 I think... Other than that I haven't had the oportunity to take much at night and experiment with other settings... any trials from your end would be great to hear about though...

regards,

Red,

you still have that coolpix 3200? I actually upgraded... see some of my night shots HERE (http://www.pushpullbar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2526)... I think for taking some serious night shots you won't be satisfied until you make a camera upgrade with something that gives you more manual control...

A little bit of noise is ok.... on my Konica Minolta Z5, anything above 100 is just grainy. Perhaps look at using Picturecode Noise Ninja (www.picturecode.com)?
I've used it before, and it actually works.
Anyone else got good tips?