I want to take some pictures of the beautiful Christmas lights outside at night any pointers or suggestions?

Dont use the flash? Just kidding :p

Id like pointers too! Im going to see lights on friday night.

Yesterday i took some photos to check the new camera and i'm very happy with the result as i didn't use the tripod.The photos were taken handholding the camera.
Here are some of them and you can see the EXIF in every photo.
http://www.megapixelworld.com/photography/showphoto.php?photo=1791&cat=500&perpage=12&sort=3&ppuser=3
http://www.megapixelworld.com/photography/showphoto.php?photo=1790&cat=500&perpage=12&sort=3&ppuser=3
http://www.megapixelworld.com/photography/showphoto.php?photo=1792&cat=500&perpage=12&sort=3&ppuser=3

I noticed that the photos of Cristmas lights turned out better at:

MANUAL
ISO 800
F-STOP 4
EX.TIME 1/40sec
or
MANUAL
ISO 1600
F-STOP4
EX.TIME 1/40sec.

I noticed that the photos of Cristmas lights turned out better at:

MANUAL
ISO 800
F-STOP 4
EX.TIME 1/40sec
or
MANUAL
ISO 1600
F-STOP4
EX.TIME 1/40sec.

How about some suggestions for those of us whose cameras don't have that high of an ISO setting? :)

How about some suggestions for those of us whose cameras don't have that high of an ISO setting? :)
A tripod is required! Beside that, you will probably get cleaner photos if you are using a low ISO like 100 :)
I would do some tests at 1/40, 1/20, 1/5s etc to see what is the best. I know the setting that works for the Canon 350D does not work for the Nikon D70. I believe it depends on so many things anyway: 100 ISO on one camera might be 150 ISO on another one, the lens difference, the stabiliser...
The wonderful thing with digital cameras is it does not cost to try different settings :)
Good luck!

Olly

A tripod is required! Beside that, you will probably get cleaner photos if you are using a low ISO like 100
I would do some tests at 1/40, 1/20, 1/5s etc to see what is the best. I know the setting that works for the Canon 350D does not work for the Nikon D70. I believe it depends on so many things anyway: 100 ISO on one camera might be 150 ISO on another one, the lens difference, the stabiliser...
The wonderful thing with digital cameras is it does not cost to try different settings
Good luck!

I do have a tripod now. :) I guess I was just looking for some sort of starting point. You are right though, I should just experiment with my new camera and learn what works and what doesn't. Like you said, it doesn't cost anything!

I do have a tripod now. :)

So you have not any problem :)

I guess I was just looking for some sort of starting point.

Different cameras would respond differently,but as a general rule the camera at higher 400-800 ISO would increase the brightness,but will also increase the noise into the photo,so you have to use the tripod the lower ISO 50-100 and self timer to avoid camera shaken.
You can use the "night scene"mode,but only if you can turn the flash off,or you can use the "Landscape mode"ISO 100.
The best results will be taken with the manual mode and if you have this option in your camera,take photos using the tripod and self timer at 50 ISO
and f8

I noticed you guys say 1/40sec exposure time etc... mine goes 3" up to 15" exposure time instead. Im confused!! What should I use?

mine goes 3" up to 15" exposure time instead

You are right,3'' to 15'',but only at "night mode"
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilmf10zoom/ your camera goes from 3 to 1/2000 sec,so you have to take the photos using the tripod at "night mode",but only if you can turn the flash off or at "landscape mode"using the tripod.Try the "program mode"to see if you can set the shutter speed at 1/40 and then you can take good photos hand hold the camera

What about the ISO?Do you take good photos without noise at 400ISO?

LOL Sophia the letterboxes were my tripod :D I was on night mode. Flash off. I didnt try the different ISO settings, maybe tomorrow night. I have to disconnect the internet to see my photos, so ill do that now. See how they turned out :D

LOL Sophia the letterboxes were my tripod :D I was on night mode. Flash off. I didnt try the different ISO settings, maybe tomorrow night. I have to disconnect the internet to see my photos, so ill do that now. See how they turned out :D

As you have not a heavy camera you can use the top of the car or a table or
a bench as a tripod :) Try the different ISO settings,if the photos at 400 or 800 ISO turn out without too much noise,you could hand hold the camera and don't need a tripod :)

Hmm I need to find a more level letterbox next time :rolleyes: And I have moving people in the front of the house. So the first house pics were no good.
There was this one at 3"
http://photobucket.com/albums/b168/lkj_checkers/?action=view&current=lights3.jpg
5" or 8" cant remember
http://photobucket.com/albums/b168/lkj_checkers/?action=view&current=lights8.jpg
15"
http://photobucket.com/albums/b168/lkj_checkers/?action=view&current=lights15.jpg

This was probably the best one I took, any pointers to make it better? (please ignore the stupid letter box taking up the bottom half of the picture lol). It is taken at ISO 80. Im not sure how to see the rest of the settings, is there a way on Irfanview?
http://photobucket.com/albums/b168/lkj_checkers/?action=view&current=DSCF1036.jpg

This was probably the best one I took, any pointers to make it better?

This is very good.I just tried to "pop up" the details on the door and the tree.i edited the photo in the photoshop CS2 (my brand-new software and i love it :D )
I first cropped the down part of the photo and i burned the rest of the mailbox,then i played with the "shadow-highlights" and then the filter "reduce noice" :)
Just a few clicks,either way it was a very nice photo :)

http://photobucket.com/albums/a211/savra/test/?action=view&current=a8c13ba3.jpg

And I have moving people in the front of the house. So the first house pics were no good.

To remove every MOVE,in that case people,of a photo,you should keep the shutter open long enough,for example intead of 3''-8'' and f2.8,you could set f 8 and maybe20'' (you have to test it and not overexposure)and in that way people and everything that is moving would not appear in the photo ;)

Ooh that makes it look so much better thanks! :D

My camera only goes up to 15" and that made it really bright. What does the f 2.8 etc mean? What does it control?

15 seconds is already quite long and is enough in many situations :)
The f2.8 is the aperture. It controls the light and is often called the f/stop and the larger the number the smaller the opening: f2.8 lets enter a lot of light compared to f22 per example.
For the same amount of time, a photo will look much brighter at f2.8 than f22.

The 15" I posted still has the moving people in it though. Ill just have to wait till people get out of the way.

I cant figure out how to change the aperture, i dont even know if I can.

No, unfortunately you can't. I just checked your camera at http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilmf10zoom/
Well, use the night mode :)

ok, I took a couple of pictures of Christmas lights, one turned out okay I think, you will have to tell me what you think, not approved yet.

Well, use the night mode :)

I did ;)

Ill just have to keep playing with the shutter speeds.

ok, I took a couple of pictures of Christmas lights, one turned out okay I think, you will have to tell me what you think, not approved yet.
A very nice photo!!
http://www.megapixelworld.com/photography/showphoto.php?photo=1794&limit=recent
Did you use the tripod?what ISO? :)

Thank you. :D sooo cold outside too. -24 C or so and so windy. I used ISO 1600, F-stop 4, no flash, hand held, manual, no touch ups. Having a storm right now:(

Thank you. :D sooo cold outside too. -24 C or so and so windy. :eek: -24 C!!I have never gone in a place with -24C,here even with snow it's about from -1 to +6C.Today it's about 12C.It would be cold in Canada,but what a nice snowy scene you have there!


I used ISO 1600, F-stop 4, no flash, hand held, manual, no touch ups Great photo at 1600ISO,very well done!

T:D hank you so much Sophia it means a lot coming from you.

Beautiful picture Colleen! You have very steady hands :D I like all the snow men :D


And WOW -24??? Its about +24 here (well when it stops raining) ;)

Thanks, I guess I was so steady because my hans were frozen.:D