Fireworks and Digital Cameras

[Flight Attendant]

Can anyone help me out in taking low light pictures with a digital camera? I cannot seem to get it set up right to take shots with low light levels, without a great deal of blurring. Flash only makes it worse, as the flash will only light up what is immediately in front of the camera. The shots that I want to really take are Fireworks. Which I do try with a tripod... but I also have a problem with the low light to get the camera to actually shoot when I want it. It has a huge shutter delay so the shot is gone before I can take it.

 

The camera I have is a Nikon Coolpix 5700. It can take really great shots that are not motion based (stills), in abundant light.

 

I never have this problem with my miniDV camcorder...

[robbalvey]

We have the same problem with our Sony Cybershot T3. In low light I get the little 'shakey hand' icon on the screen which means "hold the damn camera as still as possible or your shot will blur."

 

I wish I could get rid of that and have the shutter speed increased.

 

If you find an answer, please let us know too!

 

--Robb

[Flight Attendant]

Glad to know that I am not alone!

 

I have heard that the newer "SLR" digital like the Canon Rebel XT or the Nikon D70 or D50 work better and have a "shoot NOW" shutter control. A little out of my price range at the moment... but I might head in that direction for my next camera.

[coaster1]

Tripod .. easiest answer .. even tho little table top ones, find a trashcan and use it there.

[Flight Attendant]

Okay...been there done that. But the picture still has blurring unless you use a delayed shutter setting so that you are not touching the camera. How can you take a shot of fireworks that way?...or for that matter...anything that you need a picture of right away? I mentioned that there is a huge shutter delay on it's own as it tries to either focus...or ( I am assuming) determine correct exposure.

 

Tripods works great for portrait settings. But for action, particularly in lower light situations, not so much if at all.

[coaster1]

Ive never had an issue as I use a manual exposure for Fireworks and night shots. Most cameras now will compensate for low-light, but turn out crappy still because they are compensating for a flash to be fired.

 

Most cameras should have a manual setting, and you shoudl play with F-Stop and exposure timing to get it right .. it's not easy, but once you get it down .. it's pretty simple.

[Jew]

Just use a longer shutter speed and exposure in manual mode and find a way to hold the camera still.

[RtherBOnACoaster]

My new camera already has a firework mode. But I suggest to get the slowest shutter mode on it.

[ebl]

Get a small tripod. We got one and it's come in handy many times, especially for shots using a timer when we all want to be in the picture. But that tripod will keep your camera steady.

 

Eric