Night Shots HELP About This Page:

[tinker_me_happy]

I used to actually know what I was doing with a camera, but not any more! ANY one familiar with point and shoot digital cameras who can help me get better night shots? I have an Olympus Stylus 720SW which is supposedly a pretty good point n shoot. It has a night setting, but all my pictures still come out blurry. What am I doing wrong? Is there no way to take hand held photos at night without a flash? I see SO MANY amazing night pics of parades and fireworks and would like to try and get some but I don't think I can with this camera.

HELP?

[emtpej]

I have a hard time with it too. You have to hold it very still, or use a large or small tripod or clamp. Make sure you check the settings / guide in the manual and also experiment.

[Cam22]

A tripod/monopod helps a lot as I found out this past June. I also found with the parade that my little point and shoot did fairly well with switchiing to the sports mode. I just kept experimenting with the settings.

[A & J's Dad]

There are two elements to blur, actual focus and camera shake. emtpej and Cam22 have some good suggestions to remedy camera shake. Another shake solution for long exposures would be a remote trigger. However, most P&S have very short focal lengths and small sensors which conteracts some shake. You may want to experiment with adjusting auto focus modes and points if you have the option. Obviously, you can't go to a Disney parade every night. Try walking the local evening entertainment district to get some practice.

Cheers
Craig

[carters_mom]

I've always struggled with this too. I've got a new camera and a mini tripod for my next trip. I'm hoping for the best!

[Mares75]

You just have to keep extremely still. It takes longer for your camera to take a night shot so any little movement will blur your picture. I try to put my elbows on a railing or something if available. If not I've found keeping my elbows tucked in towards my body helps keep my arms stable.

[JennyM]

A tri-pod really helps! I have a little one and usually stick it on and hold the camera with that and, even if I am just holding it instead of the camera body and don't actually put it down on a surface, it seems to help with the blurriness. I have a big tri-pod but I probably wouldn't bring that into the parks. I also just keep experimenting with settings. I want to get one of those tri-pods that are flexible so I can wrap it around things and see if that helps!

[tinker_me_happy]

I'll try the action shot, but it doesn't work on night setting. Also was hoping not to carry a tripod, but it looks like I'm going to have to. THANKS

[JennyM]

A mini tri-pod doesn't take up much space at all. I can fit mine right in the camera bag or tuck it right into whatever bag I am carrying in the park.

[Pax]

A clamp might also work, if you pick the right place to watch the parade from - someplace with a reachable, but just-over-head-level object you can affix the clamp to ...

Me, I just got a lightweight tripod, and will rent a locker to store it in during the day. Before parade time, I'll go grab the 'pod, and get myself situated with it.

[Tonichelle]

point and shoots read the overall lighting and not the focus of fireworks or whatever is the thing you want to take photos of at night. Because of this they read it to be a long exposure the longer the exposure the more moving is not a good thing.

it's also hard for auto focus to find anything you want in focus because it's dark.

if you have full manual settings, or even partial manual settings, available on your camera start playing with those and get a feel for what sort of settings work for handheld/no-tripod situations

IMHO - the only way to get fantastic night shots is to have a full manual mode on your camera and you have to know what you're looking for in the shot. I'm not anywhere near where I Want to be with long exposure night shots.

[Pax]

Originally Posted by Tonichelle

IMHO - the only way to get fantastic night shots is to have a full manual mode on your camera and you have to know what you're looking for in the shot. I'm not anywhere near where I Want to be with long exposure night shots.

Well, my camera (Fuji Finepix s5700), despite being "only" a point-and-shoot, has settings for things like Fireworks, specifically. So, even if you don't want to take full manual control ... if your camera has a LOT of specific-situation settings, try and figure out which one(s) will work for your desired photos.

[LizardCop]

This may be a little long, so I'll apologize now.

First off, let me direct you to the Olympus web site so you can download the full manual for the camera, just in case you don't have it. Stylus 720 SW &gt Product Manuals You can click on the advanced manual link and it should open on your computer. You can then save it in My Documents so you'll always have it available on the computer. Do the same with the basic manual, it explains the scene modes where the advanced manual doesn't seem to. Your particular camera does not seem to have a manual mode, or a manual focus selection, although it does seem to have a focus lock option in certain scene modes (page 8, basic manual).

Next, let's deal with the fireworks mode on most all cameras that have it. It is a good selection, only if you have a tripod or other sturdy mount for your camera. The reason for this is the shutter speed is "normally" set at 2 seconds (especially with Olympus cameras), way too long for anything hand held.

If you want to "hand hold" the camera, you can do that. It would be best if you could do it manual, but that is not always an option with P&S cameras. Play with the scene modes and see what they do. The best advice here is to shoot a lot of pictures, using all the modes until you get them figured out. Find what works best for you.

The focusing issue is another matter. In MK, I focus on the castle, then reposition the camera and wait for the fireworks burst I want to photograph. Here again, learn your scene modes to see which one will best suit what you want to do. If you're on a tripod, a 2 second exposure will look good... When focusing for Illuminations, I focus on one of the pavilions across the water to set the focus lock, reposition, then shoot the blast I want.

Jan has the 1030SW, and she loves it. I just looked in our files and she hasn't done any fireworks still shots (she shoots the fireworks in video mode). I haven't been able to shoot dark parades/fireworks since we started taking Abby with us, she wants PaPa holding her when the loud music/boom boom starts, and I'll give up the camera for the 2 year old anytime

If you need any more info, want to just ask any questions, or need any further help, just ask

[tinker_me_happy]

THANKS!! I have the quick guide but couldn't find my full manual! I'll definately try that and get a small tripod.

[Tonichelle]

Originally Posted by Pax

Well, my camera (Fuji Finepix s5700), despite being "only" a point-and-shoot, has settings for things like Fireworks, specifically. So, even if you don't want to take full manual control ... if your camera has a LOT of specific-situation settings, try and figure out which one(s) will work for your desired photos.

Yes there are fireworks options but...

Originally Posted by LizardCop

Next, let's deal with the fireworks mode on most all cameras that have it. It is a good selection, only if you have a tripod or other sturdy mount for your camera. The reason for this is the shutter speed is "normally" set at 2 seconds (especially with Olympus cameras), way too long for anything hand held.

this is what I'm getting at. Just because a P&S camera has this option it doesn't mean it will magically make the picture work. You still have to learn the camera and get it working. And it's been my experience that the fireworks option isn't all it's cracked up to be. But I'm admittedly not someone who has kept up with the digital p&s cameras.