How can I take better pictures at night?

[TW]Fox

[TW]Fox

[TW]Fox

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Joined
17 Oct 2002
Posts
160,165
Hi all,

I'm a bit useless at photography really, but I wouldn't mind learning how to take better pictures. I have a Panasonic DMC-FZ20, which whilst it's hardly a brilliant camera is at least halfway decent I guess.

But I just cannot get night photographs right. They always come out looking a blurred mess. Here is one of my recent examples:

rubbish.jpg


As you can see, this photograph is frankly apalling. But the view I wanted looked just fine from where I stood with my eyes and it wasn't as dark as that, yet came out completely rubbishly in my photograph. All my shots in the dark are like this - even ones under artificial light. My daytime photos, whilst nothing you guys would be proud of, are at least not blurred.

Any tips? Where am I going wrong?
 
Blimey, you in the PV forum! :p :D

Anyway, you either need a tripod (as the shutter speed is obviously too slow, hence the blur), or to up the ISO that your camera is shooting at (I doubt you'd get it a lot different though).

Instead of using a tripod, you could probably get away with using self timer mode (if you press the shutter button without self timer on you'll get camera shake, as per your current problem) and resting the camera on something steady with it aiming at the car.
 
stop trying to pimp your beemer here :D

on a serious note though, you need a tripod , if you don't have a tripod, you need to use a faster shutter speed with a higher ISO (ISO800 if your cam supports it) and higher F-stop (the highest number your cam supports (F/11 being higher than F/5.6)

Switch your cam into manual mode and just experiment and see what comes out best.
 
Camera Make: Panasonic
Camera Model: DMC-FZ20
Image Date: 2006:10:20 17:59:55
Flash Used: No
Focal Length: 11.0mm (35mm equivalent: 66mm)
Exposure Time: 0.250 s (1/4)
Aperture: f/2.8
ISO equiv: 200
White Balance: Auto
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: program (Auto)
Click to expand...



Bearing in mind I'm not an expert, a 1/4 second exposure whilst hand-holding the camera is asking for blur. According to its stats the FZ20 supports an ISO up to 400, so it may be worth upping it.
 
Meter for the back of the car - that will allow the camera to expose correctly for the light falling on the panels and thus make your blingy LED lights more vibrant.

However, this will need a slower shutter speed and therefore you need to be using a tripod.

I take photos of cars at night and I use a tripod + flash.

20051211191124_crw_6916.jpg

That was in a poorly lit carpark at about 11 oclock.

Your best bet is to just keep practicing with a tripod until you get something you like.
 
the fz20 is a nice camera, had one for a year
ISO 800
f2.8 which you are....
and what about making sure IS is on!? mode 1 or better mode2?
that will improve the shutter speed
 
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