Night photos

[star]

I am using the Canon S30, and would like to know how I can improve on my night photos. The night mode is good, though you either need really steady hands, which most of us don't, or a tri-pod, which I don't have.

Sometimes, it's someone else who takes the photo, and I would like to know what the best mode and setting would be.

I have tried using the 'P' and imcreasing the flash, but some pictures come out really bright!!

One thing I have noted, is that when I used the 'Sports' mode, the pictures were a lot better than the 'auto' and the 'P' mode, though this only works if there are no people in the pic. Coz the people will look really bright in the photo, and actually manage to look possessed!!

Does anyone here have any ideas?

[Rustle]

It sounds like you're trying to shoot people, meaning that long shutter speeds aren't the answer and illumination is.The problem is that, as with most compact cameras, the S30's flash has a very limited range. So, increasing the power will overexpose the close subjects, but do virtually nothing for the background. You can buy a slave flash, which triggers when the camera's flash goes off, or you can find some other way to increase the lighting level in the scene.

Aside from flash, you want to get as much light into the camera as fast as possible. There are three things I can think of:

Changing your ISO will increase the camera's sensitivity to light. Pushing that to a higher setting (the S30 goes up to 800) might help, but it will increase the noise in the pic. Still, it's better than no picture at all. For any low-light picture, you definitely want to be in the ISO 200-800 range. Any lower will prove difficult.

Zoom all the way out to make sure you have the maximum aperature, which allows the maximum light to come into the picture.

Play with the exposure settings and overexpose the picture.

I would probably use the Program (P) mode. I find it to be the best general-use setting on the camera.

Russ

[slejhamer]

star wrote:
you either need really steady hands, which most of us don't, or a tri-pod, which I don't have.
Does anyone here have any ideas?

One simple solution that may work, depending on your location: try using any level surface to stabilize the camera - a fence post, the roof of a car, etc. The camera doesn't have to be flat on the surface; you can angle it up or down, and the surface will provide support and minimize the dreaded camera shake.

[Rustle]

Good point. I have a $5 mini tripod that I use for just such an occasion.

Russ