Shooting at night with Digital Rebel...

[JasonMX]

I am heading to Las Vegas with my camera and want to shoot some night shots there. I did some fooling around with the manual mode at home and shot these:

http://www.outphishing.com/photoalbums/bestweb/images/Night.jpg
http://www.outphishing.com/photoalbums/bestweb/images/Buildings.jpg

I just have a couple questions....

#1. Is the Landscape mode alright at shooting night shots?

#2. I know that at night you can get clear shots or slow the shutter speed to get neat bluring streak effects. How exactly with the Digital Rebel can you set up the camera to take sharp shots and ones with blur. I heard someone post some nice shots with the shutter opened for 30 seconds.

#3. Finally, can someone explain with mode is best to use for these shots and how to set it up with the rebel?

Thanks for any advice.

[Kinger]

There are many different ways that you can achieve good night shots. And all of my suggestions are assuming that you are using a tripod, and ISO 100 for the least amount of noise.

First you can use the night mode on you DRebel, and it should take all of the guess work out of how to set it up.

Second you can try using Tv mode, there you can set up how long you want the shutter to be open, but you won't have comtrol of Depth of Focus (Field) otherwise known as DOF.

Third you can use Av mode and set the DOF to the amount you want, and you can check it with the DOF preview button. Then the camera will set the shutter speed for you in order to get the correct exposure.

Finally you can try Manual mode, and then you can set the DOF you would like with the aperature control, then set the shutter speed according to the meter in the viewfinder.

Now keep in mind I still consider myself a beginner, and I thouht I would try to answer your question seeing that I use the same camera.

Good Luck, and show us your results when you get back.

[Headcase650]

I would think it would be similar to shooting fireworks. all the lights on the buildings and the cars streaking buy. Try setting the ISO to 100, apiture somewear between 8 and 16 and try the bulb function with a remote release and you must have a trypod. The longer you hold the shutter open the more the moving lights will streak but the building lights will still be sharp, I would think something around 1/2 to 2 seconds would work. If you have an ex flash gun you could play with second curtain synch to get some realy cool effects on the moving subjects. If you are getting overexposure on the still lights try bumping your apiture up to 22 maybe. oh and use manual focus that way you dont have to wory about the rebel changing focus modes when it sees the cars flying buy.

Adrian

[JasonMX]

If I don't have a remote for it, is there any way to hold the shutter open for these long shots?

[Paul_B]

New to this as well, and would like to try out night shots.

then set the shutter speed according to the meter in the viewfinder.

Just want to make sure of this myself, the meter is the "aperture and/or the shutter value" Blinking or not ?.

Jason, I believe you can hold it down with your finger in bulb mode, but chances are you will move the camera ever so slightly. Or set a long shutter speed, and use "Self-Timer". New at this to, but I think that should work.

[JasonMX]

Paul, I hear you. Good suggestion. Set the timer for like 30 seconds and walk away.

[JasonMX]

"First you can use the night mode on you DRebel, and it should take all of the guess work out of how to set it up. "

Which thing on the dial is night mode? I only see night portrait mode.

[JasonMX]

"Second you can try using Tv mode, there you can set up how long you want the shutter to be open, but you won't have comtrol of Depth of Focus (Field) otherwise known as DOF."

Do you know how to adjust the shutter speed? I just went into that mode and didn't notice anything in the menu. I didn't see anything in the book too.

"Third you can use Av mode and set the DOF to the amount you want, and you can check it with the DOF preview button. Then the camera will set the shutter speed for you in order to get the correct exposure."

"Finally you can try Manual mode, and then you can set the DOF you would like with the aperature control, then set the shutter speed according to the meter in the viewfinder. "

I don't understand how to use the meter. I definitely need help with that.


Also, would it be right to assume you want a small apeture (set to like 14-20) to keep the whole picture sharp?

[Paul_B]

Jason, when in Tv mode (Time Value), the main dial at Shutter Button to make adjustments.

When in Av (aperture value), that same dial now controls the Aperutre.

(it's the little dial just near shutter release button).

[JasonMX]

Yeah, I know what you are talking about.

[commando]

The firmware hack will give you mirror lockup, which can apparently help get crisp shots when you're using a tripod. As I understand it, it means the mirror inside the camera is pulled up, then there's a delay for things to stop moving, then the exposure starts.

Edit - see the sticky thread in this forum for more info.