Newbie

[kd-a]

Hi everyone, this is my first post here. I have a Canon A630. I love everything about it except one thing - it sucks at night. otherwise, I have no complaints. I'm not a pro, but I like to have fun with my camera. I'm especially fond of macro photography. So, just wanted to introduce myself. If I don't ever post in here I probably will post in the macro forum :D

[jrstark]

What problems are you having at night? Do you have a tripod?

[kd-a]

No, I don't own a tripod. That may be the whole problem. It could also be that I just don't know how to adjust the settings correctly. I've tried the different night-based settings, but about 90% of the time, all of my night shots are incredibly blurry.

[Jon]

Post an example, but from what you say, you're probably getting shutter speeds of 1/30 sec. or slower (the anti-shake light blinking merrily away). If that's the case, you need a tripod.

[low orbit]

No, I don't own a tripod. That may be the whole problem. It could also be that I just don't know how to adjust the settings correctly. I've tried the different night-based settings, but about 90% of the time, all of my night shots are incredibly blurry.

For night photography and some macro you absolutely need a tripod. Small sensor cameras (point and shoots) don't have a high enough ISO to do otherwise, so long exposures are called for (my night shots from memory are around 15 seconds at ISO 50 / f5.6 - f8 on my A75. Exposure was triggered with the self timer to avoid shake) No way you can hand hold that. And here's the important bit. Set your focus manually as AF is a huge problem in low light. Camera is on full manual.

The night mode on the A series runs a longish exposure first and trips the flash at the end of the exposure. Any movement in the shot - by your subjects or the camera - could be seen as blur.

Cheers.

[kd-a]

looks like i'll be investing in a tripod. thanks for the detailed info, i appreciate it :)

[kd-a]

Just for the sake of an example:

[Jon]

Yep. You need a tripod for that. Your exposure was around a second; I don't know anyone who can hand-hold times like that. If there's anything at all to use to brace the camera on, a park bench, a fence, a rock, a tree, you'll find it helps. But if you really want to make a habit of taking night shots in those conditions you need a tripod.

[low orbit]

looks like i'll be investing in a tripod. thanks for the detailed info, i appreciate it :)

No problems. ;)