Low light shooting

[stevefraseruk]

I am very new to photography and just starting out with my 550d with 18-55 and 55-250 lenses. Most of the photography I do is dusk through to dawn, so I am after advice in geting the most out of the camera in this sort of situation. I tend to try and get landscapes in the dusk and dawn where light is low but I also get opportunity to attempt to capture shots of wild life and nature in an area without any artificial lighting so just doing my best with camera built in flash and torch. Any ideas or help would be appreciated

Link to site holding some of the images I have taken: -

http://steve-fraseruk.deviantart.com/

Thanks in advance

Steve Fraser

[applstew]

I would like to handle your question in two parts and I would like to sate by no means am I an expert and I'm sure others will be able to point you in an even better direction. First off,

tend to try and get landscapes in the dusk and dawn where light is low

When captures low light shots like this long shutter speeds are important as well as using a low ISO will ensure minimal noise. I also recommend looking into mirror lock-up feature of your camera. I also forworn you that investing in a tripod will be key to capturing these long exposure shots.

[stevefraseruk]

I already have a tripod and use it for my landscape shots, will try your suggestions of longer shutter speeds and lower ISO's and let you know how I get on.

Thanks for the reply

[applstew]

Sounds great. I'll be waiting to see some great pics.

[NCHANT]

I'm pretty much in the same situation as you stevefraseruk but with the 600D camera. I have the 2 kit lenses and scored a free 50mm 1.8 lens. I quickly found out that the 50mm outperforms the kit lens in clarity and colours so it's pretty much all I use now. The kit lens get a heap of fringing around hard edges and were generally blurrier than the 50mm. My advice would be to invest in a good lens - 50mm are quite cheap
I have been doing a fair amount of low-light shots and getting a good feel for my camera now, only been doing this since April, eeek! I mostly use the TV setting, start from 1-2 second exposures and work my way up until I get what I'm after, and always at 100-ISO.

Have fun with the 550D, great cameras!

[stevefraseruk]

Thanks for the advice Nchant, I will be looking at getting some decent lenses as and when finances allow. for now hope to manage with what I have got.

[milad93]

u haven't use shutter speed in it's minimum. if u do so it would be far better than this fotos you mentioned . but your photos are not so bad

[SuffolkGal]

Interesting what is said here about the f1.8 55mm. I got one just to play with, this isn't a lens I'd use a lot (maybe!) but I wondered how it would prove useful. What I noticed about this lens is a lot of colour aberrations and horrible lack of sharpness in focus.

Could it be I am doing something wrong in the way I am using the lens?

Thanks for any advice,
Jenny

[NCHANT]

Originally Posted by SuffolkGal

Interesting what is said here about the f1.8 55mm. I got one just to play with, this isn't a lens I'd use a lot (maybe!) but I wondered how it would prove useful. What I noticed about this lens is a lot of colour aberrations and horrible lack of sharpness in focus.

Could it be I am doing something wrong in the way I am using the lens?

Thanks for any advice,
Jenny

Apologies for the very late reply, do you have any sample images of the ƒ1.8 50mm?

Here's some from my pool of 50mm photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeyma...7631700799835/

[SuffolkGal]

Originally Posted by NCHANT

Apologies for the very late reply, do you have any sample images of the ƒ1.8 50mm?

Here's some from my pool of 50mm photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeyma...7631700799835/

I fixed the problem. I bought the 50mm f1.4 - want 1.2mm, can't justify the price. The 50mm 1.8 is just too unreliable.