Night photography how ? with 1100D

Hi
I've been having a 1100D for few months, but quite new to photography things, sure i do know how things work for dslr tho.
I'd be going for a short trip in europe soon, just want to learn how to do a night shot,
i want to know if there's anyway to do it without the aid of tripods, cos that'll be really clumsy and inconvenient for travelling.
Would an external flashlight helps night shots ?
or any preferable setting for night shots ?
thanks for any kind of help

IS, VC or OS lenses will really be your friend here.

My Tamron 17-50 VC really lets me stop down to 1/30 or so for the shutter speed for some nice quality low light shots. I try to stay away from flash personally because I like the natural look of natural light more.

Look for a good stabilized lens, and then you can drop down to f2.8 or that lens' fastest aperture. Then you can probably bump the ISO up to 1600 or so.

These will give you the best low light photos. You can also use Tv mode to select the shutter speed you want to stay at and it will compensate with the lowest aperture allowed. Then you can just mess with ISO speeds.

well thanks for the advice, but forgot to mention that i dont really have much of a big budget for a new lens right now, i'm just using the canon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 which comes with the camera body. so any other ways for a good night shot?

Same thing minus the aperture really.

Taking a tripod wouldn't be a horrible idea either.

crank up the ISO, spend $75-100 on a 50mm 1.8, tripods are great, Flashes will help a lot depending on what kind of shots your are taking. the camera body itself wont limit you, dealing with the kit lens for night shots may though.

What kind of shots are you looking to take?

yeah i guess a tripod would be quite necessary since you say so, found summat portable for traveling on amazon, but buying another lens would be much of an option to me.

Yes, a tripod will improve your night photos...much more than any lens will.

You can always start by putting your camera on a sturdy table or even a wall.

Before you go download and print the Jiffy Nightime exposure guide at http://kusner.com …brary/JiffyCalc​ulator.pdf. It is based on a calculator first published in 1964 in Popular Photography.

Over many years of travel where I too did not want to carry a tripod I learned to make signs, lamp posts, pillars, walls, etc. my friend. It is surprisingly the number of thing you can find to act as a stabilizing platform for the camera. Another thing you can do is get yourself up against a wall, head solid on some surface. Then turn the camera upside down (so you can look through viewfinder) and brace the back of the camera across your forehead. With some practice you can take a 1/4 sec exposure in this manner.

Get a wired or IR remote shutter release. You can sit the camera on a fence post, trash can or park bench instead of carrying a tripod. As long as you can release the shutter without moving the camera, everything is good.

SqueekyBoy wrote in post #16763899
Get a wired or IR remote shutter release. You can sit the camera on a fence post, trash can or park bench instead of carrying a tripod. As long as you can release the shutter without moving the camera, everything is good.

You can also use the self timer.

yogestee wrote in post #16763919
You can also use the self timer.

Even better. Nothing to carry around!

It's often hard to compose a shot properly this way though.. i've found (flat level surfaces aren't always available). You have to shoot wide, to allow for straightening/cropping​.
Now, set the camera on a bean bag (on the bench/post, etc.), and you have a better chance of getting it level and flat.

1Tanker wrote in post #16763441
Yes, a tripod will improve your night photos...much more than any lens will.

I agree.

vegabond wrote in post #16763367
crank up the ISO, spend $75-100 on a 50mm 1.8, tripods are great, Flashes will help a lot depending on what kind of shots your are taking. the camera body itself wont limit you, dealing with the kit lens for night shots may though.

What kind of shots are you looking to take?

Unless you want to freeze the action, the standard 18-55 IS kit lens is a better option for low light than the 50 f1.8. Just use it at 18mm, f3.5, ISO 800-3200 and with IS on. You can shoot at a very low speed without a tripod. With a 50 f1.8 you are lucky if you get a sharp photo at 1/80s and f1.8.