Best way to take pictures in the dark?

smut · 23rd Apr 2006, 02:04 AM

I want to take some pictures of my rig in the dark (its watercooled and I have a nice UV setup going on). I took some pics before and they turn out sorta blurry and bright. I have a Fujufilm A360 which is a 4 megapixel. I just want some tips on how to take better pictures in pretty much no light situations. I have a good flash, optical zoom.

egarrard · 23rd Apr 2006, 06:21 AM

If you want to show all the lights, etc., don't use the flash. USE A TRIPOD, or set the camera on something solid. If you can, trigger it with a remote release or the self-timer.

I don't know if the camera has Shutter priority automation, but start off by trying the auto setting. It should work fine. If it's a little too dark, you can adjust it with a software program like Irfanview.

The biggest problem is keeping the camera still. Even pushing the shutter button will juggle it enough to blur most pictures.

zy · 23rd Apr 2006, 07:59 AM

agree with egarrard

use tripod + selftimer

& night scene mode or something similar

marc · 24th Apr 2006, 05:27 PM

If your pics come out too bright, set the EV compensation to -1.0 or -2.0 depending on the condition.

smut · 25th Apr 2006, 08:10 AM

Thanks for the tips guys, will try what you guys said tonight, im sure I can get some better quality pics from your tips. I have a tripod around here as well so I can put that to use too!

Theoretical_Photographer · 26th Apr 2006, 11:10 PM

May be some use: using auto focus with dark images. Set your focus with a bright light (torch, lamp ect) then set to manual, or lock current focus – then turn off light and set your exposure – then shoot.

Auto focus can struggle in dark if it doesn’t have special tools to focus like the f828 laser

23rd Apr 2006, 02:04 AM	#1 (permalink)
smut Newbie Join Date: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 3 Reputation: 0 Rep Power: 0	Best way to take pictures in the dark? I want to take some pictures of my rig in the dark (its watercooled and I have a nice UV setup going on). I took some pics before and they turn out sorta blurry and bright. I have a Fujufilm A360 which is a 4 megapixel. I just want some tips on how to take better pictures in pretty much no light situations. I have a good flash, optical zoom.

23rd Apr 2006, 07:59 AM	#3 (permalink)
zy Dead Join Date: 16 Dec 2002 Location: Penang,Malaysia - Buffalo,New York Posts: 12,884 Reputation: 2064 Rep Power: 39	agree with egarrard use tripod + selftimer & night scene mode or something similar __________________ current: P4-3.2\|P4P800-Deluxe\|512x4-DDR\|NV6600 WD2500KS\|WD5000AAKS\|AD-7191A\|1860NX\|Z2300\|MP470 home (malaysia): P4C-2.6@3.1-StockHSF\|AI7\|256x2-BT-D43\|512x2-DT-D43\|A9600XT-VIVO WD1200JB\|2xWD2500KS\|DRU-800A\|DVD-E616P\|LTR-52327S\|152x\|V.S.4121\|iP1500 laptop: M1210\|T7200\|2GBDDR667\|160GB5K160\|GO7400

26th Apr 2006, 11:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
Theoretical_Photographer I'm a regular Join Date: 9 Mar 2004 Posts: 328 Reputation: 388 Rep Power: 8	May be some use: using auto focus with dark images. Set your focus with a bright light (torch, lamp ect) then set to manual, or lock current focus – then turn off light and set your exposure – then shoot. Auto focus can struggle in dark if it doesn’t have special tools to focus like the f828 laser __________________ (Cams:EOS 350D, s7000 aka Dust monster) -------------------------------------------- Intel Core 2 Quad (now)@ 3GHz(4 cores) – 4GB of 1.2 GHz (SLI) Ram (PAE saddly) – 2x 8800 GTX (768mb) –case Lian Li v2100 Plus II – MB Abit IN9 32X MAX – Sound : X-Fi Fatal1ty (front panel ver)

23rd Apr 2006, 06:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
egarrard Newbie Join Date: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 4 Reputation: 30 Rep Power: 0	If you want to show all the lights, etc., don't use the flash. USE A TRIPOD, or set the camera on something solid. If you can, trigger it with a remote release or the self-timer. I don't know if the camera has Shutter priority automation, but start off by trying the auto setting. It should work fine. If it's a little too dark, you can adjust it with a software program like Irfanview. The biggest problem is keeping the camera still. Even pushing the shutter button will juggle it enough to blur most pictures.

24th Apr 2006, 05:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
marc Team Tech ARP Join Date: 5 Oct 2003 Location: PJ Posts: 1,234 Reputation: 1048 Rep Power: 17	If your pics come out too bright, set the EV compensation to -1.0 or -2.0 depending on the condition.

25th Apr 2006, 08:10 AM	#5 (permalink)
smut Newbie Join Date: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 3 Reputation: 0 Rep Power: 0	Thanks for the tips guys, will try what you guys said tonight, im sure I can get some better quality pics from your tips. I have a tripod around here as well so I can put that to use too!