Night Ccd
Basic digital camera that is good for night shots?
Hi all, just wanted to ask what specs should I look out for when buying a basic digital camera that is good for night shots?
I am absolutely camera illiterate, being one of those people that just like to point and shoot, but I've been reading a few articles today and have been on dpreview.com and have collected that the camera should have an ISO of at least 1600 and a CCD of 1/1.6 or 1/1.7, but what else should I look out for? Min. Shutter speed? Lens type?
I understand that a tripod is also fundamental for good night photography, but it's because my brother wants to take it on holiday so we need something compact and inexpensive so unfortunately SLR's are out of the question)=.
So what basic specs should I look out for in a digital camera that would be good for night photography? Thanks all!(=
I generally don't depend on specs or shutter speed when I am looking for a budget camera - I read reviews. There are plenty of budget cameras that will do the job if you read what other users experienced when using them in low light.
It sounds like you want this for one specific vacation/occasion but you really want a camera you'll be happy with forever - here is my general camera buying guide:
Check out refurbished cameras at sites like Adorama.com. That's where I got my Mom a wonderful camera with a large LCD screen that is normally $275 for Christmas for only $89. You usually even get the same warranty with them but always double check the terms before buying - never assume you get the same warranty!
I have owned quite a few refurbished cameras and I am thrilled with the quality and value (I am an electronics junkie and have different cameras for different things and when I find a new feature I hand the old camera down to my son or a family member) and have never had one break on me unless it was through my own negligence (dropping it or my 4 yr old using it underwater).
It's also nice to have a camera that takes video - you are much more likely to get great spontaneous clips if you don't have to pull the video camera out each time. Look for cameras that don't limit you to 30 second clips and only limit the length of your movie by the amount of memory you have - we rarely have to pull the video camera out anymore!
You don't really need more than 7 or 8 megapixels unless you want huge prints (I mean beyond 11x17).
I do my research by looking at cameras within my price range on a few camera sites - picking 4 or 5 from brands I trust with the features I want and then reading the reviews on Amazon. I tend not to buy electronics through Amazon due to possible complications in returns but boy do I count on the reviews!
When looking through the reviews don't skip over a camera just because there are a few bad reviews - if there are 200 good reviews/people giving it 4 or more stars then the bad ones carry less weight. I read the bad ones first then go to the 4 star reviews - this allows me to read reviews from people who like the camera but don't ignore it's faults. Look for reviews by people that list pros and cons and took pictures indoors and outdoors and have owned it a while.
Here are a few things to look for:
You really want a camera that saves to an SD card - it's the most universal format - they are pretty cheap (you want to have a couple on you in case one malfunctions or is full). As a typical "family and vacation shot" user I usually have one in the camera and two spares - all at least 8 Gigabytes. You can get these in 3 packs at Costco or BJ's or through the same camera site you buy your camera through. Compare prices and stick with brands you know. Sony tends to be overpriced.
I prefer cameras that allow you to use AA rechargeable batteries so you aren’t stuck on vacation with a battery that won't charge or nowhere to plug it in. If you find a perfect camera without this option simply go to a camera equipment site (my favorite listed under sources) and it should suggest extra equipment to order with it - I usually order one extra standard capacity and one extra large capacity battery and make sure all are charged before we leave for vacation.
When reading reviews pay attention to how quickly they were able to take pictures, how they worked in low light with and without flash, battery life, how well the automatic setting worked, how comfortable they were holding it, etc.
As for the Tripod check out the Gorilla which is a small tripod that can be wrapped around posts, sat on a surface even if it's not flat, or even wrapped around a cars rearview mirror! This is not the kind that sits on the ground and gets to waist height however so you may want to take a look at it before deciding. I like it because it's small and lightweight. Just search for it at Amazon or Adorama. There is also something called a monopod you may want to check out.
Emily teaches How Low - Ludacris
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