Christmas Lights

[robh1920]

Any tips on shooting outdoor Christmas light scenes (ISO, Shutter speed, Fstop). This will be my first Christmas with good enough equipment to shoot and would like any tips yall may have.

Thanks,
Robert H.

[suzyjazz]

You'll need a tripod if shooting lights in the evening. If the outdoor scene is deep, you'll want a higher fstop like f11, which will likely require a shutter speed of 1 second or more, depending on how many lights there are and how bright. Starting at f11 I think you can get the lights to turn into stars. I love that effect. I try to keep the ISO low because noise can get high on long exposures and particularly in dark exposures, but if the shutter speed gets too long sometimes I will bump the ISO up to 400. I'm really not sure what the tradeoff is in terms of noise building up on the sensor for a longer shutter speed vs. incresing the ISO to have a shorter exposure.

I shoot in Av mode most of the time to control the DOF while keeping an eye on shutter speed. I'm interested in getting out this year myself since I now live near a shopping area that ought to be dressed up pretty nice.

[Cope]

you can use sparingly is a cross screen filter to get the star point effect on the lights.

[epronske]

If you are shooting the lights on buildings, I would suggest shooting about 10 -15 minutes after sunset or before sunrise. At this time, the dark blue sky allows for better defintition of the building. I also would suggest being on a tripod for better steadiness and in that case you might as well use ISO 100 because the slower shutter speed won't matter when on the tripod.

[johnastovall]

Don't for get when on a tripod to MLU.

[robh1920]

great tips. Thanks for everything. I did not even know my camera had the mirror lock up function. Ha, it really does help to read that owners manual more than once or at least dont read it in bed when you are sleepy...

[frevrnlv]

Use mirror lock up when on a tripod?

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by frevrnlv

Use mirror lock up when on a tripod?

Absolutely, let the mirror lock up and any mirror slap vibrations to die down. Then make the exposue. I always use MLU when working of a tripod doing lanscapes. Just one more small thing to contribute to a better starting point for the image.

[frevrnlv]

Originally Posted by johnastovall

Absolutely, let the mirror lock up and any mirror slap vibrations to die down. Then make the exposue. I always use MLU when working of a tripod doing lanscapes. Just one more small thing to contribute to a better starting point for the image.

Ahhh, okay! Learn something new everyday! Thanks, johnastovall!

[kenw]

not only MLU, but if you do not have a remote control/cable release, use the time delay shutter. That will give a few seconds more for those vibrations (from you touching the camera to press the shuttter button) settle out.

long exposures = mirror lock up + time delay shutter.

[frevrnlv]

Originally Posted by kenw

not only MLU, but if you do not have a remote control/cable release, use the time delay shutter. That will give a few seconds more for those vibrations (from you touching the camera to press the shuttter button) settle out.

long exposures = mirror lock up + time delay shutter.

Yeah, I do use the timer when on tripod actually.

[AndrewCCM]

Consider HDR processing of multiple exposures too. I seen some pretty neat night photos using this technique. But..this is not a substitute for a good normal photo, just something different to consider trying too..