Thread: Camera suggestions needed

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Ok, its time for a new digital camera and I want to be sure to buy one that photographs well at night and in low lighting for halloween.
I did a search for cameras that work well in low lighting and keep coming up with Fujifilm FinePix F70EXR. Anyone have experience with this camera or any other camera that works good in low light?

http://www.photographyblog.com/revie...ew/conclusion/

Thanks,
MsM

Last year I did the same thing, and was torn between the Canon HF11 and a Sony camcorder with night vision (that grainy green view).

After hemming and hawing and reading endless reviews, I went with the Canon HF11 for it's superior HD and flash drive. It was also cheaper than the Sony.

The night capability is good with the built-in light, and I got some good video's during my haunt. The night vision capability of the Sony would have given me better night vision shots in that green view, though.

But here's why decided against the Sony: Halloween, although I love it and work hard for it, only happens once a year for a few hours. During the rest of the year I have my kids sports, family activities, vacations, and other things. Since the majority of my recording time would be non-Halloween, I got a camera that supported that.

I would have liked to be able to get video of tot's in the darkest or pitch black parts of my haunt, but I got good video in the other dimly lit areas with the HF11.

Edit: I just re-read your post and saw you're going for a camera, not a camcorder...dang.

Originally Posted by MsMeeple

Ok, its time for a new digital camera and I want to be sure to buy one that photographs well at night and in low lighting for halloween.
I did a search for cameras that work well in low lighting and keep coming up with Fujifilm FinePix F70EXR. Anyone have experience with this camera or any other camera that works good in low light?

http://www.photographyblog.com/revie...ew/conclusion/

Thanks,
MsM

I can't offer much help in the camera department, but have found the only way I have been able to get high res night shots from either of my cameras has been using a tripod. As long as they are still, the photos come out great. If you can adjust your exposure time, that helps a bit as well. Not so much if anything is moving in the frame though. I have had little to no luck taking any night shots holding the camera. Seems being perfectly still is the only way to go.

Looking through your photoblog link, I'd recommend the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX5 for purely personal reasons: I always get Cyber-shots. Didn't pay that price for the one I'm using now though, I got it at a sale at Sony in Culver City. I'd recommend trying to find whatever camera you choose at Costco online (shipping charges might be offset by an online coupon perhaps, I've gone that route) or through that link, which seems to have some good online bargains listed.

The Cyber-shot line has done the best job for night or day shots for me. Besides overall excellent performance, the big example I can give is when we did the yard haunt in a steady drizzle that got worse as the night went on in 2003. The Cyber-shot not only took terrific pics throughout, it even made the drizzle look lovely & mysterious in the bad lighting we ended up with by the end of the evening (had some shorting out problems). It captured individual raindrops falling in some photos, which looked very cool. Not a bit of blurring, just perfect pics taken in the worst lighting we've ever had for a haunt.

Good luck with your camera search!

Thanks Marie!
After googling the sony, I see that it has the same type of sensor that the fuji has for low light photos. Will check that one out as well. Shame you can't test drive a camera Oh and also very nice to know that its not only water proof but also beer proof lol
Oh, and I dont think costo will deliver here

Thanks Warrant! We are eventually going to need a new video cam as well. No kids, so we just use it for vacations and halloween.

Thanks Diabolik! I use a tripod with the minolta that I have now. Just such a hassle to set it up, then manually change the iso settings with everything else going on. Especially for spontaneous action shots during the party.

Check out this website for good info on taking pictures and recommendations on buying a camera.

I've been using an old Canon Powershot A540 and tripod for awhile now. Still takes great photos. Look for a camera that has manual controls. Turn your flash off at night and get a tripod. Tripods are a must at night. Otherwise you get a blurry mess. Set the camera for the longest exposure you can get on the camera, and use the timer to take a picture. The slightest movement, even from pressing the trigger button, can ruin the picture. Which is why you use the timer. Now, keep the same setup and start changing the arpeture and take more pictures. Keep doing this until you have what you like to see. Carefull, it gets addicting once you see the pictures you can take.

the key to any night pics is a item thats more important than the camera....a tripod! i got a kodak,and it takes very good pics with a tripod.at night ,shut off the flash,set it on tripod,and also set timer to 3 or 4 seconds.clik the pic.this way there is no movement at all and the pic will turn out good.at night any movement,even just cliking the button will blur your pic.hope this helps

Although my camcorder takes still digital photos, it's only at a 1-point-something mega pixel. So I use my Sony Cybershot for high quality photo's. Like others, I've found that holding the camera steady is the secret to taking good night shots. I'll use the hood of my car, brace it against a tree or house, or put it on my cemetary fence. I also take 2-3 times the amount of digital pics I would normally take, each time using a different flash or shutter setting. Then when I download them to my computer, I can pick out the best photos and discard the rest.

I also have a flash function called "Slow Synchro" which tells the camera to shoot with a slower shutter (letting in more light for a night shot) and fire the flash. I've gotten some great night time color pictures using this, even when there is some movement with the subject. However, it doesn't take much movement for the picture or subject to become blurry.

If you want to take "surprise" pictures, where it's at a key moment when people get scared (and are also moving around), youll need a flash with regular shutter speed, sometimes called "sports". Meaning you'll get a well-lit picture of the immediate subject, but all background and surrounding details will be dark. All depends on what type of pictures you want. Once you get your camera, experiment with various settings and shutter speeds to find the best resolution for the various lighting conditions you'll have.

Originally Posted by Diabolik

I can't offer much help in the camera department, but have found the only way I have been able to get high res night shots from either of my cameras has been using a tripod. As long as they are still, the photos come out great. If you can adjust your exposure time, that helps a bit as well. Not so much if anything is moving in the frame though. I have had little to no luck taking any night shots holding the camera. Seems being perfectly still is the only way to go.

I agree. It's only preference if regarding the camera you choose. To get those great night shots without a flash, you'll need to invest in a tripod. I have an older 5megapixel Sony Cybershot that gives me great shots, with a tripod.

Originally Posted by Diabolik

I can't offer much help in the camera department, but have found the only way I have been able to get high res night shots from either of my cameras has been using a tripod. As long as they are still, the photos come out great. If you can adjust your exposure time, that helps a bit as well. Not so much if anything is moving in the frame though. I have had little to no luck taking any night shots holding the camera. Seems being perfectly still is the only way to go.

I agree. It's only preference if regarding the camera you choose. To get those great night shots without a flash, you'll need to invest in a tripod. I have an older 5megapixel Sony Cybershot that gives me great shots, with a tripod.