Nice Picture, Ray. Just curious on how you took it. I don't have much luck with this type of shot. Did you use a tripod? Camera on fully automatic? Manually settings? Lens?
I took it with a Pentax X70 "superzoom" by holding it against the edge of the sliding door to steady it. The setting was automatic, and on this camera, that means no flash unless you choose it. The lens is the camera's built-in zoom and it was at about 10 or 12X at the time.
I took it mostly to show the grainy effect (noise) in low-light shots, as this was after dark, actually. Even though this camera shows noise in night shots, it gets more of the picture at such times than the Canon G9 would capture. The Canon only has a 6X optical zoom, but the Pentax has 24X optical.
You've inspired me, maybe I'll try some more night shots. But, instead of holding it against something to steady it, I think I'll use the tripod and see what results I can get.
"I think I'll use the tripod and see what results I can get."
I'm not absolutely positive about this, but I think for some cameras, the image stabilization doesn't work completely when they are on a tripod. However, if it is on a good tripod, that shouldn't really matter.
The two tripods I have are just small "tabletop" versions, and are a bit shaky for really good results - but I use them because they act as a good grip for holding and carrying the cameras. But 'rock-solid' they aren't.
There's also something you can do with the shutter speed to improve the camera's "night-vision" I think. I usually don't do that, but it's another option. I'm just a simple 'point & shoot' kind of guy, and most of those adjustments are still in unexplored territory :)
I've tried to capture the moon for the last several evening and so far have disappointing results. I have my tripod sitting on a shelf (2"x6" planks) attached solidly to our deck out back. However if someone walks by I can see the vibration in the viewer. When I take the picture I make sure that I'm alone, so I don't think this is the problem.
I have my zoom lens (70-300mm) way out at 300mm. When I view the moon I can see the craters, fairly well. But, when I look at the picture, that sharpness is gone away. I can only guess that it's my finger depressing the shutter that is causing this. I've never tried this before at night, so the shutter is open for a second or more.
Do you think I may be right? Maybe I need to go and purchase a shutter release cable for these type of shots..
My cameras ( a Canon G9 and a Pentax X70) are both digital and small, so I don't know about regular sized cameras. On mine, I have to depress the shutter button halfway to get the auto-focus doing its thing, and then when I'm ready and its ready, push it all the way down to take the picture. Sometimes, depressing that button is enough to throw it off, and other times, I've got good ones just by hauling off and taking a fast hand-held shot.
So I can't offer a lot of help, I'm sad to say.
For removing the 'noise' from the images though, you may find a program called Neat Image helpful. Here's the address:- http://www.neatimage.com/download.html I use the freebie version.
Nice Picture, Ray. Just curious on how you took it. I don't have much luck with this type of shot. Did you use a tripod? Camera on fully automatic? Manually settings? Lens?
ReplyDeleteThanks
@ Tommy -
ReplyDeleteI took it with a Pentax X70 "superzoom" by holding it against
the edge of the sliding door to steady it. The setting was automatic, and on this camera, that means no flash unless you choose it. The lens is the camera's built-in zoom and it was at about 10 or 12X at the time.
I took it mostly to show the grainy effect (noise) in low-light shots,
as this was after dark, actually.
Even though this camera shows noise in night shots, it gets more of the picture at such times than the Canon G9 would capture. The Canon only has a 6X optical zoom, but the
Pentax has 24X optical.
You've inspired me, maybe I'll try some more night shots. But, instead of holding it against something to steady it, I think I'll use the tripod and see what results I can get.
ReplyDelete"I think I'll use the tripod and see what results I can get."
ReplyDeleteI'm not absolutely positive about this, but I think for some cameras, the image stabilization doesn't work completely when they are on a tripod.
However, if it is on a good tripod, that shouldn't really matter.
The two tripods I have are just small "tabletop" versions, and are
a bit shaky for really good results - but I use them because they act as a good grip for holding and carrying the cameras.
But 'rock-solid' they aren't.
There's also something you can do with the shutter speed to improve
the camera's "night-vision" I think. I usually don't do that, but
it's another option. I'm just a simple 'point & shoot' kind of guy,
and most of those adjustments are still in unexplored territory :)
I've tried to capture the moon for the last several evening and so far have disappointing results. I have my tripod sitting on a shelf (2"x6" planks) attached solidly to our deck out back. However if someone walks by I can see the vibration in the viewer. When I take the picture I make sure that I'm alone, so I don't think this is the problem.
ReplyDeleteI have my zoom lens (70-300mm) way out at 300mm. When I view the moon I can see the craters, fairly well. But, when I look at the picture, that sharpness is gone away. I can only guess that it's my finger depressing the shutter that is causing this. I've never tried this before at night, so the shutter is open for a second or more.
Do you think I may be right? Maybe I need to go and purchase a shutter release cable for these type of shots..
Any thoughts?
My cameras ( a Canon G9 and a Pentax X70) are both digital and small, so
ReplyDeleteI don't know about regular sized cameras. On mine, I have to depress the shutter button halfway to get the auto-focus doing its thing, and then when I'm ready and its ready, push it all the way down to take the picture. Sometimes, depressing that button is enough to throw it off, and other times, I've got good ones just by hauling off and taking a fast hand-held shot.
So I can't offer a lot of help, I'm sad to say.
For removing the 'noise' from the
images though, you may find a program called Neat Image helpful.
Here's the address:-
http://www.neatimage.com/download.html
I use the freebie version.