Camera Labs

I want to take some pictures indoor but at night time with my Canon Xsi..I have the lens that came with the kit. Any tips on how to make my pictures look good?

Do these things in this order:

1) go to Aperture priority mode
2) Open your aperture as wide as you can (lowest number)
3) Increase ISO as high as you are willing to put up with
4) Post the pictures here so we can critique and give suggestions for improvement

_________________
----------------
Trevor Harris

Nikon D200
SB-600
YN-560 II
YN RF 603 x 4
Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8
Nikon 50mm f/1.8

Sorry I'm a bit late on this, but I disagree with Trevor.

Ce_Jeu - you will need a tripod and remote shutter release.

I suggest you set up your camera on tripod and connect the shutter release. Use the sharpest part of the lens, probably around F/8, or have a read up about hyperfocal focusing.

You will need to set your lens to manual focus, and turn of the image stabilisation - it's not needed when mounted on a tripod and can attempt to correct motion which isn't occurring.

Set the camera into manual mode using the dial on the top. ISO low as possible, aperture to F/8 and shutter speed to "bulb".

Dependant on the time of night, you'll need to use different length shutter speeds. We're talking in excess of 10mins, it really just depends on the available light. During night hours, light can come from street lighting, buildings, light pollution, the moon/stars etc.

_________________

First step, set camera to Av mode (the main wheel now controls the aperture) open aperture widest possible, set iso to 800 and half press the shutter. The camera will calculate a shutter speed that it thinks will give a good exposure. If this is faster than 1/focal length you have set then you are good to go, otherwise you need to get more light in. This can be done by upping the iso more (Dow side more noise in image), buying a lens with a larger aperture (downside more expenditure ), adding light with a flash or. Even just turning the room lights on

_________________
Canon EOS 400D, EF-S 18-55mm, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM, EF 50mm f/1.8 MK I, EF-S 10-22mm, EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM, EF 28mm f/1.8, EF 85mm f/1.8
Canon 430EX II, Manfrotto 055CXPRO3, Arca Swiss P0
Panasonic GF3, Panasonic 20mm f/1.7, Olympus 45mm f/1.8

MY FLICKR!

Only if Ce_Jeu wants a shallow DOF.


This will likely introduce unwanted noise to the image.


In low light, autofocus may not be able to pick out a point of high contrast.


Unless it reaches the >30s range, in which case Ce_Jeu will need to switch to manual and set the shutter himself.


The best decision - although an external flash will produce far better results than the built-in one. Get a diffuser for the flashgun and a cable connection for it - you'll need to bounce the light off a wall onto your subject in order to avoid harsh shadows. Ceilings and walls are good for this. Failing that (you may be in open space) get yourself a reflector and fire it onto that.

_________________