I noticed that alot of professional photos are taken at night, such as ones with stars in them along with other objects. However, they don’t use flash, what kind of cameras do they use for that?
Thanks alot, but what type, what brand, which ones are expensive enough to be able to do that
Posted in Cameras
expensive ones
Usually it’s made by Gitzo or Bogen/Manfrotto.
It’s called a tripod.
Even an entry level SLR camera with the kit lens can produce a pretty good image at night when it is on a tripod. The tripod enables you to use a small f/stop (f/22 or f/32) and a slow shutter speed and get a sharp image. Also use a low ISO speed (50, 100, or 200).
Even a point and shoot with manual control can produce a decent image on a tripod at night.
With a tripod and slow shutter speed.
Cameras with a manuel mode so you can adjust the shutter speed and take a long exposure. I use a canon 20D (would like an upgrade to a 5D) but I can take those kinds of photos your talking about.
It’s not the camera, it’s the lense and speed of film.
First would be expensive ones.. second would be knowing how to use the camera.. and third would be in knowing how to take pictures.
(knowing what to do with the camera is more important than the price of the camera)
any pro camera, nikon D3 or canon EOS 1D etc
Successful night photography requires a camera that can be used in Manual Mode so you can be in control and a good, sturdy tripod. A means of holding the shutter open for several seconds is also needed. Your best results will be with a full frame sensor DSLR like the Nikon D3 or any old 35mm film camera like a Minolta XE-7.
Having some idea of exposure times also helps. Since I’m not one to randomly guess at things, I use the FotoSharp (http://www.fotosharp.com) Day & Night Exposure Guide.
Here are a few examples, all using ISO 100:
Scene 10 minutes after sunset; Picture of crescent moon
f4 @ 1/60 sec
f5.6 @ 1/30 sec
f8 @ 1/15 sec
f11 @ 1/8 sec
Floodlit buildings, fountains; Outdoor Christmas lights; Candlelight close-ups
f4 @ 1 sec
f5.6 @ 2 sec
f8 @ 4 sec
f11 @ 8 sec
City skyline in distance
f4 @ 8 sec
f5.6 @ 15 sec
f8 @ 30 sec
f11 @ 60 sec
To take pictures of star clusters requires a telescope mounted on an equatorial drive and an adapter to mount your camera. The equatorial drive “tracks” the stars by compensating for the Earth’s rotation.
You can take “star trails” by simply pointing the camera straight up and leaving the shutter open for several minutes.
If you’re using a digital camera, check in the Owner’s Manual for any warnings about extended exposure times. The sensor can actually get hot during long exposures so be careful.
You don’t need a very expensive camera to take stunning night shots. what you need is a good solid tripod, a remote cable, lens shade, black cardboard & adhesive tape to achieve similar results.
With the wide range of digital cameras available that allow you to shoot manually or in auto select modes, it’s a lot easier to shoot & view your results instantly. You can experiment & use your imagination to capture good pictures. just remember to write everything down in a note pad for each shot so that you can study the effects of the technique in the shoot.
Canon & Nikon are the most popularly used cameras, with interchangeable lenses & wide range of acessories to build a system. Personally, I preferred a Nikon for it’s huge range of lenses available & it’s able to use lenses of different models (auto/manual with/without limitations). You can start off with a reasonably good lens & progress to a better one, trade your old lens for new ones.
Canon has very sharp lenses, but they’re more expensive & not as widely interchangeable between different models as Nikon.
Sony has produced a hybrid digital SLR worth considering & if you prefer a smaller SLR, there’s Olympus to choose from.
Photography used to be a very expensive hobby previously until now, but digital technology has made it much more affordable & fun. Invest in a good camera & build your system if you are considering to make some money from your pictures later.