Expert: Don Wood - 3/14/2010

Question
QUESTION: Are there cameras that are sensitive enough in low light conditions for photographing x-mas light displays and other small light sources in the dark? What is the cost of really sensitive cameras like that? Are they specialized only for low light?

ANSWER: Yes. Now let me explain. You will need a camera that you can shut off the automatic flash, a tripod to hold the camera while you take a time exposure, and patience. Refer to the owner's manual of your camera to see if you can do that. I don't know the cost of such a camera, but it may possibly be in the $800-$1000 range. You can buy a camera specializing only in low light situations, my sense says that this would be overkill. Get an all-round multipurpose camera which you will use more for everything than the specialty camera.
Thanks for asking, if I can help further, let me know.

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QUESTION: I already have a more generic SLR camera from Cannon for about $600, and have tried to take x-mas light photos, but even with a high ISO and a long exposure and short focal length the images come out blurry, grainy, and not very well focused. How is light sensitivity measured exactly? How can I tell where my own camera stands in that department?

ANSWER: You need to put the camera on the tripod, take it off of auto-exposure and auto-focus, this should help the blurriness from camera shake and the inability of the camera to determine where the camera focus should be.  Focus manually, set your f-stop manually, use possibly a finer image with more pixels. Mine has 5 different levels of image quality ranging from one suitable for 4x5 inch pictures, to 11X14 inch images. Refer to your camera manual for instruction as to how to determine this setting. The image could come out blurry because of the shallow depth of field. Perhaps if when you put the camera on the tripod you focus with the room lights on, then douse the lights while holding the focus. You may have to experiment a little. But with digital cameras you don't have to worry about the processing to find whether you succeeded. Thanks, hope I've helped.

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QUESTION: I know all that already. I did use a tripod, all manual mode and manual focus, and around a 10 second exposure. The shakyness comes I suspect from slight light winds. This is at 10pm or later so it is dark outside. I would like to know how light sensitivity is measured and how my camera measures up to the most specialized cameras as I think a shorter exposure could only help to keep the image less fuzzy.

Answer
If the shakiness comes from slight light winds, then the tripod is not doing the job, you could place the camera on a table and keep pressure on the camera to avoid shake. You could hang a sandbag under the tripod that would steady the tripod. My tripod is one that I could place a 4x5 inch camera on safely. There are many light tripods that primarily are used for the family portrait using flash. They are fairly cheap. If you use a shorter exposure then you must increase the aperture of the lens to compensate. You could experiment with a 1 second exposure for 1 picture, then a 2 second exposure for another, then a 4 second exposure. I'm assuming that you already have the lens at its widest aperture. You might try setting the ISO to a higher number to increase the sensitivity. Another thought, maybe you are inadvertently jolting the camera when you push the button for exposing. Put your thumb under the camera so that you are not pushing the button but squeezing your finger and thumb together while it's on the tripod. You could also use the shutter release delay used for putting yourself in the group for making the exposure release.
Thanks again for asking. You have indeed posed a conundrum. As you can see, there are several different approaches to the problem, you will have to find the one best suited for your circumstances.