Nikon D5100 - Low light photography Settings?
I'm using Nikon D5100 with kit lens (Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6G VR). Please explain the camera settings & tips for low light condition/Night vision to capture better shots.
++Get a tripod for low light photography…
++ place the camera on shutter priority.
++ start with 1 sec all way to 30 sec and work on to see, what suits your image…
++ if you don't have or don't want to use a tripod, then bump the iso to some like 1600 to 3200 and then take pictures with shutter speed b/w 30 to 60 and chk exposure, else reduce the shutter speed even more…
++ best is check on youtube for any low light photography tips…
To shoot under low light conditions, you will need to raise the ISO to 3200 or higher.
Yes, you may get some noise, but you can reduce that in Lightroom when you process your RAW files
Here is how you balance your cameras ISO, shutter speed and lens aperture.
http://camerasim.com/camera-simulator/
And just so you know, NO dSLR's have a night vision feature.
For low light you need three things.
a large AND good image sensor, you have that.
two things you don't have
a prime lens with a large aperture to let in more light. The kit lens is useless for low light. Sure you can make it work but only at ISO above 1600 in most cases. Images will be more noisy at those settings.
The third thing you need is the knowledge or skill. We can't give you settings because there's no such thing as some magic settings for all conditions. There are free photography tutorials all over the web. Just type 'photography tutorials' in your usual search engine and put in the time.
When you understand how the light meter in your camera works, when you understand ISO, aperture, and shutter speed, and how they are all related, you will know what settings you need for any situation or condition.
This question would be easier to answer IF we knew more about what your subjects will be and whether you're wanting to shoot indoors - people, events - or outdoors - city skyline or light trails from moving vehicles.
A tripod is definitely required for photographing a city skyline of light trails. A faster lens such as the Nikon AF-S 50mm f1.4G which will allow you to use a lower ISO is recommended for photographing indoors.
I use and recommend this site for low-light exposures:
http://www.calculator.org/...osure.aspx
I used the Scene 'Distant view of city skyline or floodlit buildings' and ISO 200 for these pictures:
100mm @ f11, exposure for 30 seconds.
200mm @ f11, exposure for 30 seconds.
If you look at the Scene 'Domestic interiors at night, subject lit by campfire or bonfire' and choose ISO 800 you'll immediately see the advantage of a 50mm f1.4 prime lens - a shutter speed of 1/125 sec. Since the chart doesn't show a setting for f3.5 (your 18-55mm lens at 18mm wide-open) you have to extrapolate an approximate shutter speed. I know that f3.5 is 1/3 stop faster than f4.0 so by adding 33% to the 1/15 sec.shutter speed shown for f4.0 your approximate shutter speed at f3.5 will be 1/20 sec. You could probably shoot at 1/15 sec. At f3.5 and get an acceptable exposure. Of course at such a slow shutter speed - 1/15 sec. - any subject movement will result in a blurred image. Even at 1/125 sec.blur caused by subject movement can result if the movement is fast. However, if you decide to zoom in to 55mm then your maximum f-stop is f5.6 and your shutter speed is 1/8 sec.
Even at ISO 3200 your shutter speed under the above conditions will only be approximately 1/80 sec. At f3.5 (1/60 sec. At f4.0) and at f5.6 your shutter speed will be 1/30 sec. If you had the 50mm f1.4 prime lens your shutter speed would be 1/500 sec. At ISO 3200 and f1.4.
With your slow 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 zoom lens you may have to increase the ISO to 6400 and even at that high of an ISO blur caused by subject movement will still be a problem. Digital noise will, of course be an even greater problem at ISO 3200 and more so at 6400. You might want to look at Noise Ninja if you do shoot at such high ISO settings.
http://www.picturecode.com/index.php