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Article ID : 00111733 / Last Modified : 07/12/2018Print

How to take pictures at night in low light using an interchangeable lens camera

    Two of the most common challenges faced when taking pictures in dark environments are camera shake or a lot of noise appearing in the picture. This guide will introduces techniques to assist you taking better pictures of night scenes, such as streets lit by street lamps.

    Image
    [1] Lots of noise
    [2] Camera shake

    Depending on your camera model, you can select one of the scene selection modes below.

    Shooting with the Superior Auto and Scene Selection (SCN) functions:

    Using Superior Auto
    Your camera is equipped with the Image (Superior Auto) shooting mode to reduce mistakes when shooting night scenes.
    This mode automatically recognizes dark situations such as night scenes and decorative lighting and combines a series of images at a high speed to generate a single clear photograph.

    Using SCN
    Select the modes below when using SCN.

    • Night Portrait
      Slows down the shutter speed and allows more light to reach the image sensor; this helps brighten the background of the picture. However, because the shutter speed is slower, blur from camera shake can occur more easily. Ensure the subject does not move to prevent the image from blurring. Depending on your shooting situation, the use of a tripod may be recommended.
    IMPORTANT:
    • Use the flash when shooting portraits in dark places.
    • Do not use the flash when shooting night scenes of still subjects at a distance.

    • Night Scene
      Shoots scenes at a distance without losing the dark atmosphere of the surroundings. In this mode the shutter speed is slow too and ISO sensitivity is set low to minimize noise. Using a tripod is recommended.
      NOTE: Pictures may not develop properly when shooting in an entirely dark environment.
    • Hand-held Twilight
      Shoots night scenes with less noise and blur without using a tripod. A burst of shots are taken and image processing is applied to reduce subject blur, camera shake, and noise.

    Image

    IMPORTANT: Block noise may occur when shooting near a light source that flickers, such as fluorescent lighting.


    NOTES    :
    Reducing blur is less effective in Hand-held Twilight when shooting:
    • Subjects with erratic movement.
    • Subjects too close to the camera.
    • Subjects with a repeating pattern such as tiles, and subjects with little contrast such as sky, sandy beach, or lawn.
    • Subjects with constant change such as waves or waterfalls.

    Do not move the camera while capturing photos. Hold the camera still until Processing... is displayed.
    Shooting crisp or defocused night scenes and decorative lighting


    Using Aperture Priority mode (A).

    • This mode is recommended when shooting photographs where the full screen is in focus or photographs with the foreground or background is beautifully defocused.

      NOTES:
    • Close the aperture (increase the F-value) to take crisp photographs.
    • Open the aperture (decrease the F-value) to take defocused photographs.
    • Camera shake occurs when pressing the shutter button even when using a tripod, use a remote commander or set the self timer to 2 seconds.
    • Example of closing the aperture and putting the entire screen in focus
      Image 

    • Shooting mode: A (Aperture Priority)
      ISO: 200
      F-value: F8
      Shutter speed: 2.5 seconds (using tripod)
      Exposure compensation: None



    • Example of shooting with the aperture open and defocusing the background
      Image
      Shooting mode: A (Aperture Priority)
      ISO: 320
      F-value: F2
      Shutter speed: 1/80 second
      Exposure compensation: 1.7