Going out in an hour to take some night shots....

Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120 f/4 S

09/15/2008 02:56:39 PM · #1

Can I have some advice please, I want to do some shots with the traffic passing on the main road, cliched I know but I've never actually tried it!

Anyway, to get a nice stream of light what shutter speed/aperture would you hazard a guess at starting with?

If I sit my camera on the tripod should I turn the noise reduction off...this works by taking a black frame and applying it behind the main shot...

About the noise reduction

"The static noise, predominant at long exposures under low light, is reduced by dark frame subtraction: immediately after the picture is taken, the camera records another frame at the same settings (ISO and exposure time), but without opening the shutter at all. That frame is then subtracted from the original one."

"Time is not the only penalty for static noise reduction. The random component is increased in the process. This is why Olympus activates it only at long exposure times: 8 s and up at ISO 100, or 4 s and up at ISO 200 and above (don't try to find this in the manual). At faster speeds it will not kick in, even if set."

Message edited by author 2008-09-15 14:58:54.

bassbone

Nikon Z8

09/15/2008 03:01:31 PM · #2

The length of exposure is really going to depend on how much light is in the sky and in the surroundings. A good place to start is around 30 seconds at ~f8 and go from there (assuming it is dark!).

Regarding noise reduction - I would try shots both with it on and with it off. I have personally seen some weird effects that some of the in camera noise reduction can do to an image - and if this is for the long exposure challenge, you won't be able to edit at all, so the more different settings you use, the better chance you will have something useable. Good luck

robs

Canon EOS R6 Mk II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/15/2008 03:11:10 PM · #3

Run faster :-) You get better "night" shots in that twilight type of light where it's deep blue rather then black.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/15/2008 06:21:18 PM · #4

Well it seems that having taken some shots with the noise reduction system turned off, which applies a black image to the main image, that long exposure shots cause some form of noise, seems static, to appear in the images, I will try some shots with the noise reduction switched on when I get some time.

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

09/15/2008 06:28:25 PM · #5

Crank the ISO to the highest setting and start taking test shots for exposure (not light streaks yet). Once you get an idea, you can work down the ISO to an acceptable level and I'd shoot for a 5-10 second exposure if you are shooting freeway traffic. The exact exposure to get a nice line is dependent on how close you are to the cars and how fast they are going.

Leave the noise reduction on unless you are getting into 30 second exposures or longer. Then it just becomes a pain because each picture takes twice as long. It's probably worth the time at 5-10 seconds.

Message edited by author 2008-09-15 18:29:07.

3DsArcher

Canon EOS-7D Mark II

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM

09/15/2008 06:49:00 PM · #6

This one was done using f22 but was a full minute in length. f22 helps to give the star effect without using a filter. It was also shot on a bridge. One disadvantage too this, is having your tripod too close to the moving traffic which in this case caused the bridge to move while heavy trucks were moving on it. This is probably not a problem for really long exposures but it can cause problems for the shorter ones. If you can find an area where there is a corner or intersection, you can get your lines flowing in different directions or intersecting each other.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/15/2008 08:20:44 PM · #7

Okay, as you can see, this is what happened when I turned the noise reduction off, you can see the exif below.

As you can see, I suspect this is static noise forming across the image, I really ought to have left it on, but at least I now know to leave it on next time!

CLICK ME

You gotta click to view it full size to see what I mean.

Camera Make: OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP.
Camera Model: E-510
Image Date: 2008:09:15 20:37:27
Flash Used: No
Focal Length: 14.0mm
Exposure Time: 30.000 s
Aperture: f/3.5
ISO equiv: 100
White Balance: Auto
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: Manual
Exposure Mode: Manual

If any one thinks these dots are something else, do tell me :D

Message edited by author 2008-09-15 20:22:09.

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

09/15/2008 09:18:42 PM · #8

That's not camera noise as much as it is hot pixels. I've just never seen so many of them.

amathiasphoto

Nikon D300

Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG APO IF for Nikon

09/15/2008 09:33:51 PM · #9

wow, that was my first thought too... luckly photoshop is an easy option here, but what a pain!

Google Glass Google Glass

09/15/2008 10:02:05 PM · #10

I've done a little research

//www.wrotniak.net/photo/43/e510-dark.html

ISO 100, 60 s, NR off

and

ISO 100, 60 s, NR on

So it seems pretty conclusive that I need to keep the Noise Reduction ON, since it will only activate at long exposures anyway, there's no point in turning it off, and it works seemingly, I shall test it out.

Message edited by author 2008-09-15 22:18:23.

ambaker

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

09/15/2008 10:02:13 PM · #11

Glad you found the problem and the solution

Message edited by author 2008-09-15 23:04:13.