Digital Camera Recommendation for Bus Photography
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Besides FUJIFILM digi cameras with Natural Light mode for night photography w/o flash, can other camera models perform similar functions if i can set the cameras to ISO 1500-2000? (eg Nikon Coolpix?)
and any new digital camera models to recommmend for bus photography? (capture fast moving buses, compact in size, noise reduction, stabilizer to minimise handshake, capable of night photography w/o flash, low light conditions)
what about Nikon Coolpix S500?? -
I think for night photography and with compact digitals, its not advisable to push beyond ISO800, as there is alot of noise unless there is noise reduction and so on...
Like DSLRs, they work better in noise reducion areas, but still prone to handshaking...
I did quite some night bus shots but mostly are noisy, although I use a DSLR... -
I think your photography got standardsOriginally posted by SBS3688Y:dear cameras experts out there; i'm looking for a new compact size digital camera with the following functions - for Bus Photography - any models to recommend?:
- min 5mega-pix, compact size digital camera
- picture stabilisation function/ anti-camera shake: esp for night photography without camera tripod & flash. My current FUJIFILM F10 camera can capture images at night without tripod & flash, but very prone to blur pics due to slightest handshake (refer to pix below). any better ones currently in the mkt?
- almost instant shutter release
- can capture moving buses well in low light conditions without blurry shots, eg early morning at 7.30am or evening at 6.30pm
- can produce sharp and colourful photographs of buses
Below pix using FUJIFILM F10:
photographed using flash - the wordings for the bus signages can be seen clearly, but with a dark background.
photographed w/o flash at ISO1600 - with bright background; however, wordings for the bus signages cannot be seen at all (prob due to overexposure) - are there any ways to obtain a bright background and with the bus signages wordings be seen clearly?
photographed in the evening at ~6.30pm (blurry shots):
Maybe SBS should give you a part-time job to take pix for their fleet of buses.
must ask you to be my teacher.
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If you're looking for all of those qualities listed in your first post, you're going to have a hard time finding it.
First of all, compact cameras are almost always going to have shutter lag while they make up their minds about settings, so asking for almost-instant shutter release is a tall order. On this condition itself you'd be looking at getting into DSLR country already.
Second, image stabilisation is good, but it has its limitations. If your shutter speed is slow (as it would be for low light), you can still get shaky pictures. No amount of technology is going to compensate for inadequate lighting.
As the other guys have said, the higher your film speed, the higher your noise. Crank it up to 1600 and you'll end up with grainy shots.
Don't bother with a flash either. For something the size of a bus, you'll get one part lit up and the rest in the dark - you've already seen that in your first photo, and it doesn't get much better than that.
The bottom line is that your best bet is to learn how to set up the shot properly. Find the best-lit spot you can, take a few test shots with the largest possible aperture size (which often means minimal zoom) and work out the highest shutter speed you can use, get your white balance sorted out and find a stable spot to rest your camera on. Also, to a limited extent, you don't have to worry about the shots coming out too dark. Post-processing using programs like PhotoShop can make up for a couple of F-stops. -
Provided you use something like the Canon G7, heard the noise reduction is pretty ok...Originally posted by Gedanken:If you're looking for all of those qualities listed in your first post, you're going to have a hard time finding it.
First of all, compact cameras are almost always going to have shutter lag while they make up their minds about settings, so asking for almost-instant shutter release is a tall order. On this condition itself you'd be looking at getting into DSLR country already.
Second, image stabilisation is good, but it has its limitations. If your shutter speed is slow (as it would be for low light), you can still get shaky pictures. No amount of technology is going to compensate for inadequate lighting.
As the other guys have said, the higher your film speed, the higher your noise. Crank it up to 1600 and you'll end up with grainy shots.
Don't bother with a flash either. For something the size of a bus, you'll get one part lit up and the rest in the dark - you've already seen that in your first photo, and it doesn't get much better than that.
The bottom line is that your best bet is to learn how to set up the shot properly. Find the best-lit spot you can, take a few test shots with the largest possible aperture size (which often means minimal zoom) and work out the highest shutter speed you can use, get your white balance sorted out and find a stable spot to rest your camera on. Also, to a limited extent, you don't have to worry about the shots coming out too dark. Post-processing using programs like PhotoShop can make up for a couple of F-stops.
Using compact cameras may also mean looking into the near future (something like a few microseconds?!) and how the image will come out on the screen. Pressing in advance may mean some skill to learn...
I personally love compacts, they hold a sense of suspense and prediction is necessary. Although using a DSLR now, it not as exciting like the smaller brother... -
I am no expert nor do i want to act like a pro with some friends around me praising the obvious on photos anyone can take with a similar camera in hand, giving excuses about how amazingly artistic a photo is. Instead of hunting for a good camera the photographer should think of how to take a photo or a series of photos or all the photos he/she can to give himself the title of a 'bus photographer'.
Have you ever taken the bus interior and show it to us? How about the seats and the communters? The hand holds, rails, windows, lights and all the jazz of the new and old buses through the years? The bus captain and their uniforms? The bus engines and doors? How about coaches and buses of a foreign country? The depot and the canteen, all about buses and not just only buses?
Take photos that few or no one or the minority will want to capture, instead of some voyeurish travel photos with buses which anyone can take.
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Agree with you, cause those bus pictures are slightly too common, but do remember the fact that many of them are students in primary and secondary school (elementary or junior school) so its very difficult to master the skills, and having a camera to them may also seem to be a privilige...Originally posted by Farmerseed:I am no expert nor do i want to act like a pro with some friends around me praising the obvious on photos anyone can take with a similar camera in hand, giving excuses about how amazingly artistic a photo is. Instead of hunting for a good camera the photographer should think of how to take a photo or a series of photos or all the photos he/she can to give himself the title of a 'bus photographer'.
Have you ever taken the bus interior and show it to us? How about the seats and the communters? The hand holds, rails, windows, lights and all the jazz of the new and old buses through the years? The bus captain and their uniforms? The bus engines and doors? How about coaches and buses of a foreign country? The depot and the canteen, all about buses and not just only buses?
Take photos that few or no one or the minority will want to capture, instead of some voyeurish travel photos with buses which anyone can take. -
You may be a kid an adult or even a billionaire but once online everyone is equal. I do feel that even the best photographers, those who are professional making money or winning awards are masters only to the judges and customers or consumers. Their photos might earn praises from many but not always from all. Everyone has their own perception of what warms their heart.Originally posted by jetabt767400:Agree with you, cause those bus pictures are slightly too common, but do remember the fact that many of them are students in primary and secondary school (elementary or junior school) so its very difficult to master the skills, and having a camera to them may also seem to be a privilige...
As long as TS understands that bus photograpy is not just about buses he will go a long way.