dblackard Loc: Rockport Texas

i have noticed recently that i cannot seem to take pics i the dark. i had no problem with a point and shoot but with my d 7000 it is confused. i have tried many differnt settings including the scene settings. the camera just flat wont take the picture. the button will not push down. i dont mind the flash of course lighting up the picture. any help please

smsouthers Loc: Jacksonville, Florida

I have a Nikon Coolpix P500, and I have the same problem! I am pretty new at everything concerning the camera. I do a lot in different modes (beach, portrait, etc). When it comes to manual, I am totally lost. Wish I could help. If someone helps you, they will me also!

d_snyder1001 Loc: Riverside Nj

Have you tried a slower shutter speed. I have a d3100 and have been playing around with different manual settings at night. It will allow more light, but you gave to be patient waiting for it to close.

nolte1964 Loc: Des Moines, Iowa

Take if off auto focus for starter, you camera is having problems finding a subject to focus on correctly. Second use a tripod and a longer exposure will help you a lot.

smsouthers Loc: Jacksonville, Florida

I still need to learn about shutter speed, apeture, etc. I know using manual makes a big difference. My manual is online, and that poses a big problem when you aren't at your computer. Thank you very much for the info!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I am guessing that you have it set to wait till it has a focus lock before it can take a picture. Focusing in the dark for both people and cameras can be difficult. Nikons have that photo assist light, which I often turn off, depending on the situation. See the bottom of page 208 in your manual about setting the focus.

dblackard Loc: Rockport Texas

thank you for the info

coatachrome

Hello dblackard, coatachrome here. For taking photos in the dark with your Nikon, here are a few tips.

First, set the Autofocus mode to Center Point Focus.

Next, switch the lens to Manual Focus.

These two adjustments should allow your Nikon to shoot in the dark without trying to aquire a focus point first, which is why you are being locked out from taking the shot at all.

You may want to take one shot in the Automatic Mode, in low light, so that your on board flash will pop up before you make the other adjustments.

When shooting in the dark you are not going to have a good focus point so you're just going to need to guess or make certain your lens is in the widest angle you have so that you capture more of the scene you want. Then you can crop out what you don't need. Using the Live View generally distrubs my eyes and doesn't help very much with the composition.

Running up your ISO setting will help get some detail but your photos are going to look very "grainy." You will need to expirement here to find the optimal setting. Generally I push the ISO as high as it can go and just deal with the "grainy" results.

I take many photos of campfire settings and this system seems to work well even when I do not have the campfire to focus on. I use a Speedlight and if I am within 6 or 7 feet of my subject the results are good. Further back than that and I begin to loose subject matter to the dark. That distance may become shorter if you are using the on board flash.

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

As stated, you need to run the ISO up.

trklover

select Program,increase the iso-I`d start at 3200,then try 6400--can go all the way to 25600.I seldome use flash. Only use Auto when in bright daylight.when inside , or after sundown. Select P-program, and now you select the iso that gets you the exposure you are looking for.With digital you get instant results, can make corrections immediately to get the pict you are wanting.

trklover

No focus at night, I also turn off the auto focus light.I now select manual focus on the lens and use common sense to figure out the distance I am from my subject. You don`t have to be too many feet away for the lens to be on infinity, in a sense focus free at that point.

Emjem Loc: Perth australia

Print the manual and put it in your bag. Start using Manual. Take lots of pics and learn from your mistakes. We all had to go thru this learning curve at some time. suddenly it will click and you will be shooting like a pro and wondering what you ever thought was so hard.

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

I had the same problem with my both my Nikons. The message on my screen was "Subject to dark" (or words to that effect). Simple solution: manually set the pop up flash to its lowest possible setting (1/32 or 1/64 power), manually pop up the flash, and I have no problems taking the photo.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

If you solve your problem, please let us know how you did it.

dblackard Loc: Rockport Texas

wow, really great advice everyone, i will get out there and try some more!