Sunset problem (Page 3): Use a tripod, lower your ISO to it's lowest ISO setting. Experiment with the Aperture setting until you are happy with the results. Some lenses tend to be a...

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

UTMike wrote:

Last night at the restaurant I saw a good sunset developing. Went outside and shot (handheld) a series. Focus in the camera EVF was sharp, set to AWB, f/22 and various shutter speeds. The results were grainy when seen close. Done in Sony a7RIII with Sony 24 - 70 GM lens.

So, what should I have done?

Use a tripod, lower your ISO to it's lowest ISO setting. Experiment with the Aperture setting until you are happy with the results. Some lenses tend to be a little soft at f/22 so you might need to find a sweet spot aperture setting. Probably f/8 to f/11 or so. Also, I find that sunsets and sunrises are more colorful when you shoot at a minus -2/3 to -1 exposure.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

DaveC1 wrote:

With sunsets I prefer to shoot aperture (f8 or f11 no more) priority and let the camera set exposure (and ISO) on the actual sun disc in spot mode. And yes for starburst effect use a filter.

Thanks for taking the time Dave. I will post my "tutored" results later today.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Bobcat87 wrote:

As a learner, I really benefited from this discussion. I also enjoy reading the initial problem posed and trying to "solve" it before seeing the responses. So much good info in a friendly context!

You cannot beat this group for help and a patient attitude.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

camerapapi wrote:

Well, Linda noticed your super high ISO setting fo... (show quote)

Thanks for taking the time to comment. I am spoiled and shot every thing in uncompressed RAW. The PP saves me, but I do have presets for jpegs.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

jeep_daddy wrote:

Use a tripod, lower your ISO to it's lowest ISO setting. Experiment with the Aperture setting until you are happy with the results. Some lenses tend to be a little soft at f/22 so you might need to find a sweet spot aperture setting. Probably f/8 to f/11 or so. Also, I find that sunsets and sunrises are more colorful when you shoot at a minus -2/3 to -1 exposure.

Thanks for the tips. This one was a spur of the moment running from a restaurant and the one I will post later today is from a boat, so no ability to use the tripod. I will, however, use a tripod when I can.

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

UTMike wrote:

Last night at the restaurant I saw a good sunset developing. Went outside and shot (handheld) a series. Focus in the camera EVF was sharp, set to AWB, f/22 and various shutter speeds. The results were grainy when seen close. Done in Sony a7RIII with Sony 24 - 70 GM lens.

So, what should I have done?

Others have mentioned not needing such high ISO or F-stop and they are correct. I believe your camera has a " sunset" in SCN mode, my a7s does , use it. Second, you can stabilize yourself agains a building, car, telephone pole. Or just use a shutter speed around 125-250 with that lens. If there isn't the "sunset" mode, I usually set the white balance to "cloudy" and the shots mode to "vivid" to enrich the sunset colors. Keep on shooting....

DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca

Why f22? Your camera was so stopped down your ISO was probably auto setting through the roof.

UTMike wrote:

Last night at the restaurant I saw a good sunset developing. Went outside and shot (handheld) a series. Focus in the camera EVF was sharp, set to AWB, f/22 and various shutter speeds. The results were grainy when seen close. Done in Sony a7RIII with Sony 24 - 70 GM lens.

So, what should I have done?

Bricol Loc: LOWESTOFT, ENGLAND

Hi Linda from Maine,
I would like to know how you obtained the ISO from the "sunset" picture.
Your help would be appreciated.
Kind regards,
Brian.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Bricol wrote:

Hi Linda from Maine,
I would like to know how you obtained the ISO from the "sunset" picture.
Your help would be appreciated.
Kind regards,
Brian.

If you use Chrome for your internet browser, there is an extension for exif reader. Once you click the download link on a photo, all you have to do is hover your mouse near the top of the photo and you'll see a little bar with shutter speed, aperture, ISO and focal length (sometimes this info has been stripped; you can always ask the person who posted the shot).

This is the exif viewer I have:
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/exif-viewer/nafpfdcmppffipmhcpkbplhkoiekndck

Other internet browsers probably have similar apps or extensions. One more way is to actually save the downloaded image to your computer. With Windows, you then right-click and select "properties," then "details" from the list (hope I'm remembering that correctly. Someone double-check, OK?

I am on Chromebook).

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

ORpilot wrote:

Others have mentioned not needing such high ISO or F-stop and they are correct. I believe your camera has a " sunset" in SCN mode, my a7s does , use it. Second, you can stabilize yourself agains a building, car, telephone pole. Or just use a shutter speed around 125-250 with that lens. If there isn't the "sunset" mode, I usually set the white balance to "cloudy" and the shots mode to "vivid" to enrich the sunset colors. Keep on shooting....

Thanks for the tip.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

DanielB wrote:

Why f22? Your camera was so stopped down your ISO was probably auto setting through the roof.

As discussed in the above responses, I was going for a starburst effect on the sun and it was not strong enough. In sunrises I have been able to get that effect.

Bricol Loc: LOWESTOFT, ENGLAND

Hi Linda,
Many thanks for the information.
Regards.
Brian.