Night photo: I am currently at Disney attempting to get night photos. I am using a tripod, turning off my auto focus to manual, turning off my stabilizer, focusing manually, however...

Werkendoc Loc: NJ

I am currently at Disney attempting to get night photos. I am using a tripod, turning off my auto focus to manual, turning off my stabilizer, focusing manually, however 90% of the photos are not the tack sharp image we all strive for. Can anyone give suggestions on how I can improve my results.
Thank you

georgeretired Loc: Manitoba Canada

More info would be helpful. Picture example along with your settings. What lens are you using

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Werkendoc wrote:

I am currently at Disney attempting to get night photos. I am using a tripod, turning off my auto focus to manual, turning off my stabilizer, focusing manually, however 90% of the photos are not the tack sharp image we all strive for. Can anyone give suggestions on how I can improve my results.
Thank you

I just happen to have some links. : )

http://www.clarkvision.com/articles/meteor.photography/
https://digital-photography-school.com/night-photography/
https://digital-photography-school.com/tips-for-getting-proper-exposure-for-night-photography/
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/tips-and-solutions/10-essential-tips-night-photography
https://www.lifewire.com/tips-for-nighttime-photography-492831

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

Focusing in the dark is a challenge at times. The method that gives me the best results is aperture wide open, iso 3000+, live view 10x and then manually focus. Good luck and hope to see some shots!

Edit: forgot tomention then reset aperture and iso to whatever gives me the shot I want. Exsposure controlled either by shutter speed or f-stop, depending on situation.

Lowrider Loc: Kennesaw, GA

If you have a preview window, zoom in after or while you are focusing to see if you are really in focus.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Higher ISO. And, get a light meter application for your smartphone. Set whatever ISO you want and let it make recommendations for shutter speed and f-stop. It isn't perfect, but it is a great place to start.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

jerryc41 wrote:

I just happen to have some links. : )

Jerry, is your internet favorites folder the largest on your system?

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Werkendoc wrote:

I am currently at Disney attempting to get night photos. I am using a tripod, turning off my auto focus to manual, turning off my stabilizer, focusing manually, however 90% of the photos are not the tack sharp image we all strive for. Can anyone give suggestions on how I can improve my results.
Thank you

What aperture are you using? Is there any movement taking place in your photos?

toxdoc42

This is the sort of thing that I have been complaining about since I switched to digital. The cameras are geared to autofocus and manual really is difficult to do accurately. Are your lenses the ones without any distance markings? I assume the answer is probably yes. I don't like LV, particularly at night, I find it difficult to see accurately, I purchased a right angle adapter that has magnification, this helps a little. I miss the split image focusing aide on my Nikon F2 film camera, and the prism aide on my Nikormatt. Some one suggested that the green light that shows proper focus is accurate, I haven't become convince , yet.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Werkendoc wrote:

I am currently at Disney attempting to get night photos. I am using a tripod, turning off my auto focus to manual, turning off my stabilizer, focusing manually, however 90% of the photos are not the tack sharp image we all strive for. Can anyone give suggestions on how I can improve my results.
Thank you

Manual focus oftentimes gives dubious results since our camera are usually much better at focusing than we are.
I would leave everything you turned off, on, and use Auto Focus. Surely Disney World has at least one bright light in the area you are trying to focus on? Anything that's bright or has contrast will lock the focus.
Even on Live View, unless your tripod is ROCK solid, the shake you see will often not allow you to get a good focus manually.
Trust your camera and just let it do what it was designed to do!!! Good luck!!
SS

Bill_de Loc: US

Werkendoc wrote:

I am currently at Disney attempting to get night photos. I am using a tripod, turning off my auto focus to manual, turning off my stabilizer, focusing manually, however 90% of the photos are not the tack sharp image we all strive for. Can anyone give suggestions on how I can improve my results.
Thank you

Since you saw you were not getting good results, did you try turning stabilization back on and using auto focus?

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Werkendoc Loc: NJ

Canon 5d mark iii. 24-105 lens. Lens was wide open f 4. Which I guess makes a narrow field of focus. Shooting aperture priority, so the exposure is several seconds. I also used a cable release. I think I did it all right, apparently I didn't. I'm going to try again tomorrow, perhaps I was just having a bad day.
Thank you to all who responded.
Ken

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Werkendoc wrote:

Canon 5d mark iii. 24-105 lens. Lens was wide open f 4. Which I guess makes a narrow field of focus. Shooting aperture priority, so the exposure is several seconds. I also used a cable release. I think I did it all right, apparently I didn't. I'm going to try again tomorrow, perhaps I was just having a bad day.
Thank you to all who responded.

Ken

Try f8. It will give you a deeper dof and, thus, bring more into focus. It might, ofc, lengthen your exposure time. What ISO are you using?

I've been googling about what aperture to use when night shooting. The recommendation was to use f8 or even f11.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Werkendoc wrote:

I am currently at Disney attempting to get night photos. I am using a tripod, turning off my auto focus to manual, turning off my stabilizer, focusing manually, however 90% of the photos are not the tack sharp image we all strive for. Can anyone give suggestions on how I can improve my results.
Thank you

This is impossible to determine without a sample image or two. Any suggests you read, while provided with the best of intentions, may not apply. You could have focus issues, movement, a lens problem, etc. Looking at a sample will make it easy enough to see exactly what is going on.

Don't forget to check the "Store Original" box when you upload.

d2b2 Loc: Catonsville, Maryland, USA

Depending on the speed at which you are shooting, flipping the mirror up before you snap the shutter helps minimize vibration, if you camera permits that. Also, are you using a cable or remote release?