Nikon D70 Night Photography

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Andy Flowers wrote:

> Many apologies if this question has been asked before (couldn't find the
> answer on Google Groups)
>
> Just bought a Nikon D70 - very good camera
>
> What I can't figure out is how to take night photography with the flash
> switched off, and giving me the option of exposure compensation
>
> Not been able to figure out the right combination of buttons knobs and
> levers to do it.


It should work just fine in A or S mode. Green & P will want to do a
bunch of other junk. Autofocus won't work unless it's close up. Best
results at low ISO and enable noise correction in the menus which takes
a second exposure with the shutter closed (assuming you are talking
about tripod work). If no tripod, bump the ISO up & use S mode at 80 to
125 to hand hold but you'll get more noise. Exposure compensation is not
available in green mode. It's the +/- button near the shutter; spin the
main dial while pressing.

Here's one hand held tracking with maybe shutter 1/15sec (took many
attempts):
<http://www.edgehill.net/1/?SC=go.php&DIR=California/Bay...;
I just shot manual after some trials to see what worked.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

"Andy Flowers" <aflowers@girdlers.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:V9XSL$FJep$BFwXl@girdlers.demon.co.uk...
> Many apologies if this question has been asked before (couldn't find the
> answer on Google Groups)
>
> Just bought a Nikon D70 - very good camera
>
> What I can't figure out is how to take night photography with the flash
> switched off, and giving me the option of exposure compensation

Don't use auto mode. Use P mode. The flash should only pop up automatically
in auto mode.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

"Andy Flowers" <aflowers@girdlers.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:V9XSL$FJep$BFwXl@girdlers.demon.co.uk...
> Many apologies if this question has been asked before (couldn't find the
> answer on Google Groups)
>
> Just bought a Nikon D70 - very good camera
>
> What I can't figure out is how to take night photography with the flash
> switched off, and giving me the option of exposure compensation
>
> Not been able to figure out the right combination of buttons knobs and
> levers to do it.
>
> Any help much appreciated.
>
> Cheers
> --
> Andy Flowers

I have a D70

The flash should not automatically pop up in any mode except Auto and some
of the specialty modes. Flash will not pop up automatically in PSAorM. If
you set the dial to night landscapes it turns the flash off, and if you want
to use Automatic you can turn the flash off by pushing the flash button
(just forward of the mode dial) and turning the dial where your thumb is
until you see the no flash symbol in the display on top of the camera.

Night scenes are always tough with any camera, so just experiment and take a
lot of shots. At least you don't have to pay for film or processing.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

In message <zoSdnei4LqniAGPcRVn-1A@speakeasy.net>, paul <paul@not.net>
writes
>Andy Flowers wrote:
>
>> Many apologies if this question has been asked before (couldn't find
>>the answer on Google Groups)
>> Just bought a Nikon D70 - very good camera
>> What I can't figure out is how to take night photography with the
>>flash switched off, and giving me the option of exposure compensation
>> Not been able to figure out the right combination of buttons knobs
>>and levers to do it.
>
>
>It should work just fine in A or S mode. Green & P will want to do a
>bunch of other junk. Autofocus won't work unless it's close up. Best
>results at low ISO and enable noise correction in the menus which takes
>a second exposure with the shutter closed (assuming you are talking
>about tripod work). If no tripod, bump the ISO up & use S mode at 80 to
>125 to hand hold but you'll get more noise. Exposure compensation is
>not available in green mode. It's the +/- button near the shutter; spin
>the main dial while pressing.

Many thanks for the reply.

Just tried this (in A and S mode)

The flash immediately pops up when you press the button - but there's no
option to switch it off.

Is there another button to switch off the flash (or have I got a later,
non/flash switchy offy version)?

Cheers
--
Andy Flowers

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

In message <WeWdnUp-XdhkIWPcRVn-gw@wavecable.com>, C J Campbell
<christophercampbellNOSPAM@hotmail.com> writes
>
>"Andy Flowers" <aflowers@girdlers.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
>news:V9XSL$FJep$BFwXl@girdlers.demon.co.uk...
>> Many apologies if this question has been asked before (couldn't find the
>> answer on Google Groups)
>>
>> Just bought a Nikon D70 - very good camera
>>
>> What I can't figure out is how to take night photography with the flash
>> switched off, and giving me the option of exposure compensation
>
>Don't use auto mode. Use P mode. The flash should only pop up automatically
>in auto mode.

Probably the most helpful reply so far - many thanks.

The flash doesn't pop up automatically, and exposure compensation is
available (as you said).

Unfortunately you are then restricted to the aperture that the camera
has decided to use - f4.2 in this instance.

There must be a setting that lets me

a) switch off the flash

b) use exposure compensation

c) choose the aperture

The three above are surely absolutely essential for night photography

I'll be very surprised if the D70 doesn't allow them all together

I'm sure I've used even digital compacts that have allowed me to do
that.


--
Andy Flowers

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

"Andy Flowers" <aflowers@girdlers.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:xKWrW7MOrs$BFwgj@girdlers.demon.co.uk...
>
> Unfortunately you are then restricted to the aperture that the camera
> has decided to use - f4.2 in this instance.
>
> There must be a setting that lets me
>
> a) switch off the flash
>
> b) use exposure compensation
>
> c) choose the aperture
>

Then you want to use A mode. The flash will not pop up automatically. The
camera will remain at whatever aperture you set. It will adjust the shutter
speed accordingly. If you have the ISO setting set at auto, it will increase
your ISO, so turn that off if you don't want a high ISO. You might also
experiment with automatic noise reduction for long exposures, another menu
item.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Andy Flowers wrote:
>
> There must be a setting that lets me
>
> a) switch off the flash
>
> b) use exposure compensation
>
> c) choose the aperture


'A' mode does this (aperture priority). I'm sure that even if they've
changed the deault settings, you can make it perform this way.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Andy Flowers wrote:

> In message <WeWdnUp-XdhkIWPcRVn-gw@wavecable.com>, C J Campbell

>>Don't use auto mode. Use P mode. The flash should only pop up automatically
>>in auto mode.
>
> Probably the most helpful reply so far - many thanks.
>
> The flash doesn't pop up automatically, and exposure compensation is
> available (as you said).
>
> Unfortunately you are then restricted to the aperture that the camera
> has decided to use - f4.2 in this instance.

Put the camera in 'M' mode.. (Full manual) You can dial whatever aperture or
shutter speed you want.

Doesn't your manual tell you what the camera does in each mode ??

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

On Tue, 1 Feb 2005 00:18:22 +0000, Andy Flowers
<aflowers@girdlers.demon.co.uk> wrote:

>In message <WeWdnUp-XdhkIWPcRVn-gw@wavecable.com>, C J Campbell
><christophercampbellNOSPAM@hotmail.com> writes
>>
>>"Andy Flowers" <aflowers@girdlers.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
>>news:V9XSL$FJep$BFwXl@girdlers.demon.co.uk...
>>> Many apologies if this question has been asked before (couldn't find the
>>> answer on Google Groups)
>>>
>>> Just bought a Nikon D70 - very good camera
>>>
>>> What I can't figure out is how to take night photography with the flash
>>> switched off, and giving me the option of exposure compensation
>>
>>Don't use auto mode. Use P mode. The flash should only pop up automatically
>>in auto mode.
>
>Probably the most helpful reply so far - many thanks.
>
>The flash doesn't pop up automatically, and exposure compensation is
>available (as you said).
>
>Unfortunately you are then restricted to the aperture that the camera
>has decided to use - f4.2 in this instance.
>
>There must be a setting that lets me
>
>a) switch off the flash
>
>b) use exposure compensation
>
>c) choose the aperture
>
Aperture priority "A" mode does exactly that.



Rodney Myrvaagnes J36 Gjo/a


"We have achieved the inversion of the single note."
__ Peter Ustinov as Karlheinz Stckhausen

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

In message <yrydnSxawPWFUGPcRVn-qw@wavecable.com>, C J Campbell
<christophercampbellNOSPAM@hotmail.com> writes
>
>"Andy Flowers" <aflowers@girdlers.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
>news:xKWrW7MOrs$BFwgj@girdlers.demon.co.uk...
>>
>> Unfortunately you are then restricted to the aperture that the camera
>> has decided to use - f4.2 in this instance.
>>
>> There must be a setting that lets me
>>
>> a) switch off the flash
>>
>> b) use exposure compensation
>>
>> c) choose the aperture
>>
>
>Then you want to use A mode. The flash will not pop up automatically. The
>camera will remain at whatever aperture you set. It will adjust the shutter
>speed accordingly. If you have the ISO setting set at auto, it will increase
>your ISO, so turn that off if you don't want a high ISO. You might also
>experiment with automatic noise reduction for long exposures, another menu
>item.
>
>
Spot -on!

Excellent reply

Can now use it for what I bought it for - many many thanks!

--
Andy Flowers

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

In message <CPOdnfzyh_Ffl2LcRVn-hg@comcast.com>, Sheldon
<sheldon@XXXXXXXXsopris.net> writes
>
>"Andy Flowers" <aflowers@girdlers.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
>news:V9XSL$FJep$BFwXl@girdlers.demon.co.uk...
>> Many apologies if this question has been asked before (couldn't find the
>> answer on Google Groups)
>>
>> Just bought a Nikon D70 - very good camera
>>
>> What I can't figure out is how to take night photography with the flash
>> switched off, and giving me the option of exposure compensation
>>
>> Not been able to figure out the right combination of buttons knobs and
>> levers to do it.
>>
>> Any help much appreciated.
>>
>> Cheers
>> --
>> Andy Flowers
>
>I have a D70
>
>The flash should not automatically pop up in any mode except Auto and some
>of the specialty modes. Flash will not pop up automatically in PSAorM. If
>you set the dial to night landscapes it turns the flash off, and if you want
>to use Automatic you can turn the flash off by pushing the flash button
>(just forward of the mode dial) and turning the dial where your thumb is
>until you see the no flash symbol in the display on top of the camera.
>
>Night scenes are always tough with any camera, so just experiment and take a
>lot of shots. At least you don't have to pay for film or processing.
>
>
Many thanks for your reply - apparently A mode does everything I want
(other posters have confirmed this)

manual didn't make it clear

I've been taking night photos for over 25 years now and have had many
published (I'm a railway photographer and journalist)

I was just a bit frustrated that the manual didn't appear to give me the
option I've enjoyed with other cameras.

Previously been using Pentax 645, Contax and a variety of 5MP compact
digitals.

I've found that digital has given very good results and I'm looking
forward to using the D70 for some work.

Cheers
--
Andy Flowers

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

On Tue, 1 Feb 2005 08:01:10 +0000, in rec.photo.digital Andy Flowers
<aflowers@girdlers.demon.co.uk> wrote:

>manual didn't make it clear
>
>I've been taking night photos for over 25 years now and have had many
>published (I'm a railway photographer and journalist)
>
>I was just a bit frustrated that the manual didn't appear to give me the
>option I've enjoyed with other cameras.

Coming into this a bit late.

From p 97:

1 Rotate the mode dial to the desired setting
( 10). If AUTO, , , or mode is selected,
proceed to Step 4 ( 98). i-TTL Balanced Fill-
Flash for Digital SLR will be selected, and the
built-in Speedlight will pop-up automatically
when required.


Note then on P98:
In P,S,A,M none of the flash choices have auto in them. If you want the
flash in these situations just raise it manually by pressing the flash
button. Otherwise it is off. In the Auto or other Scene modes the flash is
auto and should be denoted as shown if you hold the flash button down on
the top lcd.
----------
Ed Ruf Lifetime AMA# 344007 (Usenet@EdwardG.Ruf.com)
See images taken with my CP-990/5700 & D70 at
http://edwardgruf.com/Digital_Photography/General/index...

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

All you needed to do was read the manual. I'm brand new to all this and I
knew how to do what you asked, all from reading the manual. Why I would need
to do it is another issue.

"Andy Flowers" <aflowers@girdlers.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:aWthhZBiYz$BFw17@girdlers.demon.co.uk...
> In message <yrydnSxawPWFUGPcRVn-qw@wavecable.com>, C J Campbell
> <christophercampbellNOSPAM@hotmail.com> writes
> >
> >"Andy Flowers" <aflowers@girdlers.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
> >news:xKWrW7MOrs$BFwgj@girdlers.demon.co.uk...
> >>
> >> Unfortunately you are then restricted to the aperture that the camera
> >> has decided to use - f4.2 in this instance.
> >>
> >> There must be a setting that lets me
> >>
> >> a) switch off the flash
> >>
> >> b) use exposure compensation
> >>
> >> c) choose the aperture
> >>
> >
> >Then you want to use A mode. The flash will not pop up automatically. The
> >camera will remain at whatever aperture you set. It will adjust the
shutter
> >speed accordingly. If you have the ISO setting set at auto, it will
increase
> >your ISO, so turn that off if you don't want a high ISO. You might also
> >experiment with automatic noise reduction for long exposures, another
menu
> >item.
> >
> >
> Spot -on!
>
> Excellent reply
>
> Can now use it for what I bought it for - many many thanks!
>
> --
> Andy Flowers