Good digital camera for low light conditions

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

pakrat@localhost.private.neotoma.org wrote in
news:slrncq6nqg.l1d.pakrat@mouse.private.neotoma.org:

> I'm looking for ideas on a digital camera suitable for flashless
> photography in low light conditions such as concerts, horse shows, and
> forests.
>
> I'm looking for compact, but I haven't seen any point 'n shoot or ZLR
> cameras that are very good with low light.
>
> Any ideas would be appreciated.

Any of the big pixel DSLRs. Pentax *ist Ds is about the cheapest of those
which go up to ISO3200 and its also the smallest and lightest but if you
don't need ISO3200, then the EOS 300D is the cheapest and most widely
available. D70, 10D, *ist D are the next price rung up with the EOS 20D,
Dynax 7D perched on top of that. I assume, since you're mentionning pro-
sumer gear such as P&S and ZLR that you can't afford an EOS 1D Mark II,
which is certainly the class leader. The smaller pixel DSLRs - both of
Olympus's, any of Sigma's - aren't as good at low light work. Having got
one, then a 50mm f1.4 lens is your next port of call with an 85mm f1.4 lens
close behind (vying with a 70-200 f2.8, I expect).

--Sophie

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

On Tue, 23 Nov 2004 18:58:43 GMT in <pt17q05aog13qjvkaf27a6dnda429uqilq@4ax.com> YAG-ART <right@here.now> wrote:
> On Tue, 23 Nov 2004 16:03:28 GMT, pakrat@localhost.private.neotoma.org
> wrote:
>
>>I'm looking for ideas on a digital camera suitable for flashless photography
>>in low light conditions such as concerts, horse shows, and forests.
>>
>>I'm looking for compact, but I haven't seen any point 'n shoot or ZLR
>>cameras that are very good with low light.
>
> Canon EOS 1DMark2 comes to mind

Outside of my price range.

Of the ideas mentioned by Sophie, the EOS 300D most closely matches what
I can afford on the short term. The Pentax *ist DS and Canon EOS 20D
would have me waiting until the next generation of DSLRs is out.

So, of those does anyone have experience with them with dim lighting
conditions and something as fast as a horse at a trot? Or taking
photos of wildlife at dusk?
--
Chris Dukes
Suspicion breeds confidance -- Brazil

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

On Tue, 23 Nov 2004 16:03:28 GMT, pakrat@localhost.private.neotoma.org
wrote:

>I'm looking for ideas on a digital camera suitable for flashless photography
>in low light conditions such as concerts, horse shows, and forests.
>
>I'm looking for compact, but I haven't seen any point 'n shoot or ZLR
>cameras that are very good with low light.
>
>Any ideas would be appreciated.

I have just answered these questions for myself recently. My answer
included a canon d20. Since that's not an option; my 2nd choice was
the 300d - cost less and has alot of the same features. You will need
to have a full pocket to buy len's for whatever you get. The lens,
imo,is at least as salient (probably more so ) in terms of dictacting
what you will and won't be able to do. You will spend more for a
good telephoto, than you will for the rebel (which btw you can
get a firmware hack to open some of the functionality i'm told).

And do you wan't wide angle shots? The glass is more important
it seems than the particular "flavor" of dslr ...all things being
remotely equal.

I had a sony f707..and it was pretty nice for what it was. So is the
newer f717 or 828...Very nice point and shoot. They will do what you
want i imagine ..though to a limited degree. But..what they are - is
all they ever will be. You want an SLR..because of the INTERCHANGEABLE
LENS....so that's where the action is. --so find out what you can
afford vis - lens..and what you "will" be able to afford - vis lenses
and accessories, and then look over your shoulder at what cam
is keeping up with you. I chose the 20d because there was alot
of fine points i could use now...and down the road. Either that or
maybe a used 10d..(fine cam i'm told). Also the Nikon d70 has just
been proclaimed by some as cam of the year. That's a slightly
different ball of eels. If my memory serves me well..you can get
a little better deal on some nikor lens's...dunnoh though 'cause went
for a canon.

You need to put an entire package together for yourself and have some
vision of where you're headed and have a little patience to complete
your ensemble.

I hope this answer is not too philosophical and lacking in actual
lens ref's like some of the other fine answers you gotten.

Good Luck and Enjoy.

Ken

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

pakrat@localhost.private.neotoma.org wrote in
news:slrncq6nqg.l1d.pakrat@mouse.private.neotoma.org:

> I'm looking for ideas on a digital camera suitable for flashless
> photography in low light conditions such as concerts, horse shows, and
> forests.
>
> I'm looking for compact, but I haven't seen any point 'n shoot or ZLR
> cameras that are very good with low light.
>
> Any ideas would be appreciated.

Canon 20D, Canon 70-200 f2.8L (preferably the IS model), Canon 580EX
speedlite for when it doesn't need to be flashless.

Unfortunately the cost is high for the good lenses (dearer than the
camera).

On a budget there is the Canon 300D and the 50 f1.8 and the 85 f1.8. You
do need to pay attention to the max lens aperture, a lens with f5.6 is not
going to do so well in low light. F5.6 requires a shutter speed 4x as long
as f2.8 and over 8 times as long as f1.8.




--
Mark Heyes (New Zealand)
See my pics at www.gigatech.co.nz (last updated 12-Nov-04)
"There are 10 types of people, those that
understand binary and those that don't"

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

You need Very Fast Lenses and really good sensors for low light
photography.

You will either need to invest several thousand dollars for lens and
body, or save a thousand and start with film and very fast lenses.

But point and shoot lenses of any type just do not put enough light on
the sensor to do well in low light.



pakrat@localhost.private.neotoma.org wrote:
> I'm looking for ideas on a digital camera suitable for flashless photography
> in low light conditions such as concerts, horse shows, and forests.
>
> I'm looking for compact, but I haven't seen any point 'n shoot or ZLR
> cameras that are very good with low light.
>
> Any ideas would be appreciated.

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

JC Dill wrote:

>>pakrat@localhost.private.neotoma.org wrote:
>>
>>>I'm looking for ideas on a digital camera suitable for flashless photography
>>>in low light conditions such as concerts, horse shows, and forests.
>
>
> For low-light horse show conditions, you need A) fast shutter
> response, B) a relatively noise free high ISO, C) fast shutter speed
> and D) fast glass.
>
>
>>>I'm looking for compact, but I haven't seen any point 'n shoot or ZLR
>>>cameras that are very good with low light.
>
>
> You aren't going to find all of that in a low cost PnS or ZLR camera.
>
>
>>>Any ideas would be appreciated.
>
>
> (top posting fixed)
>
> On Fri, 17 Dec 2004 16:08:29 -0800, fortknight <nobody@home.com>
> wrote:
>
>
>>You need Very Fast Lenses and really good sensors for low light
>>photography.
>>
>>You will either need to invest several thousand dollars for lens and
>>body, or save a thousand and start with film and very fast lenses.
>
>
> I'm using the 300 D and a 70-200 IS f2.8 to shoot horses, and it does
> very well in low light, until I have to crank the ISO above 400 at
> which point the images are pretty noisy. I'm itching to get a 20D as
> I believe that the improved image quality at the higher ISOs will be
> just the ticket.
>
I think you'll be very pleased with the 20D. At 1600 its noise level is
tolerable. I have yet to crank it up to 3200. Now, the lens you have is
one I am thinking about...

--
John McWilliams