Define Low-Light Photography

[NikonUser]

Hi there,

I'm wondering if I can get a few opinions on what Low-Light photography means... (read on for an explanation)

I'm getting pretty close to being able to get myself a D200 but am still questioning weather I should make the step all the way up to the D2X... The only thing that concerns me about the D200 is the CAM1000 compared to the CAM2000...

In most reviews it is said that CAM1000 is great but the CAM2000 blows it away in "Low-light" photography. I'm trying to work out if this would affect me. Does low-light mean the low light that I try and shoot in around dawn and dusk to get nice light on bird shots (not what I'd call bright light... but not really LOW light either). Or in rainforests?... Or is low light more like you'd find in a nightclub or dark resturant?

I'm just looking for some examples on when people think 'low light' begins in the context of AF.

Thanks
Paul

[Antsl]

Low light photography often refers to working in very low illumination and in a night club or night time street photography is a very good example. If you are working handheld at 1600 ISO at f2 at about 1/8th of a second or less is a good indicator that you are there.

I'm using the D200 at the moment and for now I have had no problems with the camera in low light. An interesting little fact to consider is that the D2X might be the better AF performer in low light however the D200 will give you the better image quality at high ISOs.

Noise was my big compaint with the D2X when I had it to test for a couple of weeks, I am still wondering though is there really is that much difference between the AF of the two cameras... both are good.

Spend the extra money on the D2X if you feel inclined however for half the money you can buy a D200 and you will have a financial head start when Nikon release a new camera in a year or so.... it is a continual evolving technology, at least for the moment.

[Raskill]

Low light photography is what causes the D70's sensor to be noisey....

[sydneywebcam]

As Antsl as already said low light photography is generally night time on the street working with high ISO at a very wide aperture and usually hand held.

It can be difficult try to achieve focus in these conditions. I do not know the specs of the Nikon cameras as I'm a Canon user. What works for me is having a remote flash trigger mounted on the hotshoe. It sends out an infra-red beam to help achieve focus. I'm assuming the SB 800 has this capability, you just use it for focusing but don't activate the flash.

Of course you could use manual focusing, something that seems to have been forgotten about in these days of high performance AF.

I use a 50mm F1.4 lens usually set to f2, mostly manual focus, sometimes AF and sometimes with the flash trigger. Here is a sample from the other night with no post processing, no noise reduction taken at 1600 ISO f2.8 1/25sec handheld manual focus with a Canon 1D MKII. The lack of noise at this speed is fantastic.



Click for a larger view.
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Cheers,
Paul

[sirhc55]

And I always thought low light photography was trying to photograph a black cat in a coal hole

[marc]

I'm using the D200 at the moment and for now I have had no problems with the camera in low light. An interesting little fact to consider is that the D2X might be the better AF performer in low light however the D200 will give you the better image quality at high ISOs.

Paul
You should consider the D2Hs, it does a far better job @ high ISO's than BOTH the D2X and the D200.
If your not using them for poster size prints, 4mp's do a fantastic job, ignore those who scoff at this camera, those that ACTUALLY own one know just what this camera can do


Have a look at this pic @ f/2.8 1600 ISO. (Ignoring the actual subject matter, it's just a test)
NO p/p or noise reduction used.
This camera can NOW be bought for just over $3700 here in OZ, making it
a no brainer against the D200 (IMHO)
I'm rapt in my new purchase



Cheers
Marc



[/img]

[NikonUser]

I have considered the D2Hs but unfortunately I sometimes DO poster sized prints (landscapes) and the 4MP doesn't leave me much room to crop either.

[Nnnnsic]

Tack an IR filter on your lens.

You'll get low-light photography pretty quickly.

[Grev]

Low light photography often refers to working in very low illumination and in a night club or night time street photography is a very good example. If you are working handheld at 1600 ISO at f2 at about 1/8th of a second or less is a good indicator that you are there.

That's ultra lowlight I think because I was shooting at night time at subtle reflections and was at 1600, f3.5 and 1/15s.

Actually that is like starlight maybe.

[wendellt]

all you need is a lens made for low light like the 50mm f1.4
which can focus in low light under 3 lux or something like that

you can get d2x but it has the same issues with low light focussing as any other camera in a low light situation

[birddog114]

Who said the D2h/s can't print @ poster size?
Have you tried? and I did with 4MP D2h.

[marc]

Yes absolutely Birdy, I should have said up to AND including Poster size.
I haven't tried to reproduce to this size myself but, I would certainly not doubt it

Cheers
Marc

[sirhc55]

I have considered the D2Hs but unfortunately I sometimes DO poster sized prints (landscapes) and the 4MP doesn't leave me much room to crop either.

I have produced commercial posters from the D1, D70 and D2Hs - no problem

[Grev]

You guys are giving me ideas... I'm thinking of a D1x already and now I have to get the D2H into consideration...