PISSED off with my Alpha, PLease Help!!

[synapseman]

hmm don't think i've seen anyone with decent pics from night safari. correct me if i'm wrong.

I think you're right.

The only pic I had that's even close to semi-usable is a blurry image of a rhino's butt.

For Night Safari, leave the camera at home. Conditions are about as bad as it can get for photography. Even if you set your camera on a tripod and have an f/1.4 lens, the shutter speed still won't be fast enough to freeze subject movement anyway.

 

[weishengg]

No, it's no camera malfunction. He needs to set the shutter release to release priority.



TS: What ISO setting were you on? I know you can't use flash, it's not allowed in the Night Safari. Basically, it's challenging for any camera... I bet you mom's N82 fired up the LED light?

*oops*, my bad. sorry :embrass:

 

[kenxo]

Many thanks once again for ALL your help..!! i will try taking pictures in the dark tonite in my room, and see how all this manual focus thing really works... okok, i will not throw away just yet, i will just be patient and embark on this expensive learning journey..!!

 

[Rashkae]

Many thanks once again for ALL your help..!! i will try taking pictures in the dark tonite in my room, and see how all this manual focus thing really works... okok, i will not throw away just yet, i will just be patient and embark on this expensive learning journey..!!

Yup. And the sony people have regular outings and get-togethers, so we can always give you some hands-on tips.

 

[Octarine]

Don't forget to have a look here: http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=309544
Without understanding the basics about the three main factors (shutter, aperture, ISO) you won't understand the manual either. A manual only tells you what you can do with the camera in terms of settings. But you need to know what that means with regards to subject, light, focus etc.

 

[destiny86]

Hey all, been using my alpha 300 for 6 months, and i really wanted throw it away yesterday.!! Very new to the DSLR concept, so it MUST be me and NOT the camera.

:dunno:

Glad that you know that the problem lies in you and not so much to the camera. Just like most people, i also started from PnS then to DSLR. Till today, i am still learning. DSLR is a lot more different from PnS. Being able to control every setting required us to learn even more in-dept knowledge pertaining to photography. All these cannot be learn over the night. You have to keep shooting and read more about photography. That why there are forums !

Night photography (low lighting condition) is a tough topic as compared with day photography due to the amount of light available. Dim light does not mean that there is enough light for you to use AF. That why you can't fire off. As for your MF's problem, i believe that our bro had o'ready explain to you.

Most importantly, do not be discourage and try to attend some gatherings. Try to get some tips from the pro out there and you will learn also.

 

[maximize]

i think probably you spend quite a bit for this camera and a super fast lens and expects some results... unfortunately such things always happens to newbies... anyway... like previously others hv said.. you probably have set to manual mode but didnt set to MF thats why you couldnt click.. to be honest even if u can... the pics u got probably will still be less than expected.. night safari is super challenging... i didnt even bother take out my alpha when i was there... my eyes already got problem finding wheres the animals...

i think playing with dslr is like making love... u need to spend time to explore... get the into mood... some patience... try different style... i'm telling u.. once u get the hang of it... u will enjoy every single moment of it... like woman... they like to hv veri expensive accessories...

cheer up... if not we will less one alpha user...

 

[TME]

TS: READ THE CAMERA MANUAL! There's much to learn from that camera manual... really and seriously...

 

[ricohflex]

Maybe you cannot snap because the camera is trying to get a fix on the focus.

You must NOT use the flash.

This is a night safari.

Be considerate to the animals.
These are nocturnal animals.
Their eye sight is primed for the dark.
If you flash, it is like blinding them.

Do not let you photo hobby overtake what's really inmortant.

If you cannot take picture, then so be it.

 

[yokechye]

I think other than perhaps using an external flash for focus assist, even top of the line DSLR will have a very hard time comfirming focus at the Night Safari.

i dun think night safari allows people to use flash photography rite? correct me if I am wrong... but the last time I went i remmeber we couldn't use any incase we scare away the animals.

 

[TriggerHappy]

Did you use the pop-up flash?
The lighting at the night safari is really poor, doubt you can see much without flash.
Other than that you shouldn't be using f/1.4 for group photo.

:nono: Flash Photography is not allowed in the Night Safari.

 

[Brightblade]

Have you tried:

SCENE = Night mode
ISO = 1600/3200

Does wonders for low light shooting.

 

[mysilentkaopei]

Have you tried:

SCENE = Night mode
ISO = 1600/3200

Does wonders for low light shooting.

gives a whole new meaning to the word 'noise' too...

 

[Genie In A Lightbox]

Hey all, been using my alpha 300 for 6 months, and i really wanted throw it away yesterday.!! Very new to the DSLR concept, so it MUST be me and NOT the camera.

Paid 22 bucks to visit the Night Safari Halloween special ydae nite. Lighting Fairly dim thru' out the park. Just when i was about to take out my what seemingly pro equipment out to take my family and friends with the halloween fixtures, I COULD NOT SNAP..!!! i tried to SNAP, nothing could be in focus (possibly too dark???) and the camera did not allow me to snap. I then tried, using a manaul focus, SAME THING, the camera REFUSES to click..!! so irritating, that was when my mum decided to use her Nokia N 82 to snap the pictures instead. SO FED UP!!....

I used my SAL50mm, 1.4 lens thru out , coz i thought i could just fully open the aperture for max exposure..!!

Will appreciate your inputs!!!

:dunno:

Do you have the memory card inserted? If yes, is it inserted correctly?

 

[sherchoo]

Do you have the memory card inserted? If yes, is it inserted correctly?

FYI. With the card not inserted the cam still can snap. There is no way the card inserted wrongly cos the cover can't close.

 

[maximize]

Do you have the memory card inserted? If yes, is it inserted correctly?

cant close cover lah if not inserted properly... u not alpha user rite... he even vaguely shot a rhino butt of cos got memory card inside lah...

 

[Gunjack]

i dun think night safari allows people to use flash photography rite? correct me if I am wrong... but the last time I went i remmeber we couldn't use any incase we scare away the animals.

Hi,

What I mean was to enable the focus assist light on the external flash to help focus in low light but disable the flash from firing. I am not sure if Sony flash is able to do that, but it can be done on the Nikon SB800 which I have. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

 

[kenxo]

will be reading loads more, i do read the manuals, but its really badly written i must say (in comparison to the manuals i read for my job), for eg, EV compensator takes abt 2 paragraph..etc...

anyway, one more question, i bought the 50mm, F1.4 lens...is it JUST for portrait? what other uses ?

 

[maximize]

will be reading loads more, i do read the manuals, but its really badly written i must say (in comparison to the manuals i read for my job), for eg, EV compensator takes abt 2 paragraph..etc...

anyway, one more question, i bought the 50mm, F1.4 lens...is it JUST for portrait? what other uses ?

actually i find the manual quite good for my a200... if u wanna noe what this button does juz look at the page where they show all the buttons and pages to go to.. go to the page and read and it will explain most of the stuff u wanna noe...

50mm f1.4 is not juz for portrait.. its for a lot of other stuff too... good esp when u are in a low light condition... again.. basic... iso, f-stop and shutter... i hope the night safari thingy didnt bring a traumatic experience to u... hint: hving f1.4 doesnt mean u can take in no light condition at any setting u want...

juz my little sharing hope it helps...

 

[Galdor]

So far I find the manual quite useful & informative too.

I would suggest that you read some books on basic photography and join some of our outings to learn more & faster.