5 tiny seconds - long exposure times ???

[mancunian61]

Hi all,

I'm finding it quite hard to get to grips with the details of exposure times etc and only have my trusty little compact Sony Cybershot W170. I'd really like to have a go at the type of photos required for the comp 5 tiny seconds, especially the movement of traffic / fairground rides / water photos. I've tried various settings on my camera, but I don't really understand it properly - am I wasting my time with my little camera or can I do it - I do realise that if I can it won't be to the standard of a proper SLR.

Some settings my camera can do are
ISO 80 - 400
EV -2.00 to +2.00

Please put me out of misery

Thanks in anticipation!

Ann

[PhilipHowe]

Hi, I have just read through your camera manual and I don't think there is a way to do this.
You need either fully manual or partial manual setting on your camera.

For instance, on my Canon DSLRs, there is a fully manual mode, plus a Tv setting. This allows me to set the ISO speed to whatever I want and set the shutter speed to exactly 5 seconds and it will calculate the Aperture to use automatically. Unfortunately, I cannot find a way to do this on your camera.

There are ways to do this which include shooting in the dark on a daylight setting for your camera, however, these are unlikely to work, as you will need to change the scene to achieve the shutter speed of 5 seconds exactly. I have experimented with using Cokin filters in front of the lens, but then you have focussing problems etc.

As you have suggested, it is very hard to achieve without either shutter priority mode, or fully manual.

[Walter Brooks]

mancunian61 - this may help - http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readf ... angemode=1 - ?

[mancunian61]

Thanks Walter and Phillip for you replies,

I guess this might be one area where a full SLR camera shows its capabilities over a compact.

I will keep on experimenting with my camera and learning what settings it has and what can be done with them.

Best wishes.

Ann

[Walter Brooks]

Ann - you might find a compromise in a 'bridge' camera, I use a Canon Powershot Pro 1, which although has a limited f stop range, gives me shutter/ aperture priority; RAW/ jpeg capture; an L series Canon lens and an all important manual function - it's a little dated now but it satisfies my digital needs.

Walter