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Well I got my Nikon Coolpix 4300 in late today, and while I am somewhat happy with it I have to say that it is extremely hard to get clear pictures in low light situations. The autofocus just doesn't want to work so far.

Unfortunately by the time I got the batteries charged the sun was down, so I didn't get a chance to use it in bright natural sunlight at all.

I'm really hoping that taking pics in bright sunlight will fix my problems... but I have to say that for the amount of cash I dropped on this puppy I want it to take awesome pics anytime and anyplace.

Is there any secret to taking sharp pics in low light situations? I assume a tripod would help combat the slow shutter speeds, but is there anything to help the autofocus?

The autofocus didn't want to work at all for me with any macro settings in low light.

I'm thinking about ordering a nice telephoto lens, any suggestions?

Also, I already have all the crystal lens filters and the adaptor, etc...

Hopefully tommorrow will be a sunny day, because I want to take some awesome macros!

Thanks for the help guys...

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-Ross Payan - www.LeosAnonymous.com

Leos Anonymous

Ball Pythons, Red Striped Leos, W.Hognose and Screaming AFT's

I cant help you Ross but I hope you get it working right. How about some new pics of your red stripe male?? Or maybe some of his best offspring?? Good Luck!
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Josh
My Email

Once I get this camera taking the kind of pics it should be taking for me I'll post a few awesome animals.
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-Ross Payan - www.LeosAnonymous.com

Leos Anonymous

Ball Pythons, Red Striped Leos, W.Hognose and Screaming AFT's

>>Once I get this camera taking the kind of pics it should be taking for me I'll post a few awesome animals.
>>-----
>>-Ross Payan - www.LeosAnonymous.com
>>
>> Leos Anonymous
>>
>>Ball Pythons, Red Striped Leos, W.Hognose and Screaming AFT's
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Josh
My Email

Hey Ross.. I'll try and help with regards to slow shutter speeds, to reduce glare and streaks tripods help with that. with regards to your 4300 and autofocus, not too much can be done with that. I'm assuming(but tell me if i'm wrong) you're taking your pictures with the flash on, your macro is on, and your dial is turned to the green camera(auto) or on scene with the macro selected. You've got a macro setting up to 4 cm, but remember the true 4 cm macro setting is only with the camera lens unzoomed... if you try to zoom and take a macro picture, if you're too close, it won't work... if you've done all that then hmmm... i guess we'll see if you've done any of that.. if not, then let me know..like i said, i'll try
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GeckoFire-Dale
Proud owner of 2.3.1
Questions? Drop me a line

You pretty much guessed exactly what setup I'm using... looks like there is no way to get around having poor lighting. It still takes good looking pics in the low light, but I'm looking for extremely sharp contrast and high levels of detail.

Thanks for the help.
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-Ross Payan - www.LeosAnonymous.com

Leos Anonymous

Ball Pythons, Red Striped Leos, W.Hognose and Screaming AFT's

Ross,

You've got to get more light onto the subject, which is why so many close ups get washed out. People typically use flash (even me) with their macros, to keep the shutter speed up so you don't get a moving gecko-streak in the picture when the shutter speeds are low. Taking them in good natural light like sunlight through a window or outside will help trememdously and you'll see what your cam can really do. However, you may already know this, DON'T take your amel fatties outside in bright sunlight. I did, thinking I was going to get a much nicer, natural lighted picture and I thought I had a vampire in my hand the way it seemed to bug his eyes. I felt so bad about that and surely won't do it again.

When you're using macro, try to zoom in/out enough to get the flower to turn yellow. I'm assuming it's the same with mine, and that's your macro 'sweet spot', where the focus will be best. Check into Peter Inova's Nikon eBook. It's a great reference for Nikons and digital cameras in general. I'm not sure if yours is covered, but even if not, it goes over some important concepts, most of which I haven't even covered, but if I did, that's the first place I'd look for them (lack of time, not too complex).

Lastly, you have two other options for light, a macro light ring and flash bracket. To keep the flash from washing out your subject, a flash bracket will take the flash away from the lens, hopefully reducing the 'bounce-back' caused by your on camera flash. Nikon makes a light ring, the SL-1, which you can look into. I've never used nor seen one, and don't know how they'd work with geckos.

Good luck, can't wait to see the pictures.
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Rob Jenkins
Have you seen the GeckoCam?
Buy Geckos Here
Email Me

Thanks for the help Rob... I guess more light is an absolute MUST with this camera to get high quality pics out of it, mainly because the autofocus does not work it's magic in low light. Even with the flash on, that doesn't help the autofocus, because the subject is still in poor lighting before the flash goes off.

I'm definitely going to check out that site... I tried to search for one "help site" last night, but all I could really find were site's trying to sell me another camera, lol.

And I know exactly what you mean about the amel fat tails... when I got my first amel I tried to taker her outside for a natural picture and got the same result you described.

Let's just hope today is not an overcast day.

Hopefully I'll have some cool pics later.

Thanks again for the help.
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-Ross Payan - www.LeosAnonymous.com

Leos Anonymous

Ball Pythons, Red Striped Leos, W.Hognose and Screaming AFT's