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Question: I have a d40, any tips in shooting in low light!?
its low iso range is the only thing im regretting rite now!.
i dun have the resources to upgrade at the moment!.

is the trade-off for a bigger aperture worth losing some sharpness!?
i need opinionsWww@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
When shooting in low-light, non-flash situations its really all about the lens if you want to keep your ISO below your camera's maximum!. Since you didn't specify what lens you're using I'm left to guess that its the standard 18-55mm f3!.5-5!.6 that came with your camera!.

Although the 18-55mm is a good general purpose lens, its really too slow for low-light photography unless you're willing to use ISO 1600 - or higher!. What you need is a really fast lens - f1!.4 would do nicely!.

Why an f1,4 lens!? Because it is 2 2/3 stops faster than f3!.5 and a full 4 stops faster than f5!.6!. What does this mean!? A higher shutter speed at a lower ISO under the same conditions!. Lets look at a hypothetical example to see what lens speed really does!.

NOTE: To make it easier, I'm going to use figures that would be common to f4 instead of f3!.5!. Actual shutter speeds with f3!.5 would be 1/3 stop faster since f1!.4 is a full 3 stops faster than f4!. Remember, these are not actual real-world readings but the relationships are still valid!.

ISO 400
f1!.4 @ 1/125 sec!.
f2!.8 @ 1/30 sec!.
f4 @ 1/15 sec!.
f5!.6 @ 1/8 sec!.

ISO 800
f1!.4 @ 1/250 sec!.
f2!.8 @ 1/60 sec!.
f4 @ 1/30 sec!.
f5!.6 @ 1/15 sec!.

ISO 1600
f1!.4 @ 1/500 sec!.
f2!.8 @ 1/125 sec!.
f4 @ 1/60 sec!.
f5!.6 @ 1/30 sec!.

ISO 3200
f1!.4 @ 1/1000 sec!.
f2!.8 @ 1/250 sec!.
f4 @ 1/125 sec!.
f5!.6 @ 1/60 sec!.

As we can easily see an f1!.4 aperture allows us to shoot at a relatively fast 1/125 sec!. at ISO 400 while we need ISO 3200 to achieve the same shutter speed with our f4 (ne f3!.5) lens!. Notice what happens as we zoom from 18mm (f3!.5) to 55mm (f5!.6) - an even slower shutter speed!. To achieve 1/125 sec at f5!.6 would require ISO 6400!.

If you are really serious about low-light, non-flash photography then I suggest investing in one of these lenses:

AF-S Nikkor 50mm f1!.4G
AF Nikkor 85mm f1!.4D IF

Since neither of these lenses is a zoom you'll have to "zoom" the old-fashioned way - walk closer to your subject or take a few steps backwards!.

"The best wide-angle lens!? Two steps backward!. Look for the 'ah-ha' "!. Ernst Haas

"If your pictures aren't good enough you aren't close enough!." Robert Capa

If you absolutely, positively have to have a zoom you might consider these lenses:

AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm f2!.8G ED
AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f2!.8G ED

Again, looking at out chart shows what losing 2 stops from f1!.4 to f2!.8 does to our shutter speed!. Still, the f2!.8 performs better than the f4 even though, a previously stated, the actual f3!.5 of your lens would yield a 1/3 stop faster shutter speed!.

Another major benefit of an f1!.4 lens is a brighter viewfinder!. In low-light situations it will be easier to compose your picture and the AF will work better!. Manual focusing will also be easier should you need to turn off the AF!.

A very long time ago Nikon offered an f1!.0 lens - a full stop faster than an f1!.4!. Since they are rare that makes them very expensive - if you could find anyone willing to part with one!.

Leica recently announced an f0!.95 lens, the 50mm Noctilux!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

There is nothing you cannot do with your D40, I can do with my D300 except I have one stop faster shutter speed and can shoot at 6400 ISO!. all else is irrelevant!.

Shooting at a larger aperture will not cause you to lose any sharpness!. I will only reduce your depth of field!.

Shoot at aperture priority with your lenses aperture fully open (that will assure your shutter speed will be at its fastest)!. Adjust the ISO so you are always shooting at a shutter speed of at least 1/250th second until you can learn how to steady the camera when shooting in lower lighting conditions!.

Even if you had the money to spend on a D700, until you learn to use the camera you have (and expect that to take a couple of years if you take photo classes, many more if you attempt to use the 'try and fail' method), you would be wasting your money!. By the time you are totally in control of your camera, there will be even better technology when it comes to low noise at high ISO's!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The D40 has the Auto ISO feature which is wonderful!. When set to "on," Auto ISO increases the ISO automatically as it gets dark!. It shoots at the lowest ISO you set (see photoface's recommendation) in good light, and at 1/30 of a second (or any speed you choose) it starts ramping up the ISO to a maximum of 1,600 (or any ISO you choose) as it gets darker!. Only if it gets still darker will it let the shutter speed go below 1/30 at ISO 1,600!.

[Note: you can set the ISO at 3200, but it will turn off the Auto ISO feature because Auto ISO only goes up to 1600!.]

I'm not sure this feature works in the fully Auto mode so I'd use the Program mode ("P")!.

You can find a very helpful User's Guide for your D40 here: http://www!.kenrockwell!.com/nikon/d40/use!.!.!.
I downloaded the PDF version, printed it, and put it in a binder!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Umm can't beat Edwins answer and fhotoace's!.!.!. I use full manual lenses on my DSLR and fell in love with my 135 f2!.8 and 50mm 1!.7!. Not as sharp as my full digital lenses but as far as low light exposures I can't beat them for the cost!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Yeah don't do it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com