What digital cameras are good with low-light and up-close pictures?
I.M.N. Alias asked:
I am looking for a digital camera that will be used for a lot of at night or low-light shots as well as very close-up shots. Additionally, I would like a camera that is in the compact or ultra-compact category if possible. What are some suggestions for specific cameras, or, in general what features should I be looking for on cameras’ spec sheets that would tell me that the camera was good with low-light or up-close shots?
Well since you will probably be using a tripod if you are doing low light or night shots, look for a camera that has the slowest, i.e, longest shutter speed as well as a camera that has an over ride feature which will allow you to do manual exposures. Light meters especially in situations where you have extreme differences between light and dark are useless and will often result in an underexposed or overexposed image depending on where the camera is metering. For this reason you may have to over ride the auto features to do your own manual exposures for greater artistic control. As for closeups look for a camera which has a macro feature for the lens. For the type of cameras you are looking at, I don’t think you will be able to find any cameras that can do exposures over 30 seconds.
If the low light shots are of building or such, you can put any camera on a tripod. If you need to do them hand held (street photography/ concerts/ sports/ etc.), you’re out of luck. This is the domain of digital SLR cameras. The digital Nikons are good at this, and the Canons are even better. They can go up to ISO 6400 in a pinch, and they’ll deliver beutifull image quality as high as ISO 1600. This is better than film ever was. If you add a light sensitive lens, like a 50mm f/1.4, you can do action photography by candle light. No compact camera comes anywhere close to that. (The autofocus will hunt forever, and when it does lock on, you’ll need a shutter time of several seconds.)
If it must be a compact, get one where you can crank the ISO up to 1600 (or higher).
For extreme close ups, get a macro lens (or a compact that has a macro function.)