LOOKING FOR A CAMERA FOR THE AURORA BOREALIS

[Kev]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Canon-IXU...Cameras_DigitalCameras_JN&hash=item5ae953370d

If you're not a photographer and not likely to want to learn the intricacies of exposure and ISO adjustment then I would suggest go for something like the above, find something firm to rest it on and click away. My daughter has some stunning photos off a similar camera from her trips abroad.
Kev

 

[pete.rush]

I really would like to take some photo's just so i can then tell people that is what i saw personally not show then photos from other people experience

Thought you might like to read this link, its all about photographing the Northern Lights

http://www.alaskaphotographyblog.com/how-to-photograph-the-northern-lights-with-a-digital-camera/

A NOTE ABOUT POINT AND SHOOT CAMERAS:

While it is not impossible to photograph the aurora with a little point and shoot digital camera, it is challenging indeed. The models are constantly changing, and perhaps in the near future it will become easier. A few of the basic limitations of most point and shoot cameras are:

If you have an digi cam with some advanced features, read your manual and see if it looks usable for aurora. You want:

400 ISO, preferably 800 or higher
bulb mode
manual focus option
self timer release
wide angle lens

Although for a budget of £70 you might be struggling. There are some older P&S camera's that offer a bulb setting, but old technology, so ISO performance might not be as good. Just google bulb setting for P&S camera's, I think there's a couple of camera's from Olympus that might fit the bill if you can find them on eBay

 

[sut]

GlynHugh i booked online with low cost holidays ( atol protected company ), and yes the cost was for flights leaving london luton hotel with upgraded penthouse room for 5 nights.

hollis_f thank you for that will look at that camera now just hope its easy to use,

pete.rush thanks will read that later,

once again guys thank you for all the help you have been great giving me loads of help in spending my money lol,

 

[hollis_f]

hollis_f thank you for that will look at that camera now just hope its easy to use

As I said, that was 9 years ago. Technology has moved on enormously and really would recommend something a bit better. I like the idea of buying cheap 2nd-hand for now and reselling on your return.

You can get a used Canon 20D for £139 and an 18-55 lens for £69. That combination will almost certainly give better results than the ancient Nikon.

 

[woof woof]

Well, until I have 5DIII with a very sharp f/2.8 or faster <24mm lens in the bag I am not going to Iceland. That's about as serious as I can be.

Fine, but for most other people an image that looks good on screen or printed at anything up to A3 will be all they'll want.

Remember that landscapes do require some very sharp lenses from corner to corner. Your sample of non-detailed toy right in the centre will tell nothing at all about overall performance but even then it looks a bit soft.

Well, you said it was the worst lens Siggy ever made and clearly it's quite sharp at f1.8. The "bit soft" as you put it is due to it coming via photobucket as I stated. If I gave you 1000 corner to corner sharp images you still pit-pick about something so I'll just look forward to the corner to corner sharp images of the lights you'll one day post and remember that many people are happy with an image that looks good on screen or can be printed at reasonable size. The vast majority of larger sensor cameras and wider aperture lenses will be more than up to the job.

ISO 400 you say? That will either give a pretty uniform green in the sky or require a particularly powerful display. That's a lot more realistic example of what usually shows up http://www.flickr.com/photos/icelandaurora/8007584761/in/photostream

There are several sites giving the same info and showing images containing more than a uniform green sky. Let Google be your friend and you'll see them.

P.s. It also makes a lot of sense to use a video function or some form of timelapse on that 5dIII. I would expect some really dramatic results

You've busted the OP's budget a little there. We've gone from £70 to a 5DIII and a £3k lens. Nice one

 

[sut]

hey guys

i thank you all for your advice and suggestions i have been looking at all the cameras and while doing it a friend has pop round and told me that a friend of his is selling a Canon EOS 500 35mm Film Camera that comes with Canon EF35-80mm, Canon EF80-200mm ll, and a Fujifilm Finepix S3400HD 14.0MP Digital Camera with x28 optical zoom
i just wondered if either of these would be a good cameera for what i need?

thanks

 

[seriousrikk]

I would imagine that S3400HD would do the job if you can get it for a good price.

I would also strongly recommend a tripod of some sort, and learn how to turn the flash off and potentially focus the camera manually.

 

[pete.rush]

hey guys

i thank you all for your advice and suggestions i have been looking at all the cameras and while doing it a friend has pop round and told me that a friend of his is selling a Canon EOS 500 35mm Film Camera that comes with Canon EF35-80mm, Canon EF80-200mm ll, and a Fujifilm Finepix S3400HD 14.0MP Digital Camera with x28 optical zoom
i just wondered if either of these would be a good cameera for what i need?

thanks

That was my 1st 35mm SLR, Sold it and 2 sigma lenses for about £80 several years back, so anywhere between £50-80 with lenses would be a good price, only draw back is film and processing if you want to go down that route, but I enjoyed using it until I moved onto a DSLR.

http://www.mir.SPAM/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/eos/eoscamera/EOS500RebelXSKiss/index.htm

 

[hollis_f]

I would also strongly recommend a tripod of some sort, and learn how to turn the flash off and potentially focus the camera manually.

That's a big plus to all three of those. Especially the flash! When I was in Iceland we went on a coach trip out to Þingvellir. When we stopped and got out there was a lovely display going on. So I got my tripod out, dialled in my pre-determined manual settings and set the first exposure off. Only to have a dozen people standing around me trying to capture the aurora with their P&S cameras - all with the flash going off.

I ended up having to walk around 20m from the coach, through thigh-deep snow to get away from them.

 

[sut]

hollis_f you was lucky m8, the first time i went i was trying to take photos with my p&s camera ( flash off though ) when standing next to me was a family of 5 all with flash lights shinning like they missed blackpool as they was concerned where they was standing.
and i honestly heard the comment from 1 saying its not as bright as i thought it would be,

 

[MDB2]

Another idea would be to lend a bridge camera from a relative or friend? Buy a cheap card, and give it all back when you have finished. Also go on utube or similar to get advice as to settings. This would then save you money. Mike