Digital Photography in Available Light

digital cameras

Say goodbye to noise - with the impressive EOS 5D

Whilst image stabilization defers the need to raise the ISO in the prosumer cameras - Konica Minolta A2

Image stabilization
Many prosumer cameras now offer some form of ‘image stabilization’ or ‘anti-shake’ technology.
This allows hand-held shots in low light or at the limit of telephoto extension, up to 420mm in
some models where you would normally use a combination of high ISO, fast shutter speed and
wide aperture. Others such as FujiFilm offer an anti-blur scene mode instead with similar settings
to a sports mode but with increased ISO. Image stabilization is not unique to prosumer digicams

• professional DSLRs also feature this technology and while Konica Minolta build ‘Anti-Shake’
  into the camera body, Canon’s IS system (image stabilization) and Nikon’s VR system (vibration
  reduction) are designed into their pro-grade lenses. If you intend to use a camera for classic
  telephoto purposes such as wildlife or sports, this may be important to you. It is also useful for
  hand-held portrait shots in available light. However it is worth remembering that image stabilization
  may only remove the shake in your own hands and if the subject is not absolutely motionless, then
  shooting at 200mm and 1/125 second may still result in motion blur.

Alternatives to image stabilization
To retain maximum quality when using a prosumer digicam it is still important to keep the ISO low
and when the shutter speed slows to a point where movement blur rears its ugly head, mount the
camera on a tripod rather than raise the ISO. When the subject moves in low levels of light the
DSLR owner has a distinct advantage - the ability to increase the ISO and yet retain acceptable
quality. This is especially noticeable in DSLR cameras such as the canon EOS 5D, EOS 1Ds
Mark II, but price puts these professional cameras out of reach of most enthusiasts. The DSLR
ISO advantage might be lost if the DSLR owner then uses a lens with a maximum aperture that is
less than impressive, e.g. f4 or f5.6. The consumer who chooses to buy a DSLR over a prosumer
digicam must factor in a lens with a respectable maximum aperture when comparing prices. If
a digicam owner is using a maximum aperture or f2.8 and a DSLR owner is using a lens with a
maximum aperture of f4 then the playing fi eld called ‘noise’ may be levelled.