How do you get a good picture of Christmas Lights at night with a digital camera?


You need a tripod to do it right. You can get one at any camera shop or at several places on the internet, although a local shop would be the fastest. If you have a point and shoot (small) camera, you don’t need a very fancy tripod, so you can get one for $30 or so.

If you can control the ISO, set it at 400. If not, choose the "night scene" option on your mode dial, or whatever is similar.

In addition to that – and this is very important – use the delayed shutter release feature. The icon for this looks like a picture of a watch or a clock. You will push the button and then you wait 2 to 10 seconds (depending on your camera and how you set it) before the actual picture is taken. This way, there will not be any blur from your hand shaking the camera and you won’t have to actually hold down the button during the exposure. Just push the button and let go and wait for the picture to be taken.

Personally, I recommend taking Christmas light photos without the flash, because otherwise, it will just look like an ordinary house in your picture.

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6 Responses to How do you get a good picture of Christmas Lights at night with a digital camera?

  1. spacemann_spiffff says:

    What kind of camera? Put the camera on a flat surface (or a tripod) and set the shutter speed and ISO to low. That should give u a nice shot.
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  2. Starry Eyes says:

    turn the setting to the night time one WITH a flash. there are 2 night time ones on my camera. just mess around with the different settings and voila!:) good luck
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  3. attila says:

    use a tripod, and put the flash off. In auto mode the camera will adjust the apperture time and give you decent results. If you have a night mode in the camera then use that, but remember that in night snap shot the flash will come on and spoil the effect of lighting ont he tree so put the flash off. A pic taken on the tripod will be much better.
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  4. kitty says:

    Aim and click!!!
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  5. John M says:

    You can do it hand held, set ISO at 400 and use normal program mode. hold the camera steady. If you have trouble holding the camera steady, use a mono pod, tripod, or set the camera on something solid like a car or wall.
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  6. Dr. Sam says:

    You need a tripod to do it right. You can get one at any camera shop or at several places on the internet, although a local shop would be the fastest. If you have a point and shoot (small) camera, you don’t need a very fancy tripod, so you can get one for $30 or so.

    If you can control the ISO, set it at 400. If not, choose the "night scene" option on your mode dial, or whatever is similar.

    In addition to that – and this is very important – use the delayed shutter release feature. The icon for this looks like a picture of a watch or a clock. You will push the button and then you wait 2 to 10 seconds (depending on your camera and how you set it) before the actual picture is taken. This way, there will not be any blur from your hand shaking the camera and you won’t have to actually hold down the button during the exposure. Just push the button and let go and wait for the picture to be taken.

    Personally, I recommend taking Christmas light photos without the flash, because otherwise, it will just look like an ordinary house in your picture.
    References :