Settings Breakdown
Night photography requires high ISO to gather enough light. Modern cameras handle ISO 3200-6400 well. On tripod with long exposures, you can use lower ISO.
Wide apertures let in maximum light. Fast lenses (f/1.4, f/1.8) are invaluable for night work. Cityscape on tripod? Stop down to f/8 for sharpness.
Varies dramatically based on setup. Handheld with fast lens: 1/30s. Tripod cityscapes: 10-30s for smooth car light trails. Stars: use 500 rule.
Autofocus struggles in low light. Switch to manual, use Live View zoomed to 10x, and focus on a bright point like a distant light or star.
Auto WB often works well. Tungsten (3200K) corrects orange artificial lighting. For creative night moods, experiment with cooler or warmer presets.
IS/VR helps handheld shooting tremendously. On tripod, disable it — the gyros can actually introduce vibration when camera is already stable.
Pro Tips
Use a Tripod
The single most effective tool for night photography. Enables long exposures at base ISO for maximum quality. Invest in a sturdy one.
Shoot RAW
RAW files preserve more shadow detail and give you flexibility to recover highlights. Essential when dynamic range is challenging.
Expose to the Right
Slightly overexpose (without clipping) then darken in post. Shadows contain more noise than highlights — lifting shadows is worse than darkening.
Use Remote Release
Even pressing the shutter button causes vibration. Use a remote, cable release, or 2-second self-timer to eliminate shake.
Long Exposure NR
Enable Long Exposure Noise Reduction for shots over 1 second. Camera takes a dark frame to subtract hot pixels from your image.
Bring Extra Batteries
Batteries drain faster in cold and during long exposures/Live View. Bring spares and keep them warm in your pocket.