dusk/night time photos - tripod question

I've been having issues taking photos at dusk or night time. The exposure is

fine but the pictures are blurry. The darker it is, the blurrier the picture. I

think it might be because I'm using a mini tripod instead of a proper one, but

I'm not sure. I was using that one because I was on holidays or else it was more

convenient. Does anyone else have problems with the small tripods? Are there any

that are better than others? The one I use has flexible legs.

I haven't used a mini tripod but if it can't keep your camera still then stationary objects will get blurred during long exposures. Flexible legs sounds like the exact opposite of what one looks for in a tripod. Try placing the camera on a table top or fireplace mantel and take a couple of pictures. Take one picture on the tripod and one with the camera sitting directly on the table and see if it makes a difference.

Do you mean telescoping legs? I'm trying to imagine what flexible legs on a tripod would be like -- presumably like a screen door on a submarine.

 

I would go buy something approaching a normal tripod, or if you're really on a budget, try a beanbag (which you can make with a couple of pieces of cloth and a sewing machine and fill with beans) or if you're not operating far from home, even a plastic bag of beans might work. Keep your hands off the camera when you click the shutter (use a cable release)

I've seen some tabletop tripods that have wire-flex (think Gumby) type legs. Is that what you mean?

Sturdy tripod, cable release and mirror lock-up are needed to get sharp images during long exposures. I have seen the type of flexible leg tripods I believe you are referring to but having never used one I cannot comment on there effectiveness. The individual legs are bendable like heavy gauge wire.

 

Brett offers a good suggestion. Place the camera somewhere firm where you know motion is not the issue and compare with the shots you have previously taken. A little experimentation will tell you the reason for your blurry images.

The one I have is like this: http://images.aandhmarketing.com/pics/topbrand/hqafmt.jpg

 

I do use a shutter release cable on the longer exposures. I'll try using it somewhere steady and see how it goes.

 

Thanks.

I was also going to suggest remote release. I took some photos on a tripod of an amazing bright orange lunar eclipse in Boston and when I finally got to sorting through the photos on my computer there were two overlapping moons in each shot! sigh...

Are you using autofocus? I have much better luck with manual focus. A good study tripod and either a remote or using the timer are also helpful, as mentioned above

 

John

I have a manual focus, but I don't that the photos are out of focus, because it's only on the night time ones. I think I'll get a better tripod.