Digital Stage Lighting Images out of focus when taking pictures in dark with my digital camera.?
I have a 7X optical zoom 7 MP digital camera that works very well for my usual use. Recently I wanted to take pictures of a small theatre in Seattle for my personal web page design work. The overhead stage lights were on, but I later realized the stage photos taken from the back seat location did not have sharp images. It simply didn't have the focus I wanted. I am using AUTO mode from my camera.
Could you tell me what I can do to get sharp images of the theatre stage in a relatively dark condition? Thanks a lot.
most point and shoot digi cams use a very low aperture around 4.5-5.6. low apertures allow for images to be taken in rather low light but they also have a very low depth of field. DOF is the range in which things are in focus at a particular focal length.
this is getting very technical but basically your camera can probably only focus to about 12 feet from where you're standing. auto focus only adds to the problem.
if you're light quality is ok (not too dark) then the only solution is to get closer.
Converging Technologies - Digital Lighting, Video and LED (Excerpt)
Why a Digital Ballast is Superior to a Magnetic Ballast
High Intensity Discharge lights work wonderfully in hydroponic applications. Not only do HID lamps produce light that mimics sunlight more closely than light produced by other light bulbs, but it does so using less energy and in a manner that extends the life of the grow lamps. Any type of HID light that you choose to use for hydroponic gardening will require a lamp ballast. There are three basic types of ballasts available for lamps used in a hydroponic garden: magnetic, electronic, and digital ballasts. Digital ballasts are superior to magnetic ballasts for several reasons.
A magnetic ballast is needed to control the electrical current that flows through the HID lamp. The ballast both ignites the light and keeps it lit. If electrical current was to flow into the light bulb at full voltage, the bulb would burst, so the controlling factor offered by the ballast is necessary for the correct function of any HID light. A magnetic ballast consists of one or more aluminum or copper coils that sit on a core that is made up of steel laminations. The coils and core work in conjunction with a capacitor, and sometimes an igniter. These four parts are most often built into the ballast casing.
A digital ballast offers the same electricity control as does the magnetic ballast, but with the digital model the current conforms to optimal levels of performance for each specific type and wattage of lamp, possible through digital circuitry. Magnetic ballasts weigh more than do digital ones, a consideration in a greenhouse setting, and they also run hotter than digital units. Because of the more consistent application of electrical current, the lamps last longer and function at a higher level using less power with a digital ballast than they might with a magnetic ballast. With a digital ballast, the light produced is more consistent. Magnetic ballasts, especially as they age, become more noisy when they operate, cause the HID lamps to flicker and also contribute to irregularities in the color that the lamp gives off. The digital units can also sense when the lamp is almost used up, and can shut the unit off when it is not functioning optimally.
The specific type of ballast you will need will depend on the HID lamps wattage and type you use. There are four types of HID lights, which consist of metal halide, high pressure as well as low pressure sodium, and mercury vapor. Each one offers advantages regarding efficiency, lamp longevity, color stability and brightness that you will want to take into consideration depending on how you will use the lamp with your plants. The stage of life of your plants will factor into which lamp will best meet your plants' needs.
About the Author
Susan Slobac discusses how to maintain your hydroponic propagation equipment and improve hydroponic gardening techniques while saving you money. The hydroponic grow lights used with Hydroponic Systems can affect the cost of producing fruits and vegetables in an indoor garden, Susan shows you how to get the most out your equipment.
