Best settings for Las Vegas

ChiveonYC · Nov 13, 2014

So I am about to take my first trip to Las Vegas and have no idea what the best settings are for shooting the various things that can be shot. I am using a Nikon D3100 with the 18-55 and 55-200 kit lenses. To be honest, other than the lights at night and Hoover Dam, I don't know what to shoot.

Looking for ideas

Thanks!

Chris

Rick50 · Nov 13, 2014

I like wandering around downtown on Freemont Street and out on the strip. Last time I was there I pretty much used my Sigma 35mm, 1.4 all the time. I put the camera in Tv (shutter) mode and set it to 1/80 or so. Then I set my ISO to Auto and that is all.
This is out on the strip towards the airport.

Fremont Street - a few blocks long but fun stuff.

Strip - just park and walk.

ChiveonYC · Nov 13, 2014

Those are great! Thanks for the info. I will not be buying a new lens before the trip but i think I will be ok with the 18-55.

sashbar · Nov 14, 2014

I was busy playing poker at Bellagio, so never ventured beyond the Strip. :048:

But there is a lot of photo opportunities there. I had only one lense (16-85) and regretted I did not take something like 10-24. That would be useful in Vegas.

ChiveonYC · Nov 14, 2014

WOW! Those are great too. I hope to get some decent shots to share.

Jay Vee · Nov 14, 2014

Plenty of photo opportunities outside and in the casinos. Just be a little mindful of what you shoot when on the casino floors.

Your 18-55 should be good for most situations outside with good lighting but a fast prime would really help when you go inside. An ultra wide would be nice to have if you're visiting the GC too.

If you don't want to buy have you considered renting one or two for the trip?

ChiveonYC · Nov 14, 2014

I will check into that. Didn't even cross my mind. Thanks!!

greybeard · Nov 15, 2014

Shoot what looks good to you. They are your pictures. Who do you have to please other than yourself?

Braineack · Nov 15, 2014

Rick50 said:
I like wandering around downtown on Freemont Street and out on the strip. Last time I was there I pretty much used my Sigma 35mm, 1.4 all the time. I put the camera in Tv (shutter) mode and set it to 1/80 or so. Then I set my ISO to Auto and that is all.
This is out on the strip towards the airport.

Fremont Street - a few blocks long but fun stuff.

this first shot is ISO 100 , 1/100 sec, and f/20

why would you shoot with such a slow shutter speed in such bright light?

sashbar · Nov 15, 2014

Close shots of playing tables are not allowed in Vegas casinos. This kind of shot is not allowed either :spank:

. the reason is - you are shooting a particulas playing table. The staff may get a bit nevrous.

But you can shoot the room. Depending on your equipment you can be approached and asked what the photos are for. Just say you are a tourist. But generally they are friendly.

bribrius · Nov 15, 2014

lol... I lived there for a while when younger (aunts uncles business there). And people get them cheesey tourists tapes of vegas. So when I lived there I was out to make a different type of video. Closer to a tourist video mockery.
I took video, Velcro the camera to the dash of my truck out there driving around at night, walking around with camera. Even went looking for hookers out side of the city limits (no hooking in clark county allowed). Taping me sitting on hoover dam drinking a beer. Out in red rock canyon in the middle of the night or just out in the desert with huge sarcasm. walked around some of the less touristy areas (lived right off bonanza though in n.vegas). Made my own video to send to people most of it OFF the strip. Careful taping in strip clubs though they don't like that chit. It was my ANTI tourist video. still have it around here somewhere but it is on tape I never converted it. I heard vegas cleaned up a lot since then and is more family oriented and less trashy but I am betting there is still a underbelly there. Go film the projects or look for the gangbangers.

Rick50 · Nov 15, 2014

Braineack said:
Rick50 said:

I like wandering around downtown on Freemont Street and out on the strip. Last time I was there I pretty much used my Sigma 35mm, 1.4 all the time. I put the camera in Tv (shutter) mode and set it to 1/80 or so. Then I set my ISO to Auto and that is all.
This is out on the strip towards the airport.

Fremont Street - a few blocks long but fun stuff.

Click to expand...

this first shot is ISO 100 , 1/100 sec, and f/20

why would you shoot with such a slow shutter speed in such bright light?

No reason, I most likely had the camera in Tv mode and left it at 1/100. In this scene it would have been better to use Av and F/8 or F/11 but that's hind sight now.

Braineack · Nov 15, 2014

damn hind sight.

bribrius · Nov 15, 2014

thinking of the settings question in this, there is no answer to that. The settings are going to change so drastically from one light to another there is not actual settings. I don't even know how to answer that there isn't one they change. I don't know if I even comprehend the question? Depends what, where, and the effect you want? I would think? You could just put it in auto no flash so you aren't distracting and making yourself obvious. Then switch over to another mode when needed. what a strange question. "what settings do I need to shoot a city?" ummmmmmmmm. I wouldn't be afraid to use the scenic modes either. imagine first time you will be taking thousands of photos or at least a thousand. That is a lot of time messing with camera settings you wont have much fun constantly playing with settings.