Help with shooting in low light

[Alpha500]

So I was testing the setting on my camera whilst shooting in low light and a pumpkin I carved for my kids was a great subject. I just wanted some C&C. The main problem I have is the grain in the dark spots of the pictures, I can't seem to get rid of it.

All the images are S.O.O.C excluding cropping and watermarking.

Pumpkin #1

​

EXIF:
Make: SONY (http://www.sony.com)
Camera: DSLR-A500
Lens: Unknown (Lens Id: 55)
Software: DSLR-A500 v1.00
Dimension: 3104 x 2072 px (6.4 MP, 3:2)
Focal length: 40 mm (equiv. 84 mm)
Aperture: F5.6
Exposure time: 1/40" (-2 EV)
ISO speed rating: 1600/33°
Program: Normal program
Metering Mode: Pattern
White Balance: Auto
Image Stabilizer: On
Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode

Pumpkin #2

​

EXIF:
Make: SONY (http://www.sony.com)
Camera: DSLR-A500
Lens: Unknown (Lens Id: 55)
Software: DSLR-A500 v1.00
Dimension: 4272 x 2848 px (12.2 MP, 3:2)
Focal length: 40 mm (equiv. 60 mm)
Aperture: F5.6
Exposure time: 1/20" (-2 EV)
ISO speed rating: 1600/33°
Program: Normal program
Metering Mode: Spot
White Balance: Auto
Image Stabilizer: On
Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode

Pumpkin #3

​

EXIF:
Make: SONY (http://www.sony.com)
Camera: DSLR-A500
Lens: Unknown (Lens Id: 55)
Software: DSLR-A500 v1.00
Dimension: 4272 x 2848 px (12.2 MP, 3:2)
Focal length: 40 mm (equiv. 60 mm)
Aperture: F5.6
Exposure time: 1/10" (-2 EV)
ISO speed rating: 1600/33°
Program: Normal program
Metering Mode: Spot
White Balance: Auto
Image Stabilizer: On
Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode

Pumpkin #4

​

EXIF:
Make: SONY (http://www.sony.com)
Camera: DSLR-A500
Lens: Unknown (Lens Id: 55)
Software: DSLR-A500 v1.00
Dimension: 4272 x 2848 px (12.2 MP, 3:2)
Focal length: 40 mm (equiv. 60 mm)
Aperture: F32
Exposure time: 4" (-2 EV)
ISO speed rating: 1600/33°
Program: Aperture priority
Metering Mode: Spot
White Balance: Auto
Image Stabilizer: On
Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode

Pumpkin #5

​

EXIF:
Make: SONY (http://www.sony.com)
Camera: DSLR-A500
Lens: Unknown (Lens Id: 55)
Software: DSLR-A500 v1.00
Dimension: 4272 x 2848 px (12.2 MP, 3:2)
Focal length: 55 mm (equiv. 82 mm)
Aperture: F5.6
Exposure time: 1/8" (-2 EV)
ISO speed rating: 1600/33°
Program: Normal program
Metering Mode: Spot
White Balance: Color temperature/Color filter
Image Stabilizer: On
Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode

My wifes sister came to visit last night and she brought her Chocolate Brow Labrador with her, so I grabbed the opportunity to take some more low light pics, but as you can see I'm still having a problem with grain in the dark spots of the pictures.

Barney #1

​

EXIF:
Make: SONY (http://www.sony.com)
Camera: DSLR-A500
Lens: Unknown (Lens Id: 55)
Software: DSLR-A500 v1.00
Dimension: 4272 x 2848 px (12.2 MP, 3:2)
Focal length: 35 mm (equiv. 52 mm)
Aperture: F5
Exposure time: 1/4"
ISO speed rating: 1600/33°
Program: Normal program
Metering Mode: Pattern
White Balance: Auto
Image Stabilizer: On
Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode

Barney #2

​

EXIF:
Make: SONY (http://www.sony.com)
Camera: DSLR-A500
Lens: Unknown (Lens Id: 55)
Software: DSLR-A500 v1.00
Dimension: 4272 x 2848 px (12.2 MP, 3:2)
Focal length: 55 mm (equiv. 82 mm)
Aperture: F5.6
Exposure time: 1/20" (-2 EV)
ISO speed rating: 3200/36°
Program: Normal program
Metering Mode: Pattern
White Balance: Daylight
Image Stabilizer: On
Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode

Barney #3

​

EXIF:
Make: SONY (http://www.sony.com)
Camera: DSLR-A500
Lens: Unknown (Lens Id: 55)
Software: DSLR-A500 v1.00
Dimension: 4272 x 2848 px (12.2 MP, 3:2)
Focal length: 50 mm (equiv. 75 mm)
Aperture: F5.6
Exposure time: 1/20" (-2 EV)
ISO speed rating: 3200/36°
Program: Normal program
Metering Mode: Pattern
White Balance: Daylight
Image Stabilizer: On
Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode

Barney #4

​

EXIF:
Make: SONY (http://www.sony.com)
Camera: DSLR-A500
Lens: Unknown (Lens Id: 55)
Software: DSLR-A500 v1.00
Dimension: 4272 x 2848 px (12.2 MP, 3:2)
Focal length: 18 mm (equiv. 27 mm)
Aperture: F3.5
Exposure time: 1/8"
ISO speed rating: 1600/33°
Program: Normal program
Metering Mode: Pattern
White Balance: Auto
Image Stabilizer: On
Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode

Barney #5

​

EXIF:
Make: SONY (http://www.sony.com)
Camera: DSLR-A500
Lens: Unknown (Lens Id: 55)
Software: DSLR-A500 v1.00
Dimension: 4272 x 2848 px (12.2 MP, 3:2)
Focal length: 18 mm (equiv. 27 mm)
Aperture: F4.5
Exposure time: 1/40" (-2 EV)
ISO speed rating: 3200/36°
Program: Normal program
Metering Mode: Pattern
White Balance: Daylight
Image Stabilizer: On
Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode

 

[Krazy]

are you using a tripod? just wondering since holding the camera during a long exposure will always shake and give you problems.
never get close to a subject while taking a long exposure picture.

What i do is use my telephoto or just the normal one that came with the camera and stand back at least no closer then 3 feet from the subject. Make sure you re using a twilight function of your M setting. The grain look in the black is from little specs of light that are bouncing for other areas around your subject...

I hope some of this made since... I'm not a professional, I just think I know what I'm talking about at times...

 

[MTVision]

The grain is from high iso and being underexposed. What was your shutter speed - I didn't see it in the EXIF data

 

[MLeeK]

They are all very soft. I am also wondering what hte shutter speed was. And what is that "Flash 16"?

 

[sashamoon]

*The grain in part is due to the ISO you have dialled in. The lower the ISO, the less 'noisy' an image will appear.
*The noise in underexposed areas specifically is due to your camera not being able to capture the detail in the shadows. This is down to the dynamic range your camera can achieve (the detail of the 'highest highlights' and the 'darkest shadows' it is capable of capturing.)
*Turn the contrast on your camera right down. Contrast is destructive to the detail in the image. Your better off upping the contrast in post by adjusting the levels in Photoshop.
*Try changing the format you shoot in to RAW instead of jpeg. RAW captures the raw data which your camera 'sees' when you take a photograph. If you shoot in RAW you can adjust the exposure in post, without damaging the detail in the image. You may need Lightroom to handle the RAW files from your camera.
*Zooming in, allows less light to come into your camera.

Good luck! Typing only from my own experience.
Sasha
-x-

 

[Alpha500]

Sorry, I'm still a bit of a noob...

I've updated the EXIF data.

The Pumpkins were taken on the tripod but the dog pics were taken free hand, it wasn't really the right situation to pull out the old tripod. these pictures are soft but that's how I wanted them. I'm really happy with them other than the grain, if I could get rid of that then, I would have the desired effect.

 

[MLeeK]

If you underexpose you will always have a grain/noise issue at any ISO. If you expose properly or just slightly over it will help immensely with your noise issues.

 

[Alpha500]

Back to the drawing board then, I'm still learning how to use my camera, so thanks for the comments.