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Hidden Beauty of the Night article for Samyang

Christopher Frost

Photographer from England

 

Hidden Beauty of the Night

 


For many years now, Digital SLR cameras (and more recently, mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras), with their large and highly sensitive image sensors, have opened up opportunities for photography even in the very darkest conditions. A new world of fascination with astrophotography has opened up among camera owners everywhere, and capturing startling images of the night has finally become an affordable pursuit, even for hobbyist and beginner photographers.


 

 

 

 

Samyang 8mm f/2.8 UMC Fisheye II lens, f/2.8, 30 secs, ISO 800, Canon EOS M3 camera


 


A whole invisible world can be discovered for those with a camera, a tripod, the right lens, and a little patience. Your camera can see what the naked eye sometimes cannot, and can capture a moment in time in a different light – a moment in time, frozen in history. In places where light is hidden and dissipated, a camera’s long exposure can reveal every detail that would otherwise remain concealed.



 

 

 

 

Samyang 12mm f/2.8 ED AS NCS Fisheye lens, f/2.8, 1.3 secs, IS 3200, Canon EOS 6D camera

Light pollution from the local seaside town downplays the effect of the stars in this picture, but the shape of the wisps of clouds, and the imposing cliffs, add to the picture

 

 

 

 

 

 

Samyang 10mm f/2.8 ED AS NCS CS lens, f/2.8, 30 secs, ISO 100, Canon EOS M3 camera

Caernarfon Castle, North Wales. Unfortunately it was a cloudy night, but the long exposure of 30 seconds give the clouds a smooth look of movement.

 


It’s not only the night sky that’s waiting to be captured. Cityscapes with impressive landmarks come to life in the night time, leaping out of the dark sky or the black sea to hit the viewer with bright colours, shapes, and lines, which blend in to the background in the daytime. Shooting from a high place of elevation downwards, or even from the ground upwards, can give your images the angle they need to draw the viewer in to the picture.


 

 

 

 

Samyang 12mm f/2 NCS CS lens, f/2, 1/10 sec, ISO 2000, Sony a6300 camera

 

The light and lively coastal town of Izmir, Turkey - shooting from an elevation with a very wide angle lens, for dramatic effect. I would have achieved sharper results with a lower ISO by using a tripod, which unfortunately I didn’t have to hand still, the bright f/2 aperture of this 12mm lens meant that I could shoot handheld, for decent results.



 

 

 

 

 

Samyang 12mm f/2 NCS CS lens, f/2, 1/13 sec, ISO 1600, Sony a6300 camera

Another dramatic angle of the same landmark in Izmir – another handheld picture taken at f/2.

 


If you’re using a lens with a longer focal length of 35mm or longer, and that lens has a bright maximum aperture (e.g. f/2 or brighter), then the city at night time is an ideal place to capture subjects against a beautifully out of focus background. Move your camera around, to ensure that the position of points of light in your backgrounds brings a balanced result to your final picture. Don’t be too consumed with your backgrounds though: make sure that your subject itself is lit the way you want it to be – don’t be afraid to use a soft flash, if you’re taking a picture of a human subject.



 

 

 

 

Samyang 50mm f/1.2 AS UMC CS lens, f/1.2, 1/125 sec, ISO 640, Sony a6000 camera.

The extremely bright aperture of this 50mm lens for mirrorless, APS-C cameras, means that a deeply out of focus background can be achieved, along with a fast enough shutter speed to get a sharp picture, even in the dark.

 


The city offers plenty of opportunity for bright and striking night time images – but astrophotographers are interested in capturing the majesty of the sky at night. For best results in this field of photography, most photographers choose wide-angle or ultra wide-angle lenses (20mm or wider on a full-frame camera, or 13mm or wider on an APS-C camera), which also have bright maximum apertures (f/2, or brighter). A wide angle of view and a bright aperture is a winning combination on a lens chosen for astrophotography – they will give you the field of view needed for a dramatic image, and the light needed to take it in the dark.



 

 

 

 

Samyang 12mm f/2.8 ED AS NCS Fisheye lens, f/2.8, 8 secs, ISO 5000, Canon EOS 6D camera

A picture taken in the middle of the Brecon Beacons, in Wales, UK, on a pitch-black, moonless night. This area of the UK is a special dark-sky designated area, away from civilization and light pollution from nearby towns. On the trees in the foreground, notice a slight blurriness, as they waved in the wind during the 8-second exposure.

 


A picture of only the stars in the night sky will not necessarily read well: it’s often necessary to have some object, shape or place in the foreground to give the viewer a sense of scale to help them appreciate the view they’re receiving. Sometimes the foreground can simply be the outline of a dramatic structure or landscape, or even a person.




 

 

 

Samyang XP 14mm f/2.4 lens, f/2.4, 25 secs, ISO 1600, Canon EOS 6D camera

One of the best lenses I’ve tested for shooting the night sky is the Samyang XP 14mm f/2.4. This is because of its astonishing sharpness in the image corners, combined with relatively low coma levels, which can smear bright points of light in the corners of your image. This is a picture of the ancient Pentre Ifan burial chamber, deep in the Welsh countryside, in the UK.

 



But if you want more than just a silhouette, then bring a small torch with you, with some coloured filters to hold in front of it: briefly ‘brush’ your scene with the light from your torch during your exposure to bring your foreground to life. Experiment for best results – and use your imagination! 

 




 

 

 

Samyang 12mm f/2 NCS CS lens, f/2, 30 secs, ISO 500, Sony a6300 camera

The same burial chamber, ‘painted’ with a little light from a torch from behind the camera during the exposure. It was an LED torch with a slightly blue tint to it, so, to balance the colour, I placed a warm yellow filter in front of it, as I flashed it towards the burial chamber for approx. 1 second during the 30 second exposure.

 

 

 


Be careful when shooting – remember, in the middle of the darkness your image will look almost too bright on your screen, and you can be tricked into taking a picture that turns out to be too dark when you get home and check it. Use you camera’s viewfinder if it has one, or take the picture brighter than you think it needs to be. Also, check the weather forecast in your area: go out on a night with good visibility and, of course, no clouds, and try to go out on a night with a new moon: light from the moon will ruin the contrast of your images of the stars.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Samyang 12mm f/2.8 ED AS NCS Fisheye lens, f/2.8, 6 secs, ISO 5000, Canon EOS 6D camera

It’s best to shoot on a cloudless night, but don’t panic if a few wisps make their way into your picture – they can add character and bring out your foreground. Have patience, and wait for the right moment.

 

 


 

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Samyang’s Guide to Achieving the Optimal Angle of View

The perfect spacing and distance are always necessary when shooting all kinds of subjects, including people, to give them a proper relationship with the beautiful space around them. So, what’s the exact distance that helps you best appreciate a work of art, or a photo?

The correct answer is the diagonal length of the full frame of a subject.

표준화각 자료 이미지
표준화각 자료 이미지

The best standpoint from which to appreciate the full view of a subject is the distance of the diagonal length of the subject frame. This wider angle is superior to standing closer at a 50 degree angle to get a more detailed view. This notion of an ideal distance or view point is also applicable in the world of photography.

For still images, keeping a distance equal to the diagonal length of the full image surface is recommended. The full frame sensor of a digital camera is 36 x 24mm and the diagonal length is 43.26mm so any distance close to this number is nearer to the ideal than the currently accepted industry standard of 50mm.

Back when film cameras were common, 45mm was the industry standard and this continued as reflex cameras needed extra space to fit a mirror. However, as mirrorless cameras become more popular again, there has been a need to return to this industry standard…which is the impetus for the Samyang AF 45mm F1.8 FE. With less distortion than a 35mm lens and wider angles than a 55mm lens, the Samyang AF 45mm F1.8 FE is a perfect lens for portraits, landscapes, architecture photography, and pictures of pets.

What is Preset Aperture Control Function?

On the Preset Aperture Control function, the aperture blade operates smoothly like a "De-clicked lens", which is advantageous for video recording.
Fujifilm cameras are engineered to control the aperture according to the minimum exposure value(F-stop), so when the camera controls the aperture, it blinks momentarily to set the proper exposure.

AF 75mm F1.8 X intentionally disconnects the communication with the camera body and the lens itself on the Preset Aperture Control function, so it is possible to smoothly adjust the exposure without flickering. ISO and shutter speed are adjusted according to the changed exposure by controlling the aperture, so the exposure value can be changed even with the 1/2 F-stop.

What is Preset Aperture Control Function?

On the Preset Aperture Control function, the aperture blade operates smoothly like a "De-clicked lens", which is advantageous for video recording.
Fujifilm cameras are engineered to control the aperture according to the minimum exposure value(F-stop), so when the camera controls the aperture, it blinks momentarily to set the proper exposure.

AF 75mm F1.8 X intentionally disconnects the communication with the camera body and the lens itself on the Preset Aperture Control function, so it is possible to smoothly adjust the exposure without flickering. ISO and shutter speed are adjusted according to the changed exposure by controlling the aperture, so the exposure value can be changed even with the 1/2 F-stop.

What is Recommended Settings for Preset Aperture Control Function?

The Preset Aperture Control function operates only when shooting video(Movie mode) and the focusing mode of the camera is set to AF mode. Please set the aperture at f/1.8 before switching the "Custom Switch" to "Mode 2. It is recommended to set the "Exposure mode" as A mode (Aperture Priority AE) or M mode (Manual Exposure).

* How to use the “Preset Aperture Control” function?

1) Camera Body Setting
      AF Mode → Video Mode ('A' or 'M' mode) → Set the Aperture @F1.8
(2) Lens Setting
      Switch your "Custom Switch” to “Mode 2(M2)"
(3) Now, you're ready to use the Preset Aperture Control function with your focus ring

What is Recommended Settings for Preset Aperture Control Function?

The Preset Aperture Control function operates only when shooting video(Movie mode) and the focusing mode of the camera is set to AF mode. Please set the aperture at f/1.8 before switching the "Custom Switch" to "Mode 2. It is recommended to set the "Exposure mode" as A mode (Aperture Priority AE) or M mode (Manual Exposure).

* How to use the “Preset Aperture Control” function?

1) Camera Body Setting
      AF Mode → Video Mode ('A' or 'M' mode) → Set the Aperture @F1.8
(2) Lens Setting
      Switch your "Custom Switch” to “Mode 2(M2)"
(3) Now, you're ready to use the Preset Aperture Control function with your focus ring

[What is Dolly Shot? How to shoot easily]

[What is Dolly shot?]

A dolly shot, also referred to as a tracking shot or trucking shot, is a camera movement technique used by cinematographers to track and follow a subject in motion. To achieve this, the camera is mounted on a device called a "dolly," which facilitates smooth tracking movement. The dolly can move in front of, behind, or alongside the subject, which can be a person, a location, a product, or any other object of focus in the frame. Through this, you can control the emotional distance between the subject and the viewer by highlighting the audiovisual and dramatic effects.

[How to take a Dolly Shot simply by handheld]

Tip. If the moving distance is long, the camera may shake, so please shoot at a focal length between 35 and 100mm.
1. Stand at a distance of about 1.5 to 2 meters away from the subject.
2. Set the custom switch to MF and Mode 3 and adjust the focal length to about 100mm.
3. After focusing on the subject, set the aperture to F8~16.
4. Slowly turn the zoom ring to the left (towards the wide-angle end) while using your upper body and arms to move the camera toward your subject.
5. Dolly Shot complete!
※ When shooting from a farther distance from the subject, use a cart or gimbal for more stable shooting.

DSLR / Full Frame
1D X Mark Ⅱ
1D X
1Ds Mark Ⅲ
1Ds
5DsR
5Ds
5D Mark Ⅳ
5D Mark Ⅲ
6D Mark Ⅱ
6D
DSLR / APS-H
1D Mark Ⅲ
1D
Mirrorless / APS-C
M6
M5
M10
M3
M2
DSLR / APS-S
7D Mark Ⅱ
7D
80D
70D
60D
30D
D60
D30
77D (9000D)
760D (8000D / Rebel T6s)
1300D (Kiss X80 / Rebel T6)
1200D (Kiss X70 / Rebel T5)
200D (Kiss X9 / Rebel SL2)
800D (Kiss X9i / Rebel T7i)
700D (Kiss X9i / Rebel T7i)
100D (Kiss X7 / Rebel SL1)
650D (Kiss X6i / Rebel T4i)
600D (Kiss X5 / Rebel T3i)
550D (Kiss X4 / Rebel T2i)
500D (Kiss X3 / Rebel T1i)
1000D (Kiss F / Rebel XS)
450D (Kiss X2 / Rebel X냐)
DSLR / Full Frame
D850
D5
D810A
D4S
D810
D750
Df
D610
D4
D800
D800E
D600
D3s
D3x
D700
D3
DSLR / APS-C
D7500
D3400
D500
D5600
D7200
D5500
D3300
D7100
D5300
D5200
D7000
D300s
D300
DSLR / Full Frame
Z6
Z7
D810A
D4S
D750
D810A
DSLR / APS-C
D7200
D500
D3300
D5500
D5600
D3400
D7500

* Cameras released within 5 years from 2019 are tested.

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