Flashlight for outdoor night photography

[rayman]

Some days ago I went out with my Nikon D80 and a tripod to take some pictures at midnight. I took all my flashlight with me also to take some outdoor beamshots of them. It was really difficult to adjust the camera with only one hand as the other one was holding the flashlight. The best flashlight at this night was the pure flood MiniMag with Terralux Cree dropin and Ledil LM1-M optic but it was not the best solution as I only had one free hand.

So what are you using when you are taking pictures outdoors at night?

Here one photo I took of the Rhein valley that night ;).

rayman

 

[TONY M]

What sort of range are the subjects you are photographing from where you are?

I have used a Fenix L2D for shooting building exteriors at night. Sometimes you cannot get enought light to highlight a particular area if there is other light scattered around (streetlights etc) which makes things very difficult.

I really think that it very much depends on the situation so be safe and bring a wide range of lights!

BTW Get a D3/D700 for low light.

 

[rayman]

With flashlight for outdoor night photography I meant the flashlight to light the camera when you want to adjust it :) not to light the subject you want to photograph.

rayman

 

[StarHalo]

I use one of my JetBeams when shooting outdoors at night, with the IBS/modes set to 2, ~70, and 225 lumens; the 2 lumen minimum output is great for lighting the camera controls and keeping your night vision, and when you need to move to a different location, you just soft-press over to to the medium output. Anything going bump/making a noise and you've got max output ready to go.

Other respondants are going to say Zerbalight/headlamp :p

 

[HKJ]

With flashlight for outdoor night photography I meant the flashlight to light the camera when you want to adjust it :) not to light the subject you want to photograph.

rayman

Can't you adjust it in darkness?

Anyway I have a P1D in my camera bag, not really for lightning the camera, but if I need to light for something.

 

[rayman]

Can't you adjust it in darkness?

On the D80 you can only light up the display the buttons remain dark. So sometimes you press the wrong button. Changing a lens in darkness without light should also be difficult ;).

rayman

 

[Flying Turtle]

A headlamp would work best. Alternately, a keychain sized light held in your mouth.

Geoff

 

[Andrew Nik]

My favorite light for night photography is Surefire M6:

 

[HKJ]

On the D80 you can only light up the display the buttons remain dark. So sometimes you press the wrong button. Changing a lens in darkness without light should also be difficult ;).
rayman

I do not need to see the buttons on the D300 to change settings and if there is light enough to use the camera I have no problem changing lenses.

But if your really want to use a flashlight for camera adjustments in the dark, get on with a rather low low, that way your will not blow your night vision completely. Liteflux LF3XT is a possibilty.

 

[rayman]

I know that the LF3XT has a very low low but then you only have one free hand again. So I think a Zebralight H60 would be the best because it has also a low of 0.5 lumen and could be used as headlamp.

rayman

 

[bretti_kivi]

changing lenses is extremely difficult. everything else ought to be in your fingers... I'd say a single LED head lamp ought to suffice simply because (at least on my lenses) it's about finding the blob on the lens rather than anything else.

Bret

 

[HKJ]

I know that the LF3XT has a very low low but then you only have one free hand again. So I think a Zebralight H60 would be the best because it has also a low of 0.5 lumen and could be used as headlamp.

rayman

With the H60 you have to be careful with the user interface, it is very easy to turn on at max.

And if it is so dark you need a flashlight, you probably has the camera on a tripod, i.e. you have a hand for holding the flashlight.

 

[Yoda4561]

I've recently taken to using a photon on a keyring around my ring finger. When i do night shots it's usually from my back yard and I just grab it off the desk and go out shooting. If I need to drive to take pictures I'll just put it on a neck lanyard or use the one on my keychain.

 

[43X16]

Gerber Infinity, Fenix E01?

 

[Martin SH]

Zebralight H30... An amazing light, you can use it with the headband or use the supplied clip to attach it to your jacket or trouser waist band. Leaves your hands free and lasts for hours! I have it inside my camera bag all the time now. :cool:

Martin