topic Re: Night time photography using P mode in Share Your Photos

Night time photography using P mode

Ramsden — Thu, 28 May 2026 21:48:51 GMT

EOS90D with my kit len EFS 18-135 mm.

With the current heatwave in the UK I've been taking my camera (and dog) out at dusk. Following some recent discussion on Straight Out Of Camera, I've been trying out the P mode. I'm quite impressed with tonights shots, hand held and dog on a lead. I'm also surprised/impressed by how much the camera does. I could not have worked out the settings for using M. My only self assessment/criticism of these photos is that they don't reflect the dying light and dusky atmosphere. They are too light.

Feedback always welcome

Ramsden

Re: Night time photography using P mode

LeeP — Fri, 29 May 2026 03:26:36 GMT

Maybe let dusk get a little duskier and it will darken down.

Re: Night time photography using P mode

Ramsden — Fri, 29 May 2026 05:32:29 GMT

Thanks Lee.

Its a tough 'gig' being a photographer this time of year, as I'm awake all ready trying to catch the dawn chorus!

Ramsden

Re: Night time photography using P mode

LeeP — Fri, 29 May 2026 12:26:06 GMT

I'm an early bird as well. If it's 5 AM I'm definitely up. It comes from my years being a teacher and needing to drive 20 miles to get there. Gotta have time to wake up, have coffee, get there an hour early to prep because I'm always teaching an overload schedule (6 classes rather than the full-time 5). I retire Monday after 42 years. The dogs wake up at 5 with uncanny accuracy. In retirement I plan to get out and do more morning work which is safer being alone than night work here in Bakersfield. At 65, walking around downtown Bakersfield alone at night is unwise and I only do it when I have my buddy Rafael along who's 40, fit, and looks like you don't want to cross him. LOL

Re: Night time photography using P mode

Ramsden — Fri, 29 May 2026 14:11:46 GMT

Thats fantastic.

Happy and long retirement Lee.

After all those years and hours, you certainly deserve it.

I totally agree about the early hours, best time of the day. And where I Iive, the boy racers make the local roads pretty noisy and unsafe at night.

Lets hope we can keep sharing our antisocial hours photography for years to come!

Ramsden

Re: Night time photography using P mode

jrhoffman75 — Fri, 29 May 2026 14:33:12 GMT

In Program mode the camera will always try to get a proper exposure. If you want to bias the exposure you would need to dial in negative exposure compensation.

If you wanted to use M mode you could have selected a shutter speed fast enough to prevent motion blur (usually twice the reciprocal of the lens focal length - 1/100 for a 50mm lens for example; if your lens has Image Stabilization you could be slower). Select an aperture for suitable depth of field - f/5.6 or f/8 would be safe. Select ISO to adjust the exposure meter - if you are looking for a darker image set one or two steps below centered and try some test shots.

Another approach is to set P, see what settings the camera selected and then dial them into M mode settings. Adjust as desired to achieve exposure effect you want.

Re: Night time photography using P mode

Ramsden — Fri, 29 May 2026 15:50:47 GMT

Thanks John

I'll give that a go tonight or tomorrow, depending on the weather. When I bought the EOS90D I invested heavily in books and manuals, which nearly all train/advise you to use the exposure triangle, M and Raw. Which I've done, most of the time, with reasonable, but mixed results.

If it was film, I'd be more careful!

The P and A modes on the camera are so reliable, which I haven't used much till now. But there is something intrinsically rewarding about using M, which I find appealing which I intend to do.

My lesson from our recent chats is to chill out a bit more and use all the great features that this camera has to offer.

I read that this is an entry level camera, well, and it will serve my needs very well in deed.

So tonight's plan, set off later, check out P settings and then manipulate my M to show those gritty cliffs as spooky as they felt last night. They are full of history and our llnk to the industrial revolution in the 19th century and were blasted out to make an access for small coal mines half a mile away.

Thanks again for your help and understanding.

Ramsden

Re: Night time photography using P mode

jrhoffman75 — Fri, 29 May 2026 19:30:48 GMT

I wouldn't consider the 90D an entry level camera; it is really one step below pro-level as a crop sensor camera DSLR.

Prior to the release of the 90D Canon had the 80D and the 7D Mark II. The 80D was an "enthusiast camera" and the 7D MkII was the choice crop sensor wildlife camera - excellent autofocus and high megapixel sensor.

Folks were hoping for a 7D MkIII because of the crop-sensor "reach" but that was the time of the transition to mirrorless.

So the 90D combined the 80D and the 7D MkII features. It is a fully capable high level camera when desired, but can switch to P or even A+ when desired.

Facebook hype leads folks to believe that they aren't a true photographer is they don't use Manual mode. Then there are scads of posts in the beginner forums with folks that can't get properly exposed images. M mode is appropriate if there is a need to simultaneously set aperture and shutter speed. One can select manual ISO or Auto ISO. Some folks claim Auto ISO isn't true manual (which is technically true) but if you can't control lighting conditions with supplemental lighting dialing manual ISO to center the needle will give the same result as Auto ISO - that is the end desire.

Re: Night time photography using P mode

stevet1 — Sat, 30 May 2026 04:22:56 GMT

Ramsden,

For a long time I used the Manual Mode, but I found that I was spending too much time fiddling with the settings. I'd pick an aperture I wanted to use, and adjust the shutter speed to zero out the meter, and just about the time when I had things right, I'd breathe or shift position even slightly, and the exposure would go wonky, and I'd have to start all over.

Or the light would change (clouds overhead, etc), and I'd be back to square one.

I found that the best use of Manual is If I was using a tripod and the light was constant.

I switched over to Aperture Priority and let the camera set the shutter speed. It can react to changes far faster than I can. You do have to keep half an eye out on your shutter speed though. In low light situations, if the shutter speed drops too low, you run the risk of blurry photos or camera shake.

In that case, you can open your aperture a little to let more light in.

I'm using Auto ISO and the camera adjusts the shutter speed and the ISO. I'm pretty confident in today's cameras handling ISO better than the old days.

I can use Live View, and if the exposure is too light or too dark, I can use Exposure Compensation to lightning it up or darken it to my liking.

I find I am enjoying the act of taking pictures a whole lot more these days.

Steve Thomas

Re: Night time photography using P mode

Ramsden — Sat, 30 May 2026 08:33:26 GMT

Morning folks

Its a beautiful day here in the North of England. Thanks for your messages and encouraging support. I'm particularly encouraged about the EOS90D being an enthusiasts camera, as that cap fits me well. Goodness knows what my neighbours think as I wander off with my camera and dog firmly attached, in the evening. But I doubt they call me an enthusiast!

I have a slightly personal motivation in sticking with M, AV or TV in that I want to keep my brain working as I get older. And I really enjoy the process, though I accept that when light changes etc, it can be very frustrating.

But an interesting bit of information in my recent P mode photography, is how much the EOS90D changed the settings in just a few minutes. So it clearly is working hard and reading the environment. However, the picture of the rocks was ISO 25600. That seems a bit high to my untrained eyes.

I guess some folks would suggest to spend more time on the composition. Well, I do try, and it's all part of the fun.

Today is cricket, so lots of green grass, blue skies, men in whites and a red ball. Watch this space.

Thanks as ever

Ramsden