Camera Help

I have this: http://www.berger-bros.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=PRO3290&Category_Code=Kodak-D&Store_Code=BBCVD

It's a very good camera with really nice pictures... as far as daytime, motion, and fireworks.

I can not get it to work at night. If I took a picture of TTD at night, as the coaster was lighted up, on the "auto" setting...it comes out pitch black.

On the night setting, everything lightens up and looks like it's from the earlier.

So.. at night, it kinda sucks till I figure it out..

Problem #1. It is a Kodak ;)

Problem #2...well, okay, the problem is still that its a Kodak (no, I'm not a fan of Kodak cameras if you couldn't tell).

In all honesty though, see if the night mode will allow you to change settings like contrast ratio, brightness, etc...

I don't know a whole lot about Kodaks, but if I had a little more information, I may be able to help you figure out what you need to mess with settings-wise that the camera will let you change.

The camera has a full manual mode. Use it.

You'll never take any night shot with an auto setting.

I beg to differ. I've taken several night shots with my auto setting, and most of them turn out fine depending on the subject of the picture. I believe all of the pictures I have of various fireworks were taken with my auto setting. If I had them uploaded somewhere I'd show them to you. If you have the right camera (and mine isn't a fancy DSLR), and the subject is properly lit, auto will work.

But it doesn't sound like your auto setting is very good for most nighttime situations, so yeah, use your night mode or manual mode.

**Here are most of my fireworks pictures, which, if memory serves, were taken in auto.**

http://web.mac.com/maxairmike/Maverick_Photography_%26_Design/Galleries/Pages/fireworks.html *** Edited 10/18/2007 3:11:52 AM UTC by BlueStreak64***

It's been my experience that in auto-mode, the camera is usually utilizing an adjusted ISO setting. Shooting in night mode is more likely to actually extend the exposure, and using a tripod will help you to create the crisp clear shots you're looking for. This is my guess of what will help you the most; you haven't provided a lot of information. Perhaps you can post a picture that has been less than what you were looking for and we may be able to help you more.

most auto modes will find one object, focus on it (usually a green box) and adjust the settings accordingly. So if its picking out something in the background (or at least not what you are trying to take a picture of) its not going to adjust the settings to view the person/coaster in front of you. OR its not able to pick out what you are taking a picture of and it just takes a black picture. When I used to sell cameras I would reccomend kodaks for entry level people (and alot of them would come back with the black pictures), other than that they arent the greatest in terms of features and self adjustment. If you want a quality camera get a digital SLR. Also as DBCP said use a tripod and increase exposure.