Sony DSC H2 Shooting queries

Hi folks, greetings from Ireland!

Just got the above camera for the oul birthday and Im very impressed with it so far. Maybe someone who has the camera our even someone with more experience with me might be able to help out on these queries.

http://i4.tinypic.com/10gi829.jpg

With the above pic, Im having a problem with the lights, there giving off a star shape. Would I be correct in saying I need a higher f value. Its at 8 in the pic, ISO 80! Exposure of 3 seconds.

http://i4.tinypic.com/10gi9o6.jpg
Something Im a big fan of is the whole slow motion style water fall pics. Im having no luck trying to get this right. Recently at a trip to the beach, I tried and failed. Exposure time of varying degrees, from 1 second to 15 seconds only resulted in a pure white picture and nothing else. On the pic above I managed it, just. I took it at 130 am in the morning. Exposure of 15 seconds, F8, ISO 80.

I want to be able to take these pics during the day and again correct me If Im wrong, I will need a bigger F value, something like 11 or 12 or more???
If so, how can I achieve this on the H2, the f only goes to 8. Can I get a lenses for it to help, or will my slow motion photography only take place in the middle of the night :)

Appreciate any comments or suggestions! Thanks!!!

Try using Neutral Density filters and possibly a polarizer (depending on the photo) as well to stop some of the light. At F8 this will allow you to increase the time the shutter is open.

Roger

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by readingr

Try using Neutral Density filters and possibly a polarizer (depending on the photo) as well to stop some of the light. At F8 this will allow you to increase the time the shutter is open.

Roger

---

Thanks Roger, would a filter really make that much of a difference?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by vicbarry

Thanks Roger, would a filter really make that much of a difference?

---

vibarry-
Neutral density filters cut the amount of light allowed to make it to the film or sensor, thereby allowing you to use slower shutter speeds. A polarizer will do the same thing. And since a polarizer is a good accessory to have anyway, that's a good place to start. Polarizers will generally decrease the amount of light by about 2 to 2.5 stops.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by vicbarry

Thanks Roger, would a filter really make that much of a difference?

---

The ND filters come in 3 basic types x2, x4, x8 which is 1, 2, 3 fstops there is also an NDX which is for blocking the sun.

You can always add 2 or more filters to stop the light even more

John answered the polarizing filter.

Roger

Brilliant folks. Thank you all so very much! Greatly appreciated!:)