Photos under streetlighting.

[Anteaus]

Looking for something that can take color photos under streetlighting (typ 1 lux) with a reasonable shutter speed, say at least 1/30s

Situation is that we have a gang of yobs causing trouble after dark. Most of them seem to be only 12-14yo. The cops have had a hard time to catch or ID them, so I need something that can get a good mugshot under streetlighting.

The ASA ratings of the recent Canon EOS models suggest they should be able to do this, but has anyone tried it in practice?

Doesn't need to be an SLR, but I'm prepared to pay a reasonable amount for something that will do a good job.

Though, an SLR would have the advantage of the wider aperture of a nonzoom lens. Compacts are usually small-aperture zooms.

[TCav]

Originally Posted by Anteaus

... Compacts are usually small-aperture zooms.

Not necessarily. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 has a constant maximum aperture of f2.8 and a zoom range that's likely to get the shots you need at a reasonable distance.

[Anteaus]

The DMC-FZ300 seems to have a rather limited ISO/ASA range of up to 3200. Therefore I doubt if it would shoot in 1 lux lighting. At least, not without using exposures in the 1s range.

[TCav]

Originally Posted by Anteaus

The DMC-FZ300 seems to have a rather limited ISO/ASA range of up to 3200. Therefore I doubt if it would shoot in 1 lux lighting. At least, not without using exposures in the 1s range.

f/2.8 at (35mm equivalent of) 600mm is equivalent to f/5.6 with a dSLR, so an ISO of 3200 will get you about the same shutter speed as ISO 12800 with a dSLR.

I don't think you'll do any better for less than $5000.

[TCav]

Originally Posted by Anteaus

The DMC-FZ300 seems to have a rather limited ISO/ASA range of up to 3200. Therefore I doubt if it would shoot in 1 lux lighting. At least, not without using exposures in the 1s range.

F/2.8 is about as fast as zoom lenses get (with the notable exception of some extraordinary SLR lenses.)

If you don't need to go out to (35mm equivalent of) 600mm, the $820 Sony RX10 goes out to (35mm equivalent of) 200mm, plus it's got a larger, higher resolution, 1" image sensor, so it's images will have less noise. Plus it can do ISOs up to 25600.

But 200mm isn't very much, so you'll have to get at least twice as close.

[Ozzie_Traveller]

Originally Posted by TCav

f/2.8 at (35mm equivalent of) 600mm is equivalent to f/5.6 with a dSLR, so an ISO of 3200 will get you about the same shutter speed as ISO 12800 with a dSLR.

I don't think you'll do any better for less than $5000.

+1
Phil