Nightshot image question: Panasonic LZ-1/2

[Pock]

I'm curious about the LZ-2's nightshot picture: why does it capture such a strong reflection off of the water?

Compare the (somewhat typical) Canon SD-400 image:
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_sd400-review/nightshot-tb.jpg

...to the Panasonic LZ2:
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/panasonic/dmc_lz1_lz2-review/lz2/nightshot-tb.jpg

I am a beginner at photography: I enjoy taking pictures, and know the basics of mechanical operation of cameras (eg, aperture/shutter), but have yet to understand the finer points of capturing light. Is this an example of cheaper sensors simply not handling fine gradiations of light intensity? Or is Panasonic's night scene mode overexposing the water/sky (although other Panasonics seem not to)?

Many thanks for any thoughts you might have!

[Jeff Keller]

The camera doesn't have much to do with that. It's just how it is out there on certain nights... I imagine there are lots of factors that go into it. There are some nights where there are strong reflections and others when there are none. The camera's are only capturing what your eyes see.

[ktixx]

It also seems like the Panasonic frame has a longer shutter than the canon as it looks like it picked up more ambient light . The sky in the Panasonic shot seems brown, whereas the sky in the canon shot is black. This is most likely attributed to the presets for the individual camera's night shots.
Ken

[Pock]

Jeff,

Thanks for the note. It strikes me as odd, but I trust your eye more than my logic, that you'd probably comment on such a significant characteristic of a camera. Too bad you can't control the atmospheric conditions for these comparison shots, which, by the way, I really do appreciate! Keep up the good work.

[zdzislaw]

hi,pock
what i would do is to check the ready picture out and try again,
thats the beauty of digital photography,
as you say you understand more, and more,
why not to take more pictures of the same,
and try to change the set up of the camera on the go,
before i make fool out of my self, i assume that your camera has following set ups; iso, p, s, a, and perhaps manual,
if so bingo you have got the lot,
now it is a matter of trial and error,
sometimes my camera is telling me time b (counts to 30 seconds before hand)
so once again is up to you to extend the time again and count manually or play with the set up and change the apreture, time(shutter) or the iso, which at the end can make your picture to look unbeareable,
do experiment with it, it will help you learn, in no time,
i still do learn and treat it as a fun, and joy,
i dont think we should approche this matters with serious faces,
rather more light hearted,
and at the end of a day we may find those pictures that they came out up to our likings,
wish you good luck, keep enjoying taking pictures,and one rainy day you may
give me some answers to my posts,
kind regards
zdzislaw