Xmas Light Pics

[Dialtone]

Hello all...Newbie here...great site. Anyway I noticed someone else posted this question and didn't get a response so here it goes:

I want to take some shots of my holiday lights outside. What would be the best settings for this? I'm guessing a tripod and slow shutter speed. I'm still trying to learn all that my camera has to offer in terms of the manual modes. I have a sony dsc-v1.

Thanks!

[cwphoto]

A tripod and aperture priority should do it (f/8). In my experience you may need to dial in a little bit of + exposure compensation - but this need could vary greatly depending on the brightness range in the subject.

[deadman]

And a star filter perhaps?

[ktixx]

And a star filter perhaps?

Personally, I don't think a star filter would be any good in this situation, it would make the picture too confusing. For one or two lights a star filter is a nice effect, but christmas lights are put up in the hundreds, most of the time in no pattery. A bush covered in lights would look like a spotlight was on it. I have never shot christmas lights with a star filter, so this is just my opinion.

[Dialtone]

Thanks for the info!...I will give it a try tonight.

Jon