My Nikon D60 is set to bulb in manual mode, how can I take picture without insufficient light?

Question

The camera says there is insufficient light when I try to take a picture in Manual Mode while in a room with no light. How can I open the shutter regardless?

Answer 1

In very low light, you may not be able to focus and you may have your camera set so that it will not release the shutter unless the camera is able to focus.  You can set your lens to "M" as well as putting the switch on the camera body right near the lens mount to "M" instead of "M/A."  If it's pitch black, you will have trouble focusing, so carry a flashlight or use some other light to enable you to focus manually on the subject.

See page 28 in your manual for the things you have to do in the menu to set your camera to focus manually.

See page 23 about the focus-assist light.  It should be working if you are NOT in "M" mode.

Answer 2

Well, as long as you press the shutter button, the camera should take the picture regardless the situation. The manual mode should have no say in the matter. If you have the shutter set to like 1/500, it'll still go off, it'll open, you wouldn't get an image, but it'll open.

But, if you're in absolutely no light, you're not going to get an image, if it's PITCH black you're not going to get an image. However, if there's like a little bit of light, you can put the shutter speed to like 30", which is a long exposure, you'll absorb the " little " light there is.

I have a nikon d40, and when i press that shutter button, the camera's shutter opens and closes no matter the situation. The manual mode does what you tell it to do, the only way it wouldn't let you take the picture, possibly if it was in the nikon d60's " auto " mode.

Answer 3

Sure as long as you hold the shutter release down, the shutter will stay open.  Unless there is absolutely NO light, you will eventually get an image.  This is how many photographers use penlights to "paint" their models with light

Of course you will have to be sure you don't have the feature turned on that disables the shutter release if there is no memory card onboard or if there is insufficient light.

Answer 4

I have a D70, but I seem to recall that there may be a menu item to enable 'bulb' exposures.

Also, go to NikonUSA.com for an online instruction manual.