There are certain f stop setting in analogical cameras 35 mm... high flash usage is necessary and the speed of the film such is high ektachrome are needed for the event you may desire...
Exposures (how long the lens stays opened) are mostly at with exposure times up to 1/60 at f8 handheld... Film is either Kodak products... Tri-X pushed +2 or Ektachrome 320T, also pushed +2... also, the best camera to use for night work will be 35 millimeter (mm) I prefer an SLR go to Wolf Camera or some other professional camera shop to find more information about cameras and it prices... I am a purest... so bare with me for this ride... exposure depends on the total amount of light hitting the film and that it is inappropriate if this is delivered in a short exposure at wide aperture - such as 1/1000 at f2(low opening) - or a smaller aperture such as 1/60 at f8 ( large opening)... open the lens wide for night shots... period
For most films this can be relied on when exposures are between perhaps ¼ and 1/1000 seconds, but outside this range it will start to break down... now this a technical view and I know... so to make it much easier... for you are using a digital... and yes I have not forgotten your complaint in that... the reason why a delay in response is because there are still purest amongst and many are slow to change to digital... even some digital cameras need flashes... what is your pixel? If,. 3.5 too small go larger...
Now this is a real cool website please check it out... what need is to purchase the right camera for the right job... photography is pleasurable... so enjoy the journey...
http://www.prophotos.net/pm_digital01.html
http://photography.about.com/library.../aa112999c.htm