The best settings?

[LightStalker]

Hi guys,

Recently i went to a friends wedding, and took some photos. The lighting there was the worst, dim orange lights everywhere. I am using a FZ7, so i set my settings with flash, at 1/15s to 1/30s, ISO200, f2.8, and i fell victim to jitters and hand shakes. Do you have any problems like this? What would you do at a scenario like this. The pictures came out just nicely exposed (because i put myself at least 2m away from the subject, dont wanna overexpose with my direct flash) with really dark background. PS made it better but wat would you recommend??

[FZ5owner]

Originally Posted by LightStalker Hi guys, Recently i went to a friends wedding, and took some photos. The lighting there was the worst, dim orange lights everywhere. I am using a FZ7, so i set my settings with flash, at 1/15s to 1/30s, ISO200, f2.8, and i fell victim to jitters and hand shakes. Do you have any problems like this? What would you do at a scenario like this. The pictures came out just nicely exposed (because i put myself at least 2m away from the subject, dont wanna overexpose with my direct flash) with really dark background. PS made it better but wat would you recommend??

maybe u can try ISO400, F5.6 in Aperture Mode with built in flash on.

[LightStalker]

Originally Posted by FZ5owner maybe u can try ISO400, F5.6 in Aperture Mode with built in flash on.

ISO 400 will give very strong grains.. I'm worried about that.. It's a wedding so they wanted really nice pics.. Unless B&W

[FZ5owner]

Originally Posted by LightStalker ISO 400 will give very strong grains.. I'm worried about that.. It's a wedding so they wanted really nice pics.. Unless B&W

u can play around with the ISO, i always use ISO100 even indoor

[zcf]

Get a stronger external slave flash and use it for ceiling?

Use monopod to further reduce shake (but can't help on subject shake due to low shutter speed). Improve on camera holding technique (the elbow away held by the chest when shoot).

[ExplorerZ]

i would say use the highest ISO + widest aperture to get all the ambient light and flash just to fill the subject slightly so the background wil not be so dark. the slowest the shutter, the better! but take note not to set shutter so slow that blur occur

and if you are the official photographer of such even, it is better to invest in a dSLR, be it entry level or pro level. most prosumer will have problem handling dim lighting (both in exposure or focusing)

[LightStalker]

Thx for the thips guys.. Are guess prosumers have their limits after huh? Will try my best.. Gonna do some experiments with ISO400 and ISO800 and will let you know.. Thanks all

[smokeput]

errr noob remarks... - mayb high iso and higher shutter...but panasonic if high iso will it b grainy? set 2.8 or 4 is gd enuf maybe?
just some newbie comment...pls correct me if i am wrong..

[ExplorerZ]

Originally Posted by LightStalker Thx for the thips guys.. Are guess prosumers have their limits after huh? Will try my best.. Gonna do some experiments with ISO400 and ISO800 and will let you know.. Thanks all

of cos prosumer have their limit... even pro dSLR have their limit as well.

Quote: errr noob remarks... - mayb high iso and higher shutter...but panasonic if high iso will it b grainy? set 2.8 or 4 is gd enuf maybe? just some newbie comment...pls correct me if i am wrong..

yup 2.8 or constant f4 will be good, since after 2x zoom ur min aperture will be 3.3.
high shutter speed not realli recommanded, if you wan to get good exposure for background as well. cos if you are using high shutter, from a ttl camera point of view, the flash will fire a more powerful flash to light up the subject, and this will cause the background to be dim while subject is properly exposed.

i might be wrong, but this is what i notice when im shooting in dim lighting

[LightStalker]

Originally Posted by smokeput errr noob remarks... - mayb high iso and higher shutter...but panasonic if high iso will it b grainy? set 2.8 or 4 is gd enuf maybe? just some newbie comment...pls correct me if i am wrong..

Actually ur correct, higher ISO is more grainy, especially after ISO200, unless printed on 4R size then no problem.. I was shooting at f2.8 all the way.. Just wanted to see what settings will pro use with such a camera.. I should have just invested in a D70s.. but no money !!!

[LightStalker]

Originally Posted by ExplorerZ of cos prosumer have their limit... even pro dSLR have their limit as well. yup 2.8 or constant f4 will be good, since after 2x zoom ur min aperture will be 3.3. high shutter speed not realli recommanded, if you wan to get good exposure for background as well. cos if you are using high shutter, from a ttl camera point of view, the flash will fire a more powerful flash to light up the subject, and this will cause the background to be dim while subject is properly exposed. i might be wrong, but this is what i notice when im shooting in dim lighting

It's true, the flash is much stronger making the subjects look overexposed.. That's why i maintain a distance of about 2m. sigh.. Nothing i can do at dim lights.. Probably i'll work on what i have to win some photography competition to get a high end dslr Looking at 30D !!

[FZ5owner]

Originally Posted by LightStalker Thx for the thips guys.. Are guess prosumers have their limits after huh? Will try my best.. Gonna do some experiments with ISO400 and ISO800 and will let you know.. Thanks all

nothing to worry abt, is a learning experience. alot of us oso learning day by day.
if u can post the pic, then will be easier for ppl to C & C.

me 0.002 cents

[smokeput]

30d high end meh..err seen nowadays newspaper advertising for 30d oni written as md range dslr

[LightStalker]

Originally Posted by smokeput 30d high end meh..err seen nowadays newspaper advertising for 30d oni written as md range dslr

It's good enough for me at my current stage.. gives lots of room for improvement.. unless you have a higher budget then got nothing to say.. havent plus all the lenses yet leh..

[ExplorerZ]

Originally Posted by smokeput 30d high end meh..err seen nowadays newspaper advertising for 30d oni written as md range dslr

30D is indeed a mid range dSLR if you wan to compare with those that cost >2x it prices. but spec wise, 30D is quite close to those camera

[FZ5owner]

Originally Posted by smokeput 30d high end meh..err seen nowadays newspaper advertising for 30d oni written as md range dslr

High, mid end or P&S...... important thing is the person holding the camera
someone posted here before, images capture in the magazine are taken with FZ5.....
cheers

[Martin]

Originally Posted by LightStalker Hi guys, Recently i went to a friends wedding, and took some photos. The lighting there was the worst, dim orange lights everywhere. I am using a FZ7, so i set my settings with flash, at 1/15s to 1/30s, ISO200, f2.8, and i fell victim to jitters and hand shakes. Do you have any problems like this? What would you do at a scenario like this. The pictures came out just nicely exposed (because i put myself at least 2m away from the subject, dont wanna overexpose with my direct flash) with really dark background. PS made it better but wat would you recommend??

I hv tried your kind of settings before, it works very well.

i dun experience handshake for 1/20s or faster, wif the help of mode 2.

But many blurs are from subject that moves, not handshake.

If u turn on anti-red-eye-flash, people tend to move after the very first of the multiple flash, create big big blurs.