Wedding Dinner Shoots with D70s & SB-800

[alvinpang]

Hi,

I am a casual photographer and kind of new to shooting large crowd such as a wedding banquet.

I am going to do a wedding dinner shoot for a friend of mine.

What's the most common camera settings should I be using most of the time throughout the banquet?

Also, can some of you share tips with me?

I am getting nervous as the day draws near...

[longkangman]

Everyone got their own style leh.... think may even confuse you more.

Pls ignore if find not relevant.

use 2 cameras one for wide and one zoom as no time to change lens. Shoot in raw then post process later. May have to pumpup ISO if shoot indoor with available light but remember to adjust it bad when outdoor.

YMMV

[simon80]

u using kit lens?
aniway theres no 'Safe' settings through out the banquet

first shoot RAW

table shot i think can be done at:
iso400
f8
1/60

for shooting the couple i think is up to your own creativity.

Ru the main ptger? better get xtra body lens and flash !! good luck

[simon80]

Originally Posted by longkangman Everyone got their own style leh.... think may even confuse you more. Pls ignore if find not relevant. use 2 cameras one for wide and one zoom as no time to change lens. Shoot in raw then post process later. May have to pumpup ISO if shoot indoor with available light but remember to adjust it bad when outdoor. YMMV

handling 2 cameras also need skills .. i nearly got entangle by the straps
ahahah

[longkangman]

Originally Posted by simon80 handling 2 cameras also need skills .. i nearly got entangle by the straps ahahah

yeah... not easy lah. That is why I said ignore and not relevant or different style.

[nicekit]

i was told the safest setting for indoor shooting with flash will be
f/4 with shutter 40.. and ISO 800

hmmmm
will try f/8 with shutter 60 and see how

[alvinpang]

I forgot to add. I am using the 17-55mm lens.

Do I use the AF-S with AF assist?

Is this going to be distracting?

[MadDude]

Perhaps try to be there an hour or two earlier to survey and do some tests shots?

[nicekit]

Originally Posted by alvinpang I forgot to add. I am using the 17-55mm lens. Do I use the AF-S with AF assist? Is this going to be distracting?

i usually turn off AF assist when i am taking ppl's picture.. cuz they will look more natural/ candid.. than knowing a camera is taking their picture :P

[Chris Lim]

Originally Posted by simon80 u using kit lens? aniway theres no 'Safe' settings through out the banquet first shoot RAW table shot i think can be done at: iso400 f8 1/60 for shooting the couple i think is up to your own creativity. Ru the main ptger? better get xtra body lens and flash !! good luck

waaaa iso400 f8 1/60??? sure? which hotel? the place must be pretty lighted up. try oriental hotel. i think iso 1600 f4 1/35 also got problem alr.

Hmmm i'd suggest trying to maintain f4. then vary ur shutter speed abt 1/35 up then vary ur iso. hmmm AF-s is good for most of the shots. With assist if really necessary if not u'll have "red lasers" shooting at everything u point. LOL occasionally when theres a need to. i tend to use af-c also. so depends on the situation too.

[nicekit]

Originally Posted by Chris Lim waaaa iso400 f8 1/60??? sure? which hotel? the place must be pretty lighted up. try oriental hotel. i think iso 1600 f4 1/35 also got problem alr. Hmmm i'd suggest trying to maintain f4. then vary ur shutter speed abt 1/35 up then vary ur iso. hmmm AF-s is good for most of the shots. With assist if really necessary if not u'll have "red lasers" shooting at everything u point. LOL occasionally when theres a need to. i tend to use af-c also. so depends on the situation too.

a question

at ISO 1600
don't u think it is abit tad too much noise.. :O
1/35 hmmm there might be a motion blur...

[alvinpang]

Question:

(1) As a rule of thumb, below 1/60 will have motion blur right?
There must be advantage doing that. Can you share a little more?

(2) AF-C is used for what situation?

(3) I suppose your flash is always pointing upwards right? Do you use direct with some diffuser such as Gary Fong's?

(4) Do you use F2.8?

[nicekit]

Originally Posted by alvinpang Question: (1) As a rule of thumb, below 1/60 will have motion blur right? There must be advantage doing that. Can you share a little more?

fren said it gives some 'life' to the photograph..
some ppl say.. it is BLUR photograph.. LOL

Quote: (2) AF-C is used for what situation?

i also dunno LOL

Quote: (3) I suppose your flash is always pointing upwards right? Do you use direct with some diffuser such as Gary Fong's?

i point 60degree...
75 if ceiling is near....
havent buy LSII yet...

Quote: (4) Do you use F2.8?

i dun have such expensive lens...

btw F2.8 gives u very shallow DOF..
end up some ppl's face might be out of focus

[Witness]

Originally Posted by simon80 u using kit lens? aniway theres no 'Safe' settings through out the banquet first shoot RAW table shot i think can be done at: iso400 f8 1/60 for shooting the couple i think is up to your own creativity. Ru the main ptger? better get xtra body lens and flash !! good luck

well i'm not using a nikon body...

but for table shots.....this seems to be pushing it...

[simon80]

with flash still cant??

[tchern]

To your question:

2) AF-C continuous focus for moving Subject. I use AF-A(Auto)

4) Use F2.8 when you want only the subject to be in focus and without flash - set at most ISO 800 or 1600(if you want)

To add.
Control the white balance yourself. Practice with the different lighting in various areas where the couples will be moving. In warm lighting i used around 4500k to 5000k. With Higher K - picture is more to Red.

With My D80, SB 600 (PowerEx Batt - 2700mAh), LS (clear). I don't shoot in RAW. I used the full 10.2M Jpeg.
Setting used with flash. ISO 400 - 500 (not too high, else will flashlight will flush out details). Your SB 800 is powerful...
SHUTTER never less than 1/60 not unless you want some effect... or you know what is going to happen next.

White Balance to be controlled as per your liking.
Aperture not less than F4 in normal shooting. Use F5.6 for crowd shooting (depend on the distance interval and what you want to shoot).

last Sentence... Practise more, understand your camera and know what you want...

[tchern]

To your question:

2) AF-C continuous focus for moving Subject. I use AF-A(Auto)

4) Use F2.8 when you want only the subject to be in focus and without flash - set at most ISO 800 or 1600(if you want)

To add.
Control the white balance yourself. Practice with the different lighting in various areas where the couples will be moving. In warm lighting i used around 4500k to 5000k. With Higher K - picture is more to Red.

With My D80, SB 600 (PowerEx Batt - 2700mAh), LS (clear). I don't shoot in RAW. I used the full 10.2M Jpeg.
Setting used with flash. ISO 400 - 500 (not too high, else flashlight will flush out details). Your SB 800 is powerful...
SHUTTER never less than 1/60 not unless you want some effect... or you know what is going to happen next.

White Balance to be controlled as per your liking.
Aperture not less than F4 in normal shooting. Use F5.6 for crowd shooting (depend on the distance interval and what you want to shoot).

last Sentence... Practise more, understand your camera and know what you want...

[slooow]

Originally Posted by simon80 table shot i think can be done at: iso400 f8 1/60

Originally Posted by simon80 with flash still cant??

dont think can, cos your object will be bright and background dark
your sb800 will be wasting battery life too

flash tilt and bounce also will not help if you are in a hall... or ballroom...[in hdb flat maybe still got chance]

why you wanna use f8 anyway? when ts pay $2-3k for his f/2.8 lense, i would use f3.5 to f4 if i were him

anyway 2.8 lense works very well with ttl-bl

[slooow]

Originally Posted by tchern 2) AF-C continuous focus for moving Subject. I use AF-A(Auto)

i like the way you use AF-A

but AF-C and AF-S are both auto right?...

[tchern]

Originally Posted by slooow i like the way you use AF-A but AF-C and AF-S are both auto right?...

AF - A = Auto means... It will track the subject and determine how responsive it has to be to focus and catch onto the subject.

If use AF-S. It is more for stationery subject and focus might be out if use to shoot sport (but depend how it is use).