I'm a boob!

Craig Khan · Nov 4, 2002

I did not get any good pics from my daughters fall concert. I'm using an S30 and felt my heart sink as I passed the sign, 'No flash'. The room was very dark with a brightly lit stage. Any ideas on how I can get better shots in the future? I had to shoot very slow and all of the shots came out blurry.

In my 35mm days I would just pick up some 1600 speed film and shoot away.

Thanks for any ideas!

pixels120931 · Nov 4, 2002

Well, unless you were leaning on the stage, the flash probably wouldn't
have helped much anyway. And the distraction of flash from the stage
is very real, so they were proper in not allowing it.

My suggestion comes from years of working with ballet and music
groups. Simply ask the musical director for permission to shoot either
a dress rehearsal or if a few minutes immediately after the concert can
be given to photos. Offering to share or provide copies of the results
often finds cooperation.

Alternately, borrow or rent a 35 film, fast 85mm lens, and some
fast film. (I don't think I'd go 1600, though. The new Fuji 800
is really beautiful for such work.)

Leslie Marsh · Nov 4, 2002

Well, speaking of being a boob....

I just discovered (after reading a different thread here recently) that there is an ISO setting on my G2! No wonder my sunset pictures in Naples FL came out so dark....it was set on 50! Live and learn....good thing I am going back to Naples in Dec!

Remy84678 · Nov 4, 2002

It's sad but digital cameras just don't work well in the dark.

mango · Nov 4, 2002

Did you use one of the faster ISO settings? These photos were taken in darkish auditorium-type settings, no flash, with the S30 at ISO 400. I was able to use 1/50 - 1/80 sec for these. While they're not great shots, they are worth keeping to remember these events. If the lighting had been worse, I would not have hesitated to bump the ISO to 800.

From a Marshall arts belt ceremony:
http://www.pbase.com/image/6816199
http://www.pbase.com/image/6816362

From a school awards ceremony:
http://www.pbase.com/image/6816753

I will remove these images when this thread dies.

Craig Khan · Nov 4, 2002

Thanks for the suggestions! In the future I'll try to pre-arrange something before or after.

Craig Khan · Nov 4, 2002

I had the ISO set on auto and thought it would 'do what it needed to'

I was shooting at 1/30 and the lighting looks good, but the pics are blurry.

mango · Nov 4, 2002

Craig,

It appears that Auto ISO leaves it at ISO 50...It shouldn't, the manual says it doesen't, but it seems it does. See, eg, this thread:

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1010&message=3681592

regarding min shutter speed for non-blurry pics...my old SLR has 1/125 marked in red as a key cutoff. The new digicams seem to think 1/60 is the cutoff for handheld. I find that 1/60 seems to be a reasonable target to shoot for, for handheld shots. I usually increase the ISO until I can get in the 1/60 range. Sorry you missed your pics. I think that high-ISO noise is preferable to motion-blurred pics.

Cheers

--
http://www.pbase.com/mango

lck0925 · Nov 4, 2002

These came out dark because ur shutter speed was too fast not ISO. Judging from what just happened to you, I'm guessing that u're more of a newbie when it comes to DCs correct? If that's the case then I want to warn u that the higher the ISO the noisier the picture would but. PPL using the G2 or any dc would try to shoot @ the lowest ISO all the time. Try shooting @ ISO 400 and let me know ur reaction.

Have fun. = )

T

Rory G · Nov 4, 2002

Hey Craig,

I had the same problem recently and set my S30 at ISO400. The shots were grainy, but at least I was able to take some. I also took some short videos using the camera's higher resolution. I know that it's not the same as taking pictures, but it does leave you with something to remember an event, and you can add some flash pictures to your CF card when you're able. The movie mode on the S30 works reasonably well (for what it is) in low light conditions, although the closer to your subject the better. As you probably know, the resolution and sharpness for video doesn't have to be that good to get a reasonable recording of an event (eg. VCR tapes have a very low resolution). Obviously the S30 doesn't double as a video-cam, but if that's all you have on hand, it can leave you with some good memories.

R

Craig Khan · Nov 5, 2002

Thank you all for the ideas and suggestions. I'm pretty new to Digicams, and well I love to take pics. Lesson learned; shoot, shoot, shoot. Nothing beats experiance. Thanks!!!

rockthecat · Nov 5, 2002

Craig...
I recently attended a concert in a high school gym, with seating on
the bleachers. NO flash allowed, so I brought along my Olympus E-100RS
with its 10x image stabilized lens and fired away. Every shot came out,
the camera compensated for the slow shutter speed and low light
levels automatically thru the image stabilization. I guess a Canon Pro90
would offer the same advantage but the Olympus can be had for as low
as $400. I got mine at Frys Electronics in No Calif a few months back.
Great camera, don't worry about the "low" resolution - the images come
out fine. Color is actually closer to real life than my Canon G1 or S20.
Paul

NKH · Nov 5, 2002

hi craig,

one of the reasons many people bought the S30 over the S40 was because the S30 can go up to ISO 800 whereas the S40 can only go as high as ISO 400. i recently went to the circus and it was pretty dark in there so i set my G2 to ISO 400, turned off the flash (wouldn't do you any good anyway because of the distance...in fact, it would made matters worse!), and fired away. i normally shoot at ISO 50 and was very pleasantly surprised by how usable all the shots were, especially after after running them through a free noise reduction program. here's some if you're interested: http://www.pbase.com/21farms/iso400_w__nr .

next time, just go with ISO400 or ISO800 and fire away.

norm

christopher chee · Nov 5, 2002

wow im impressed by those circus pictures. well done.

chris

mike savad · Nov 5, 2002

when in doubt use the high iso, and figure out how to remove grain later. or shoot it dark but as fast as you can, and lighten it. bring a monopod to steady it. or use the movie feature - though it will be snippets, it will be something.

---Mike Savad

--
http://www.pbase.com/savad/

http://www.photosig.com/userphotos.php?id=9050

Search

I'm a boob!

Craig Khan

Member

pixels120931

Well-known member

Leslie Marsh

Well-known member

Remy84678

Senior Member

mango

Senior Member

Craig Khan

Member

Craig Khan

Member

mango

Senior Member

lck0925

Senior Member

Rory G

Member

Craig Khan

Member

rockthecat

Member

NKH

Senior Member

christopher chee

Active member

mike savad

Senior Member

Keyboard shortcuts