Fast lenses for night action shots

Erik Baumgartner wrote:

sifro wrote:

Erik Baumgartner wrote:

Please post an example of "people dancing at local dancing events", that could mean a lot of different things.

This for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ounrVadrqDw

Very fast lenses typically come with a very shallow working depth of field which could certainly cause problems if your subject(s) are at close range and/or aren't always on the same plane. The larger the aperture/longer the focal length, the shallower the DOF, f/2.8 may indeed be the best aperture for the job and you will indeed need a very high ISO to maintain a shutter speed high enough to freeze the action.

So yes, indeed I didn't take into account that at large apertures, the DOF might be too shallow to get a couple with both members in focus in one photo.

What do you think?

Thank you for your reply!

Are you shooting stills or video? If stills, an example with your 27 would be helpful (with the exif data) so we can know what the actual light levels are like. What SS/ISOs are you shooting at now? Looks like a potentially challenging proposition, a slow SS definitely isn’t going to cut it.

ExifTool Version Number : 11.88
File Name : DSCF9145.JPG
Directory : .
File Size : 6.4 MB
File Modification Date/Time : 2021:09:01 12:16:41+02:00
File Access Date/Time : 2021:09:01 12:16:49+02:00
File Inode Change Date/Time : 2021:09:01 12:16:41+02:00
File Permissions : rw-rw-r--
File Type : JPEG
File Type Extension : jpg
MIME Type : image/jpeg
Exif Byte Order : Little-endian (Intel, II)
Make : FUJIFILM
Camera Model Name : X-E4
Orientation : Horizontal (normal)
X Resolution : 72
Y Resolution : 72
Resolution Unit : inches
Software : Digital Camera X-E4 Ver1.00
Modify Date : 2021:08:14 22:30:18
Artist :
Y Cb Cr Positioning : Co-sited
Copyright :
Exposure Time : 1/160
F Number : 2.8
Exposure Program : Manual
ISO : 12800
Sensitivity Type : Standard Output Sensitivity
Exif Version : 0232
Date/Time Original : 2021:08:14 22:30:18
Create Date : 2021:08:14 22:30:18
Components Configuration : Y, Cb, Cr, -
Compressed Bits Per Pixel : 4.8
Shutter Speed Value : 1/161
Aperture Value : 2.8
Brightness Value : -2.93
Exposure Compensation : 0
Max Aperture Value : 2.8
Metering Mode : Multi-segment
Light Source : Unknown
Flash : No Flash
Focal Length : 27.0 mm
Version : 0130
Internal Serial Number : FF03I1211001059 Y56371 2021:01:26 CA2530110151
Quality : FINE
White Balance : Auto
Saturation : 0 (normal)
White Balance Fine Tune : Red +0, Blue +0
Noise Reduction : 0 (normal)
Fuji Flash Mode : Manual
Flash Exposure Comp : 0
Focus Mode : Auto
AF Mode : Single Point
Focus Pixel : 2208 1242
AF-S Priority : Focus
AF-C Priority : Release
Focus Mode 2 : AF-C
AF Area Mode : Single Point
AF Area Point Size : 4
AF Area Zone Size : n/a
AF-C Setting : Set 1 (multi-purpose)
AF-C Tracking Sensitivity : 2
AF-C Speed Tracking Sensitivity : 0
AF-C Zone Area Switching : Auto
Slow Sync : Off
Picture Mode : Manual
Exposure Count : 1
Shadow Tone : 0 (normal)
Highlight Tone : 0 (normal)
Lens Modulation Optimizer : On
Grain Effect : Off
Color Chrome Effect : Off
Crop Mode : n/a
Color Chrome FX Blue : Off
Shutter Type : Mechanical
Auto Bracketing : Off
Sequence Number : 0
Drive Mode : Single
Drive Speed : n/a
Blur Warning : None
Focus Warning : Good
Exposure Warning : Good
Dynamic Range : Standard
Film Mode : F2/Fujichrome (Velvia)
Dynamic Range Setting : Manual
Development Dynamic Range : 100
Min Focal Length : 27
Max Focal Length : 27
Max Aperture At Min Focal : 2.8
Max Aperture At Max Focal : 2.8
Image Stabilization : None; Off; 0
Image Generation : Original Image
Image Count : 13160
Flicker Reduction : Off (0x0030)
Faces Detected : 0
Num Face Elements : 0
User Comment :
Flashpix Version : 0100
Color Space : sRGB
Exif Image Width : 4416
Exif Image Height : 2488
Interoperability Index : R98 - DCF basic file (sRGB)
Interoperability Version : 0100
Focal Plane X Resolution : 1882
Focal Plane Y Resolution : 1882
Focal Plane Resolution Unit : cm
Sensing Method : One-chip color area
File Source : Digital Camera
Scene Type : Directly photographed
Custom Rendered : Normal
Exposure Mode : Manual
Focal Length In 35mm Format : 41 mm
Scene Capture Type : Standard
Sharpness : Normal
Subject Distance Range : Unknown
Serial Number : 1S002681
Lens Info : 27mm f/2.8
Lens Make : FUJIFILM
Lens Model : XF27mmF2.8 R WR
Lens Serial Number : 0DA02011
Composite Image : Not a Composite Image
PrintIM Version : 0250
Compression : JPEG (old-style)
Thumbnail Offset : 3808
Thumbnail Length : 8391
Rating : 0
Preview Image Width : 640
Preview Image Height : 480
Preview Image : (Binary data 41986 bytes, use -b option to extract)
Image Width : 4416
Image Height : 2488
Encoding Process : Baseline DCT, Huffman coding
Bits Per Sample : 8
Color Components : 3
Y Cb Cr Sub Sampling : YCbCr4:2:2 (2 1)
Aperture : 2.8
Image Size : 4416x2488
Megapixels : 11.0
Preview Image Size : 640x480
Scale Factor To 35 mm Equivalent: 1.5
Shutter Speed : 1/160
Thumbnail Image : (Binary data 8391 bytes, use -b option to extract)
Circle Of Confusion : 0.020 mm
Field Of View : 47.4 deg
Focal Length : 27.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 41.0 mm)
Hyperfocal Distance : 13.16 m
Light Value : 3.3

ExifTool Version Number : 11.88
File Name : DSCF9107.JPG
Directory : .
File Size : 6.1 MB
File Modification Date/Time : 2021:09:01 12:13:52+02:00
File Access Date/Time : 2021:09:01 12:16:16+02:00
File Inode Change Date/Time : 2021:09:01 12:13:52+02:00
File Permissions : rw-rw-r--
File Type : JPEG
File Type Extension : jpg
MIME Type : image/jpeg
Exif Byte Order : Little-endian (Intel, II)
Make : FUJIFILM
Camera Model Name : X-E4
Orientation : Horizontal (normal)
X Resolution : 72
Y Resolution : 72
Resolution Unit : inches
Software : Digital Camera X-E4 Ver1.00
Modify Date : 2021:08:14 22:25:46
Artist :
Y Cb Cr Positioning : Co-sited
Copyright :
Exposure Time : 1/125
F Number : 2.8
Exposure Program : Manual
ISO : 10000
Sensitivity Type : Standard Output Sensitivity
Exif Version : 0232
Date/Time Original : 2021:08:14 22:25:46
Create Date : 2021:08:14 22:25:46
Components Configuration : Y, Cb, Cr, -
Compressed Bits Per Pixel : 4.8
Shutter Speed Value : 1/128
Aperture Value : 2.8
Brightness Value : -1.73
Exposure Compensation : 0
Max Aperture Value : 2.8
Metering Mode : Multi-segment
Light Source : Unknown
Flash : No Flash
Focal Length : 27.0 mm
Version : 0130
Internal Serial Number : FF03I1211001059 Y56371 2021:01:26 CA2530110151
Quality : FINE
White Balance : Auto
Saturation : 0 (normal)
White Balance Fine Tune : Red +0, Blue +0
Noise Reduction : 0 (normal)
Fuji Flash Mode : Manual
Flash Exposure Comp : 0
Focus Mode : Auto
AF Mode : Single Point
Focus Pixel : 2208 1242
AF-S Priority : Focus
AF-C Priority : Release
Focus Mode 2 : AF-C
AF Area Mode : Single Point
AF Area Point Size : 4
AF Area Zone Size : n/a
AF-C Setting : Set 1 (multi-purpose)
AF-C Tracking Sensitivity : 2
AF-C Speed Tracking Sensitivity : 0
AF-C Zone Area Switching : Auto
Slow Sync : Off
Picture Mode : Manual
Exposure Count : 1
Shadow Tone : 0 (normal)
Highlight Tone : 0 (normal)
Lens Modulation Optimizer : On
Grain Effect : Off
Color Chrome Effect : Off
Crop Mode : n/a
Color Chrome FX Blue : Off
Shutter Type : Mechanical
Auto Bracketing : Off
Sequence Number : 0
Drive Mode : Single
Drive Speed : n/a
Blur Warning : None
Focus Warning : Good
Exposure Warning : Good
Dynamic Range : Standard
Film Mode : F2/Fujichrome (Velvia)
Dynamic Range Setting : Manual
Development Dynamic Range : 100
Min Focal Length : 27
Max Focal Length : 27
Max Aperture At Min Focal : 2.8
Max Aperture At Max Focal : 2.8
Image Stabilization : None; Off; 0
Image Generation : Original Image
Image Count : 13122
Flicker Reduction : Off (0x0000)
Faces Detected : 0
Num Face Elements : 0
User Comment :
Flashpix Version : 0100
Color Space : sRGB
Exif Image Width : 4416
Exif Image Height : 2488
Interoperability Index : R98 - DCF basic file (sRGB)
Interoperability Version : 0100
Focal Plane X Resolution : 1882
Focal Plane Y Resolution : 1882
Focal Plane Resolution Unit : cm
Sensing Method : One-chip color area
File Source : Digital Camera
Scene Type : Directly photographed
Custom Rendered : Normal
Exposure Mode : Manual
Focal Length In 35mm Format : 41 mm
Scene Capture Type : Standard
Sharpness : Normal
Subject Distance Range : Unknown
Serial Number : 1S002681
Lens Info : 27mm f/2.8
Lens Make : FUJIFILM
Lens Model : XF27mmF2.8 R WR
Lens Serial Number : 0DA02011
Composite Image : Not a Composite Image
PrintIM Version : 0250
Compression : JPEG (old-style)
Thumbnail Offset : 3808
Thumbnail Length : 8586
Rating : 0
Preview Image Width : 640
Preview Image Height : 480
Preview Image : (Binary data 39874 bytes, use -b option to extract)
Image Width : 4416
Image Height : 2488
Encoding Process : Baseline DCT, Huffman coding
Bits Per Sample : 8
Color Components : 3
Y Cb Cr Sub Sampling : YCbCr4:2:2 (2 1)
Aperture : 2.8
Image Size : 4416x2488
Megapixels : 11.0
Preview Image Size : 640x480
Scale Factor To 35 mm Equivalent: 1.5
Shutter Speed : 1/125
Thumbnail Image : (Binary data 8586 bytes, use -b option to extract)
Circle Of Confusion : 0.020 mm
Field Of View : 47.4 deg
Focal Length : 27.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 41.0 mm)
Hyperfocal Distance : 13.16 m
Light Value : 3.3