Sample shots - 50mm f/1.8 and ISO 1600

[slejhamer]

I've been using the Canon 50 1.8 lens to shoot martial arts classes, and had good luck at ISO 800 with a touch of fill flash. This weekend I was shooting a Jiu Jitsu seminar and decided to experiment a bit by bumping up the ISO to 1600 and turning off the flash.

WOW! :o What great performance in a low-light situation! Okay, the lens could focus a little bit faster, but for the most part I was able to get nice crisp shots. Shutter speeds ranged from 1/125s to 1/200s, depending on how close the subjects were to the dojo's various light sources (fluorescent overhead, tungsten on the sides, a small bit of window light coming in - a WB nightmare!) I used Manual exposure, keeping the aperture wide open and ISO at 1600, then adjusted shutter speed on the fly to keep the histogram slightly to the right.

I'm a little bit surprised (but not disappointed) by the amount of DOF I got with the lens wide open - I was expecting less. Worked out well though!

http://www.pbase.com/image/25561349.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/image/25561349

http://www.pbase.com/image/25560400.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/image/25560400

Converted in C1, batch processed in Neat Image. Yes, there is noise, especially in the shadows. C1 removes some, Neat Image removes some more, but it's still there as I ran NI with the "keep more details" setting. Can I get acceptable 8x10" prints from these? Maybe bigger? You bet!

For those interested, the older gentleman in the second shot is Alvaro Barreto, one of the top dogs in the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fighting style. At age 62, he has been a black belt (now 8th degree red & black) for 40 years, and trained under Helio Gracie. If you know the sport, you know the names! :wink:

[Tom W]

Those are impressive photos - both the action and the pictures. Plus, I'm impressed at how the camera performed at 1600 ISO!

As for the 8X10 question, I'd print or have the local photo shop print a couple and see how they turn out. I would think that such pictures would look great on the wall at the Dojo. :)

[AndrewEllinas]

the quality of the photos is remarkable considering they were taken at 1600.

i know about neat image - but what is C1?

andrew

[nosquare2003]

the quality of the photos is remarkable considering they were taken at 1600.

i know about neat image - but what is C1?

andrew

Capture1
http://www.c1dslr.com/

[chris.bailey]

I think the shallow depth of field makes the pictures not spoils them. Very impressive indeed at ISO 1600

[CyberDyneSystems]

These are really good,. and yes ISO 1600 on the 10D/Rebel is amazing!

[Yarin]

and PS sharpening?

So this is with a $65 lens?! I might have to pick one up.

[eric1]

you gotta get one Yarin, 1.8 for<$70! low light? no problem! well within reason that is! :)

eric1

[Yarin]

you gotta get one Yarin, 1.8 for<$70! low light? no problem! well within reason that is! :)

eric1

Yeah no kidding! I just discovered this info today. I usually give myself 48 hours after discovery to avoid buying things on impulse. Just keep feeding me good words about this lens and it will be mine shortly.

[slejhamer]

Yarin, there are very few reasons not to get one, unless of course you already have the 50mm f/1.4! With an "effective focal length" (Canon's term, not mine) of 80mm, it's great for full-length or even waist-up portraits, though it doesn't have the DOF of an 80mm lens.

To tell you the truth, I was hesitant to get the lens. I bought it at my local camera shop, thinking I would return it if I wasn't satisfied. I didn't think it would give me that much advantage over my 28-135IS lens, which I believe is f4 at 50mm ... but now there's no way I'm returning the 1.8! The IS lens is great for reducing camera shake at lower shutter speeds, but it doesn't give me faster shutter speeds in low light like this lens can.

In the dojo where I took the above shots, it's so dim that it takes a while for your eyes to adjust. I actually had to look up to make sure the overhead lights were working - just terrible! But with this lens? No problem!

The only caveat is that at f1.8, DOF will be shallow ... as you can see above though, it's still very usable, and DOF is greater than one might expect thanks to the camera's smaller sensor.

For the price, it just can't be beat. 8)

Oh, and yes, some sharpening in PS. Nik Sharpener on the full-size image ("Anna" setting on a luma layer, then reduced opacity a bit), then another touch of USM after resizing for the web.

And THANK YOU everyone for your comments! :D

Cheers!