setup 300D+50mm f1.8 for low-light? how-to, workflow, etc?

[piku]

just want to know a couple of hints and tips of what the seasoned pros or experienced amateurs have been doing to quickly get their 300Ds setup (ie. settings-wise) to get clear, clean shots using their 50mm f1.8 (or any great low-light lens in that matter)??? TIA.

[robertwgross]

Piku, we don't know what subjects you are trying to shoot, so your question is awfully general.

For starters, why not aim your camera set to "Green box" mode. Make a mental note of the aperture and shutter that it thinks it wants to do. Now, you make the human choice. What is going to happen if you speed up the shutter, or slow it down? What is going to happen if you open up the aperture, or close it down? In your mind's eye, you ought to be able to guess which way you want to go.

So, crank the aperture and shutter settings a notch or two at a time (away from the Green box settings). See what happens. Use the Depth of Field preview button to see what happens for each case. Experiment.

I think you know that the f/1.8 lens gives you a very limited Depth of Field if you have it all the way open to f/1.8. That may or may not be what you want every time. Work your way out from f/1.8 to the largest number, and see what happens.

---Bob Gross---

[piku]

i'm actually experimenting w/ P and Av modes now ^^

i'll look into DoF and DoF-preview more in general. as for having the 50 wide-open, yes i experienced it first hand and it sucked since i lost some great pics. but oh well, its a great learning experience.

as far as subject, how about a night-club setting; with and w/o the built-in flash.

TIA

ps. i'll post some of the pics i've taken so far w/ the 50 soon. just waiting for some webspace to be cleared up and a way to present the shots. i might as well use my 2nd free 1and1 account.

[robertwgross]

The good news is that the 50mm f/1.8 can do good work in a dim light situation. The bad news is that if you have it cranked open to f/1.8, then you aren't going to have much Depth of Field. If you were shooting at just one person in the middle of a scene, that would work. But if you were shooting at the whole scene, the limited Depth of Field might be a problem.

Back in the old days (before autofocus), good SLR cameras commonly had f/1.4 lenses. Now, with all of the autofocus gizmos crammed into the lens, the typical ones end up at f/3.5 to f/2.8, and only a few slip down into the f/1.8 or better range.

---Bob Gross---

[robertwgross]

The good news is that the 50mm f/1.8 can do good work in a dim light situation. The bad news is that if you have it cranked open to f/1.8, then you aren't going to have much Depth of Field. If you were shooting at just one person in the middle of a scene, that would work. But if you were shooting at the whole scene, the limited Depth of Field might be a problem.

Back in the old days (before autofocus), good SLR cameras commonly had f/1.4 lenses. Now, with all of the autofocus gizmos crammed into the lens, the typical ones end up at f/3.5 to f/2.8, and only a few slip down into the f/1.8 or better range.

---Bob Gross---

[drisley]

Use a high ISO and expose "to the right" on the histogram.
That will let you use a slightly smaller aperture, say f2.8 and give you a larger DOF.
I like to use AV mode, set the aperture to my liking, and then adjust exposure comp by +1/3 to +2/3 or so.

[piku]

how about a night-club setting; with and w/o the built-in flash.

how about w/ the flash? is it best to set it @ M mode, f2.8, 100, w/ iso100 or 200?, and adjust exposure comp by 1/3 to 2/3 ...?

just wondering if anyone has experience shooting w/ the flash at night w/ their 50mm f1.8 lens. TIA

[nosquare2003]

And shoot RAW.