Function Photographs - HELP!

[lindagorin]

Hi
I recently did a function where I was asked to come in for the last hour and photograph as the pro photographer left for another function. I was very nervous as it was my first big function and was thrown in the deepend. It was in a room with good natural light. I panicked a bit about what setting to put my camera on as the party you have to be spontaneous. I put my canon eos 5D on an aperture of 5.6 and played around with the ISO settings so there would not be any under exposure or overexposure. I found afterwards my photos were not as sharp as I would have liked them to be. In fact alot of them were a bit blurred. I had a 24-104L lens and the 580 ex flash was being used on automatic. What is the best way to get the sharpest clearest images of people dancing etc? and what should your meter be on ie. spot or centred etc.? Also would it make a difference if the camera was set on Al servo or AL focus:oops:

[rammy]

What ISO did you have and what was the average shutter speed and aperture? Post some pics as samples please.

With the IS on that lens, I have it, it can fool you. It will help you to take sharp non-moving shots but the shutter speed is the most important. The higher the better, depending on focal length and available light.

[lindagorin]

I kept the aperture on 5.6 and the shutter speed was generally 100 to 200 depending on the position in the room. I adjusted the ISO accordingly, but it never went above 400. My friend who had the 28-135 lens - her pics were much sharper!!

[rammy]

Don't you just hate it when that happens! :-)

Ok, so what was your shutter speed and focal length? I bet your friend had high ISO and a faster shutter, and a steady hand.

The 24-105 is a wickedly sharp lens even without IS, this is sounding like technique....

[PhotosGuy]

It always helps us if you would post a shot so we can see what was happening? Also would it make a difference if the camera was set on Al servo or AL focus People dancing? I'd suggest Al servo & at least 1/250 sec, maybe with a touch of fill flash as a starting point. If you're using the 580 to provide the entire exposure, my guess is that focus was causing the problem.

Q & A: Dwight McCann (Event Photography) (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=81761)

Anyone with Club/Nightlife photography questions? (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=363560)

[pagnamenta]

Seems like you had good lighting and high enough shutter speeds to stop the action - assuming you used the flash.

What focus mode were you using?

[lindagorin]

I think it was al servo

[muscleflex]

post pics so we can see what could have caused the problem.

[notapro]

I've noticed that I need a faster shutter speed when using my telephoto on the long end. A little shake goes a long way when you're zoomed in. but I'm regretfully not familiar with IS and how that would affect things. In general, I try to keep a shutter speed of at least 120 to be safe, and for action, even higher.