working with ISO 50 indoors

[crazylilgimp]

Hello everyone. I have a Canon G5 and am still new to the photography scene. From what i've learned, the lower the ISO setting the lower the noise in the shot. I've tried to shoot soley in ISO 50, but I've found some limitations. I can't seem to get a good indoor shot without using the flash. If there is any movement whatsoever, i get a blur. Even if I have a perfectly still subject, it still doesnt seem crisp. I've tried to increase the shutter speed but unless i use the flash i just get dark pictures. I don't have an after market flash, and the built in doesnt seem to fill really well. Anyone have some recommendations on how I can get nice clear shots indoors...without a flash...and still pick up the actions of a 3 year old? I know thats a lot to ask for...but you guys are the experts.

Thanks for the help!

Here are some examples:

See how the babies face just isnt sharp?
http://tinypic.com/aaxhz

This uses the flash...which really cleaned up the blur, but the quality of color went down, and there are a lot of dark spots.
http://tinypic.com/aaxjd

This one again is just not as sharp as I would like:
http://tinypic.com/aaxk0

Indoors, with flash....too much light in the center
http://tinypic.com/aaxk6

I kinda like how this shot turned out...but I would still like a crisp pic
http://tinypic.com/aaxkx

Thanks again for the suggestions! Any settings that you all use for indoor shots would be very helpful. Thanks again!

[Andy_T]

Hi gimp.

Yes, that is a logical problem of the small sensor of digicams. However, you're on the right track in using ISO 50, as it provides the best results and most vibrant colours.

There are 2 basic solutions for the flash effect:
- Use an external flash that you can bounce of the ceiling (e.g. the Canon EX420 or EX 550)
- use the inbuilt flash with a flash diffusor.

Option 2 is less expensive than option 1, so I suggest you try that first.

Have a look at this site for an example of a commercial flash diffusor. http://www.flashclip.net/
I don't endorse it, as I haven't tried it out, and you can make it very easily yourself. But it doesn't look bad to me.

Try a forum search for 'diffusor' for ideas on this. Basically, the simplest diffusor would be to tape a tissue in front of your flash.

Best regards,
Andy

[Mr-Merlin]

I always try to keep to ISO 50. The flash on my G3 (and I presume the G5 & G6 too) is particularly strong, which gives the over-saturated photos. I personally do one or more of the following three things: -

1) Make sure you turn down the flash stop to -2

2) Keep a greater distance between you and your subject and use the zoom to get closer, where possible.

3) Experiment with partially covering the flash with your hand while taking a photo.

These I have found most useful, especially the first two.
Of-course, this is the cheapest way of improving your photos without incurring cost of an external flash unit, but don't let that deter you from considering purchasing one. Hope that helps. :wink:

[twl845]

:wink: I agree with Mr Merlin on his cheap method. I have learned to stay about 6 feet from the subject and zoom in for my flash shots. This way the room eats up some of the flash and I get an evenly flashed shot.

[crazylilgimp]

Thanks for all the advice thus far. I went home for dinner and tried out the tissue over the flash...seemed to improve things quite a bit. I'm going to check out that site that andy posted. Thanks for the feedback.

-rydel

[REDSC400]

The use of a tripod or monopod (my choice because it is so portable and easy) is a very logical and simple cure to your blurr. Especially for very slow moving objects. Since your subject appear to be kids, you may need to pan a bit if they are running, etc.

However, with ISO 50, my 684B Manfrotto NeoTech Pro monopod is just super and has single "leggedly" increased sharpness of my photos in lower light and lower ISO settings.

Hope this helps...