Indoor pictures without flash - G5

[heksa]

I would like to use natural light from the window for indoor pictures to get that light reflection in the eyes, but without the flash, camera uses such a long shutter speed that all the pictures come out blurry. What am I doing wrong?

Here is one, that after some help from Photoshop, turned out not as bad

http://a4.cpimg.com/image/FA/A4/41907194-4161-02000152-.jpg

but never the less, my approach didn't work. I used Av setting (2.8 f), no flash, tripod ... my very energetic daughter sure didn't help, but maybe there is a better way of shooting indoor without the flash. What settings should I be using for that purpose? I would appreciate any suggestions. :D

[Andy_T]

Heksa,

about the only possibility you have is to increase the ISO.

This normally is not a smart thing to do with the G series , as you'll get pretty bad noise.
I use ISO 200 (standard: ISO 50) in emergencies on my G2, as I found ISO 400 to be totally unusable.
However, there is software like noiseninja or neatimage that can help to reduce noise in a picture (don't know if that is freeware, though).

Using a bounced (external) flash might help, as well.

BTW ... nice picture :D

Best regards,
Andy

[Superbaldguy]

FWIW, the noise at ISO 200 and even 400 with the new G6 is quite good.

For this endeavour, you'll need to shoot at the widest aperture and the ideal focal length is somewhwere around 100mm equivalent (in 35mm terms). You *should* be able to handhold 1/60th sec or so and I would take a spotmeter reading off the subject's face.

[bosamar]

I would take a spotmeter reading

How much for a decent spotmeter? Any recommendations?

[heksa]

Andythaler, I've tried changing ISO to 200, and you're right noise is very apparent :roll: :

http://a9.cpimg.com/image/BF/C4/41947839-2911-02000152-.jpg

I guess, I will have to experiment with settings for now as I do not have an external flash, yet.

Thanks again :D

[4walls]

Andythaler, I've tried changing ISO to 200, and you're right noise is very apparent :roll: :

I guess, I will have to experiment with settings for now as I do not have an external flash, yet.

Thanks again :D

Another thing you can try is to cheat with the internal flash. There are a
couple of ways to get better results using the camera's flash. One way is
to hold a white card in front of the flash at a 45 degree angle. This will
bounce the flash for you. Works better if you press the FUNC button in the P
mode and turn up the output of the flash.

Another thing is to use a tissue or wax paper doubled up to cover the flash.
This has the effect of softening the light and diffusing it.

You can also look at buying a FlashClip. http://www.flashclip.net/

[heksa]

4Walls, I really like your ideas. :P Have you tried any of the ways to cover or bounce away the build-in flash. Which one worked the best for you?

I'm considering buying that flash clip, but will probably try covering the flash with a tissue, or such, first. Do you use a flash clip yourself?

And with the flash output, should I increase it or decrease it?

Thanks for your advice. :)

[Pamela107]

You could make your own.
I use medium format camera's for Weddings/Portraits , with Sunpak 620 flash, the flash came with a filter that is exactly the same as the clip. The only draw back is I hold it myself, but it works great.

I hope this helps you

Pamela

[meow]

How much for a decent spotmeter? Any recommendations?

Spotmeters are a little costly. I'm not up-to-date on prices but maybe $200 up. But Superbaldguy probably referred to the built in meter's spot mode. :wink:

[4walls]

4Walls, I really like your ideas. :P Have you tried any of the ways to cover or bounce away the build-in flash. Which one worked the best for you?

I'm considering buying that flash clip, but will probably try covering the flash with a tissue, or such, first. Do you use a flash clip yourself?

And with the flash output, should I increase it or decrease it?

Thanks for your advice. :)

I have used both methods. If the ceiling is low enough and there is a fair amount of light, then bounce. Turn UP the flash output when bouncing or diffusing the light.

Try both... it doesn't cost anything!

I don't use the clip. I have a 380EX that I bought on eBay. The bounce flash pics from that make a world of a difference vs the onboard flash.

Hope that helps.

[heksa]

Thanks guys, I've decided to invest in (or request from Santa :wink: ) an external flash. :D

[joeyjoeyjoey]

Thanks guys, I've decided to invest in (or request from Santa :wink: ) an external flash. :D

Save the cash on that external flash and just buy a cheap sunshade made for cars. Make sure its the reflective type not the cardboard one.

Bounce the available light to your subject and shoot. I also use higher ISO and find that various noise softwares mentioned work great.

Oh word of caution first couple of times you bring out the sunshade be ready for you kid to jump all over it.

[Superbaldguy]

I had been referring to the G5's own spotmeter.

I think we are sort of missing the point, here - available-light imaging can be often more aesthetic to the eye and more candid, and using a flash can ruin the whole effect. Yes, you have to grapple with slow shutter speeds/wide apertures, but the beauty of the G-series cams is they do feature a very fast lens that accomodates this type of shooting.

This is exactly why I opted for the G6 over the S60/S70, more than anything else. Not saying indoor flash pictures are not preferable, but, for many situations, the subtle warmth of an available-light photo is more ideal.

I have quickly learned the built-in flash is only useful for outdoor fill situations, and that's if you're about five feet away from your subject. Otherwise, it's pretty useless. My next purchase might be the 550 EX, if I can use it with the Off Camera cord.

[Flagpole]

Hi Heksa!

I was considering answering your question earlier but just haven't got around to it. In a nutshell what you asking from the camera is beyond its capabilities. As Andy already mentioned your only option if you on't have an external flash is to increase the ISO. You can probably play around with various bounces from sunshade as Joye suggested but I haven't got much experience with those.

The way I would go about and what I did is to invest in external flash e.g. 420EX and then look at the wonderful accessories from Lumiquest http://www.lumiquest.com/ I've purchased the Pro-Max System http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/lq/index.html directly from the Lumiquest and also picked up a copy of his "Flash…The MOST Available Light" http://www.lumiquest.com/ftmal.htm while I was there. The results of course are not in the same league as professional (I am only using G2) but I am happy enough. Here is the shot of my nephew I shot a few weeks back: http://members.oztralia.com/~bfeldman/Testshots/MatthewNFS.jpg and another
http://members.oztralia.com/~bfeldman/Testshots/Matthew2NFS.jpg

Both were shot with a window behind me and external flash at F2.8 1/60s no tripod and metered of the gray card. I've spot metered the scene of the same grey card in P mode to get the above exposure. I then went into manual mode and set it there manually.

Here is where you need to play with flash output. I was using a 20-80 Pocket Bounce from Lumiquest to bounce the external flash from the ceiling. In his book Q. Couch explains the relationship between flash and available (natural) light. Basicly at constant aperature changing shutter speed only impacts on the portion of the image iluminated by available light and flash power settings only impacts on the portion of the image iluminated by flash. Since like yourself I wanted the light to be more natural I wanted to reduce how much the scene is iluminated by the flash. Q. Couch suggest using 1 stop under available light exposure as a "balanced" fill flash. I then reduced the flash power output by 1 FEV. I could have lowered it further but since I was bounching it off the ceiling as well most of the flash would be diffused by it and I still would get 20% of it going straight on to give me those reflections in the eyes.

I shot those pics in RAW to give me the best possible option in terms of conversion and tweaking in PS CS. I used a BreezeBrowser to convert the RAW through linear conversion without any adjustment for saturation, shrpness or contrast. I then used Fred Miranda G2 LPBatch http://www.fredmiranda.com/G2_LPbatch/ action to convert them in the PS CS (unfortunately I don't think he ever wrote any for other G-series cameras :( ). I tweaked the colours and sharpness in Photoshop and removed any noise that may have crept in through NeatImage.

Of course there are many other options and ways you can go about it since there is rarely one solution in photography. The above worked for me.

Good shooting
Flagpole
Sydney, Australia

[heksa]

Flagpole, thank you for your extensive advice. :D It sure is very helpful.

[Bruce Watson]

I concur with the external flash recommendations.

Heksa,

A good used EX can be found on Ebay (I just sold my 380EX this week!).

Especially with an off camera cord, one can work wonders.

Money is important, but the shots you take now of your children will only appreciate in value..........

Here is one of my favourites, taken with a G2, 380EX and off camera cord 2 held above and about 18 inches to the side..

http://www.pbase.com/kbike/image/36343116

Cheers,

Bruce

[joeyjoeyjoey]

Here is a sample using a car sunshade.

http://project.ratedr.com/albums/userpics/10001/CRW_5952.jpg

No flash or croping from a larger print, just daylight coming from an open window and a automotive sunshade to bounce light back to my daughter. f2.5 1/60 - 1/40 ISO 50 all handheld baby :p

For focus I use the AF on a distance i will be shooting at then lock it in pressing the MF. That way I can keep shooting withing the AF delay. Cuz you know I like it raw oh baby i like it raaawwwww...... RIP ODB.

But if I am in situations that dont allow me to take multiple shots or bust out my sunshade I just use the built in flash... better to get the shot than no shot at all right :?:

[heksa]

Joeyjoeyjoey, your daughter is really cute!!! :D

I didn't get the sunshade yet, but keep experimenting with the window light, ISO and noise reducing programs. :? I have been pleased so far, but am still looking into getting a flash. My daughter seems to be bored, though. :roll:

http://a8.cpimg.com/image/64/03/42045028-014d-02000152-.jpg

[meow]

Me thinks she looks hungry! :mrgreen:

That's a very nice shot. What was the ISO at? :)

[heksa]

Me thinks she looks hungry! :mrgreen:

That's a very nice shot. What was the ISO at? :)

:D Hungry for some sleep! :D

I used ISO200 and then did some noise cleaning in NeatImage and then some (un)sharpening in Photoshop. Thanks. :D

[meow]

Well, it worked. :wink:

Still think the kid craves spareribs. :shock: