Mueseum Shots?

[taquintana07]

Hey guys im going to the Museum of Jurassic Technology this weekend with my girlfriend for a class shes taking. Wanna take some shots but they dont allow flash, which most museums do not. This is my first DSLR so im curious what settings i should use.

Thx in advance

[Skip Souza]

Hard to answer not knowing what equipment you have.

[taquintana07]

Well my gearlist is in my sig but i have a XSi w/kit lens, 75-300mm, Canon 50mm f/1.8

[Skip Souza]

Oops, sorry.

I would suggest the 50m. AV about f/2. I am not sure how the XSi handles high ISO but shoot as high an ISO as you can, minimum of 400, probabley 800 or 1600.

[New Hobby]

I did some museum shots when I was in Russia without a flash. I suggest getting a wide angle lens. 10-22 from Canon was the one I used. It is easier to do hand held shots at that mm range. It can be hard to backup to get the shot with a higher mm lens. Here is one of the shots.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2246/2349106196_17752f1a0a.jpg

Some more are here http://www.flickr.com/photos/newhobby/sets/72157604132459059/

Hope this helps.

[MattMoore]

monopods allowed?

I would say, high ISO and low f-stop. But be wary of the low fstops, as you quickly decrease your DOF the lower you go.

If you had to choose between the 2 lenses, I'd go with the faster one [f/1.8], you at least have the option of f/1.8 if you REALLY need it). If funds allow, perhaps a fast lens w/ IS is in (on) order.

Although I try to keep the ISO as low as possible; my philosophy in situations like this is that a noisy, focused shot (plus the noise removal sw/plugins we have nowadays are pretty good) is better than a noiseless, OOF shot (there is only so much you can rescue with USM).

[darktiger]

Out of that list the 50mm 1.8 would be the lens to pick. To me though, 50mm is to limiting. Sometimes you cannot move that far back, and if you do you will get a lot of people just walking in front of your shots. I like shooting in museums, IS helps a lot mostly because the object is static. IS especially helps in museums that do not allow flash and have crap lighting.

[rammy]

I like shooting in museums, IS helps a lot mostly because the object is static. IS especially helps in museums that do not allow flash and have crap lighting.

Agree about the IS. Use the 50mm and foot zoom.

Check my link below. All these were shot with the 24-105 F4L IS with the ISO around 400.

Quite a few museum pics which might take a little while on a slow connection:

http://www.ramyad.net/Photos/Museum/index.htm

[EOSBoy]

If you're not in a rush...Use any lens you want + tripod and set up some long exposure shots. This way you'll get what you want with no noise.
Using a smaller exposure like f\8 or f\11, this will assure you that the exposure time will be long...and a plus with using long exposures unless the people are standing still at the exhibits, you'll get faint ghosts of the people walking by. This will make the picture even more interesting.

[rammy]

If you're not in a rush...Use any lens you want + tripod...

You're (the public) not allowed to use tripods in museums.

[SuzyView]

Kit lens isn't awful. Just practice holding still. Brace your arms to your body and go slow on the shutter speed, ISO 1600. You may be okay.

[taquintana07]

well i went but i found out that the museum was pitch black with barely any light at all almost non of my pics came out

[darktiger]

What lens did you use?