Turning 1DsMkII/580EX Loose on Auto in a very Dark Room! (pics)

[DCB]

I was not the official photographer at a wedding this weekend, but played around anyway and thought I'd show you what happens when you let the 1DsMkII and the 580 EX Flash play around, with hardly any user input in the shooting, and no post-processing modifications. I'm posting this here because this is more about the equipment than the subjects, thinking some of you might want to see how the camera/flash perform in pretty much full-auto mode, especially since this camera hasn't been around that long.

All were handheld in a room with very dark wood and with only a few tungsten bulbs. Egads! Here's the room:

http://www.retake.com/test01/testlight.jpg

Both these shots were taking as follows:

Handheld
Program Mode: AE
Lens 70-200 2.8/L IS
Auto White Balance
580 Flash on Full Auto
JPEG 8/10 Quality

In each case, the first is full frame and the second is at 100%.

This first illustration:

Lens at 185mm
60 f2.8
ISO 100
spot metering

http://www.retake.com/test01/test21.jpg

http://www.retake.com/test01/test22.jpg

The second illustration is even more interesting to me because it was shot at ISO 400:

Lens at 200mm
60 f3.5
ISO 400
evaluative metering

http://www.retake.com/test01/testm1.jpg

http://www.retake.com/test01/testm2.jpg

The sharpness caught me off guard in a pleasant way. I snapped about 150 shots, and very few of them are unuseable, and those that were are largely my error.

I'm just beginning to explore the capabilities of the camera, and I'm trying to use it "on the edge" and first. It's a fun process. The biggest lessons for me from this:

/Don't hesitate to shoot with higher ISO.

/AWB does a pretty darn good job.

/Autofocus works remarkably well in low light.

BTW, I'm new here, and looking forward to participating.

[OviV]

Thank you for that. Did you adjust exposure at all after downloading or did you find that the camera did a good job of exposing with flash. My 20D does a much better job then my DRebel did. I wonder if going to the 580EX would further benefit my flash photography.

Ovi

[DCB]

Did you adjust exposure at all after downloading or did you find that the camera did a good job of exposing with flash.

Ovi, I made no adjustments at all. I simply sized them for the web.

Yes, I was amazed at how well the camera did on not just exposure but also WB.

[jhankins]

On your flash, how was it oriented, did you use any modifier such as a diffuser? Nice shots. I've not been out much with my 1Ds Mark II as yet. I have the 550EX flashes. I did also notice the improved quality on the higher ISOs. I used to stay away from 400 now that's in my list of things I can do without fear!

[DocFrankenstein]

My hat is off to you!

You're not afraid to use the 1Ds MkII as a point and shoot :D

[Tom W]

I'm going to jump out on a limb and assume that the first shot was made with the 16-35 mm lens. Its amazing how wide 16 mm is on a full-frame camera.

Anyway, it looks like you're getting very nice exposure with your flash on the 1Ds.

[drisley]

Beauties, especially the second last one!
Personally, I would have used ISO800 or ISO1600.

[DCB]

On your flash, how was it oriented, did you use any modifier such as a diffuser?

In both shots I bounced the flash off the nasty, darkish ceiling. No diffuser. The 1DsMkII and 580 combo compensated for exposure and color balance well.

[DCB]

My hat is off to you!

You're not afraid to use the 1Ds MkII as a point and shoot :D

Good point. Maybe I should have saved some money and gone that route! :grin:

Actually, my plan--and I don't know if it's a smart one or not--is to just shoot the camera "as is" to see what it'll do (thus this post), and then start screwing with it. I'm coming from the world of Mamiya 7, Mamiya RZ67, and a 4x5 view camera. Yeah, I've used PandS digitals, but nothing of this caliber. So I'm getting my feet wet slowly.

I did notice that the "real" photographer at the wedding was using a D70.

[Cadenza]

I did notice that the "real" photographer at the wedding was using a D70.

Good thing I'm not a wedding photog, but I bet he hated
you, huh?! You're the hired pro using a D70, and then the
bride's kid cousin or whomever shows up with a monster
1Ds taking snapshoots...

[FlyingPete]

Good thing I'm not a wedding photog, but I bet he hated
you, huh?! You're the hired pro using a D70, and then the
bride's kid cousin or whomever shows up with a monster
1Ds taking snapshoots...

Been there, done that, got the better shots than the paid photographer!
(my sisters wedding earlier this year)

[cricket]

I like the results you got!

I've used mine in a studio setting, and with external lights.

The results are great!

Thanks for sharing!

[Ballen Photo]

Nice "Point & Shooter" You've got there. J/K. :lol: :lol: :lol:
Seriously, that camera seems to be MORE than capable in full auto.:D
-Bruce

[DocFrankenstein]

I was shooting a wedding with my D70... And then there's this kid with 1D! I look closer, and he's in the green square! What a !@#$%#... :evil: