Shooting in low light

[D-Eastey]

Hey all.

I have finally started to get a better understanding of how to use the M setting on my 300D (in fact, it's the only one I do use) but find it really difficult to take photos at night or at bars or indoors where there's a low level of light without using the flash (I don't really like using the flash under any circumstances.)

No matter what I do, they either all come out entirely underexposed and on the odd occasion that it will actually take the shot, unless i sit as still as a tripod (which I'm not using) then it's blurred to buggery. If anyone out there knows any tips or tricks to fix it up so that I can capture the natural light of an evening venue it'd be much appreciated.

Cheers, D.

[tim]

What lens are you using?

There are a few tips I can give you:
- Use a fast lens - eg a lens with a low F number. The 50mm F1.8 is cheap at US$70 or so, and does quite well.
- Use a flash, external flashes like the 420EX, 550EX, etc are much much better than the little built in one.
- Use Av mode instead of M mode, you don't need full manual. Just set the aperture as low as you think you need (eg 1.8, 2.8, etc) and the shutter will stay open as long as it needs too.
- Set your ISO setting up as high as you need to to get a good shutter speed. Use noise reduction software to reduce the "noise" (funny speckled colors) that turn up on the photo. The firmware hack lets you use up to ISO3200, but at that level you need to use noise reduction software.

Low light photography is kinda difficult, with those tips, ones others will give you, and practice, you should be able to get some reasonable shots.

[Olegis]

In addition to tim's recommendations : you'll HAVE to use a tripod (or some other kind of steady support) when you're shooting with slow shutter speeds, the general rule of thumb talks about 1/focal length. Or, you'll have to buy lenses with IS (Image Stabilizer), which will allow you to shoot with slower than usual speeds, but to a certain limit of course (usually it's 2-3 stops, depending on the IS generation).

[JoeTampa]

Also, note that any movement by the SUBJECTS while the shutter is open will also cause blurriness.

I would take caution with ISO 3200 on the Reb.. Can anything clean that up? A 20D's image, OK. But the Reb/10D/anything else?

You might also consider a mini-tripod or beanbag in leiu of a tripod to combat camera shake.

[D-Eastey]

Awesome, thanks for the heads up on using Av.

I think that the only real option I have is to invest in a better lens that doesn't create that spotlight effect (rather than creating a more abmient light). I don't really like the idea of having to use a tripod because I find them too restrictive. Sure if I'm taking landscape shots It'd be perfect, but that's not where I'm at at the moment :D.

I appreciate your input, cheers.

[w10d]

Comments so far are all very helpful & on the money, the only thing I can add here is this: If you are really keen on doing low light photography a non-SLR camera may be a useful tool. The mirror flying up and down inside the body creates a hell of a lot of vibration & you have a struggle keeping that under control. Many great low light photographers of the past (think Paris 1930's) used rangefinder 35mm cameras - the best technology of the day. The shutters can be almost silent and create very little movement to the camera, just like a modern P&S digital camera.

Just a thought...

[René Damkot]

You could try a monopod: helps a lot, yet is light, transports easy and you can still move around...