help - low light shooting.

[Sean M]

I just got my 300D with 18-55 and I picked up a 75-300mm canon lens. Anyways, a boss of mine at the nightclub wants me to snap some pics during shows, he says he will put me aside, infront and on stage if I will just get him some pics for the website.

What would be my best possible option, not having an additional hand held flash

Ive been testing waters, but I cant find a good mode to use, its going to be dark because its a nightclub, but there will be lights on stage.

thanks,

Sean "the newb" .

[Bob_A]

If you can get up close I suggest you pick up a 50mm f1.8 or a 50mm f1.4 (the f1.4 is faster and has much better build quality). Without a good flash (or with no flash) the lenses you have might be too slow.

If I use flash I only shoot in manual ... set the shutterspeed fast enough to stop motion blur, set aperature for either depth of field or for the background exposure and the flash takes care of the subject illumination. Note though that the onboard flash isn't very powerful, so you'd have to get pretty close to use it. To be a reasonable distance away you need to get a flash or use a faster lens and shoot with no flash using only the stage lights for illumination.

[Sean M]

I just picked up a Canon EW 63 lens hood, my next pickup will be a the 50-1.8.

Thanks Bob

[tacos3]

Sean M,

Depending on how much light there is, the 50 1.8 or 1.4 should get you in the ballpark in terms of exposure. Shoot raw and if the exposure is a bit under, say one stop, correct in post processing. You'll need some noise reduction SW to clean up the images with a 300d at ISO 1600. Here's a link to my concert shots, stage lighting, gels and no flash. I try to keep shutter speeds up over 1/125 as a minimum and correct in post processing if the images are slightly under. Many of these images were shot with a 300d and some 2.8 lenses at ISO 1600. With my 20d, I don't have to clean up any noise at ISO 1600.

http://www.baysidepictures.com/Concerts

Good luck...Darren

[Jim_T]

It depends on how bright the flood lights are,, but the 18-55 and 75-300mm lenses will probably be pretty well useless.. As mentioned, the 50mm f/1.8 or better yet the f/1.4 should fill the need for a darker place.

On top of using ISO 800 or 1600, you should shoot in Aperture priority.. (Av) Set the aperture to the max.. If you get the f/1.8lens then set it to f/1.8.

Try ISO 400 first and watch the shutter speeds.. If you're getting below 1/100, then you'll wind up with blur.. Bump up the ISO to 800 and check again.. If that doesn't work, then go to ISO 1600..

[PhotosGuy]

Shoot in RAW & post process in RSE, too.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=43761&highlight=sunliner
RawShooter link at the bottom of this review:
http://www.outbackphoto.com/artofraw/raw_18/essay.html
or skip the review:
http://www.pixmantec.com/index2.html

[triangle]

I second (or third ;) ) the 50/1.8 suggestion. It will become a valuble lens to you.