I'm torn... low light dilemma

kitacanon wrote in post #8458899
Something's doesn't seem right here...not you or your shooting, but just the picture in my mind regarding how much/little light you had that you couldn't see through the VF well enough to focus, whether AF or MF....
it seems to me that @ ISO 1000 shooting at 100@ F4, if that was the correct exposure, you should have had plenty of light for AF

I'm posting a couple of shots here from a family gathering, all shot under ugly florescent tubes...... even at ISO 1000 1/40 and 1/45 sec @ F4.5 it seems plenty bright...even at a full stop darker it was bright enough for AF without flash assist....Please understand, I'm not posting them so much for the quality of the pix as for the quality of the light...

Kit a hint when under those tubes shoot at 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125. Something to do with the frequency the tubes fire at. I shoot in those kind of lighting conditions all the time and it makes a big dif.

airfrogusmc wrote in post #8461361
Kit a hint when under those tubes shoot at 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125. Something to do with the frequency the tubes fire at. I shoot in those kind of lighting conditions all the time and it makes a big dif.

Great idea AirFrog, but taking multiple shots doesn't help get THE shot in this kind of unposed snapshotshooting situation...in other situations I will try that to beat the wierd colors those tubes put out...thanks...

aaaaaaaand...

by HERE....I didn't mean MY shooting situation but OP's....

I was just trying to demonstrate that a one F-stop darker situation than OP's (based on the exposure settings OP listed, ISO 1000, 1/100 @ F4) was quite bright enough to see well, and that lens I used focused perfectly well....

I just don't quite see how in a brighter situation OP couldn't see through the VF well enough and that OP's lens couldn't do the job....

kitacanon wrote in post #8462032
Great idea AirFrog, but taking multiple shots doesn't help get THE shot in this kind of unposed snapshotshooting situation...in other situations I will try that to beat the wierd colors those tubes put out...thanks...

aaaaaaaand...

by HERE....I didn't mean MY shooting situation but OP's....

I was just trying to demonstrate that a one F-stop darker situation than OP's (based on the exposure settings OP listed, ISO 1000, 1/100 @ F4) was quite bright enough to see well, and that lens I used focused perfectly well....

I just don't quite see how in a brighter situation OP couldn't see through the VF well enough and that OP's lens couldn't do the job....

I meant shoot at one of those shutter speeds not all SORRY If you do you will not have the color problems that you can get when you use say 1/100 or 1/80...

I guess I should clarify... I was talking mainly about shooting the reception, with flash. I was ok at the ceremony without the flash. This reception was just the first time I've really had a problem. I attached an image for you to look at, pretty much right out of the 5D. The ISO was at 800 for this shot (before the AF became an annoying hinderance in taking any shot period) at 1/100 and f4.0. It was assisted by the Q5D-r on a bracket. I guess looking at the shot now, the room was dark brick, dark wood floors, non-reflective high white drop celing panels (between many wood beams) and they made the place darker than I've experienced at other receptions.

*sigh* the overwhelming response was to go for the 85 prime. Hmm. And I was concerned about dropping another grand?

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gasrocks wrote in post #8443689
Low light and needing AF? Tough situation. I doubt f/2.8 is low enough. How about a good prime? 50/1.4, 35/2, 85/1.8, etc.

I was out shooting f/1.2 in pitch black and I couldn't focus to save my soul but I came back with some great impressionist images ...

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=737169

I liked your shots, jetcode, but don't think the B&G would have been real happy with a bunch of those...

jlrichmond76 wrote in post #8462246
I liked your shots, jetcode, but don't think the B&G would have been real happy with a bunch of those...

Something I would consider in the future is consulting the B&G and tell them what you need in terms of lighting. Most all weddings I have been to were well lit for the photohgrapher until late night party time. The 85L would have given you some advantage and 3200 ISO on a 5DII is pretty clean these days. More bucks for sure.